I remember Florida

I haven't been in Florida since June 1999.  But until then I lived the first 49 years there in the little town of Lake Worth - near Palm Beach and 60 mile north of Miami.  I watched things change over the years.  When I was a child it was a place people came to stay for the Winter - Play Golf, Fish, Go to the Beach (on days that us, natives, would never go near the water) visit local attractions.  Summers were times when stores would close for the season and we would have the beaches to our selves.

For some reason this all changed.  It may have been the coming of the Mouse to central Florida.  Or some developer though that a place to retire to would gather more wealth.  The hotels on the beaches were replaced by condos, the beaches were replaced by condos.  The attractions closed or were force out of business by developers. Winters were still our best time of year business wise, but stores were open year round.  People who visited the state seem not to go much further south than Orlando - if they wanted beach Daytona.  Even Spring break moved from Ft. Lauderdale North to Daytona.

Lucky for the county that it had some major business to help replace the failing tourist business.  Pratt and Whitney (Aerospace) IBM and RCA some of the larger companies.  But then they started down sizing and many looking for freedom from some of the Islands off the shores of Florida moved in.  Neighborhood stated going down - crime increased.  Schools became over crowed.

I still love Florida - For what it was - and for what you can still find if you look.  Before leaving I would love to go to central Florida and north Florida - still had many places that hadn't changed and I've always been addicted to the Magic of The Mouse.  I was happy to hear that Cypress Gardens had been saved from becoming a parking lot. ( A place I visited many times) 

But I think by fondness memories are when I was a kid.  Mini golf up and down US 1, Africa USA in Boca Raton,  StoryLand in Deerfield, Bird and Monkey gardens up down the cost, the autorama in Lantana.  Riding down A1A and being able to see the ocean.

Now I'm living in Pigeon Forge TN outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the season is now Summer, Mini Golf up and down US 441. Attractions right and left.  Traded the Ocean for the Mountians....