I've lived in Florida for three years. Today, I found what may very well be my favorite thing in the state. We spent the day at Rock Springs, in Kelly Park.
Rock Springs bubbles up out of a rocky (duh) outcropping, then flows in a stream for some distance. There are boardwalks and picnic spots all over the place. Instructions: Carry an inner tube up one of the boardwalks to the source of the spring. Put your butt where it goes (wow, that water's chilly!), and ride the lazy current downstream for 20 minutes or so. To me, Florida has few charms, but this was absolutely delightful! The spring water is 68-70 degF - so awesomely good in 98 degF air. The stream is partially shaded, and it's all jungly with trees and blooming plants on either side. There are rocks in the streambed on the upper half, the cool water is crystal-clear, and with the sun filtering through trees and glinting off the water, it's just heavenly. I decided to forego (1) the tube a couple times to swim down the stream - also fun. Well, until I had my back turned (not before it was too late) and took a rock in the shin. A mixed blessing is their crowd control procedure. The park opens at 800a, and they let people in (only a dollar per person!) until the park is full (1030-ish today); they turn people away until 300p or so, once the crowd starts to thin. The line of cars to get in at 300p was a half-mile long, easily. It's nice that they keep it from getting crazy-crowded, but half our group didn't get in. But still, it was really really really sweet.
Top Ten Free (or Nearly Free) Things to Do in Central Florida
1. Rock Springs/Kelly Park
2. Watch Shuttle/Rocket Launch
3. Orlando Science Center (especially when free for Orlando residents)
4. Orlando Art Museum on Thursday Afternoons
5. Watch Big Planes Take Off/Land at Orlando Int'l
6. Leu Gardens on Monday Mornings
7. Tour Model Homes
8. Winter Park Farmer's Market on Saturday Mornings
9. Watch Thunderstorms Develop
10. Pressing Pennies (esp. at Turnpike Service Plazas)
Honorable Mention: Benefit Wine Tastings at (now-defunct) Salvatore's Restaurant
Construction continues to zoom along. We have cabinets and countertops, and the tile is mostly finished.
(1) What is the past participle of forego? Forewent? That sounds ridiculous.
Rock Springs bubbles up out of a rocky (duh) outcropping, then flows in a stream for some distance. There are boardwalks and picnic spots all over the place. Instructions: Carry an inner tube up one of the boardwalks to the source of the spring. Put your butt where it goes (wow, that water's chilly!), and ride the lazy current downstream for 20 minutes or so. To me, Florida has few charms, but this was absolutely delightful! The spring water is 68-70 degF - so awesomely good in 98 degF air. The stream is partially shaded, and it's all jungly with trees and blooming plants on either side. There are rocks in the streambed on the upper half, the cool water is crystal-clear, and with the sun filtering through trees and glinting off the water, it's just heavenly. I decided to forego (1) the tube a couple times to swim down the stream - also fun. Well, until I had my back turned (not before it was too late) and took a rock in the shin. A mixed blessing is their crowd control procedure. The park opens at 800a, and they let people in (only a dollar per person!) until the park is full (1030-ish today); they turn people away until 300p or so, once the crowd starts to thin. The line of cars to get in at 300p was a half-mile long, easily. It's nice that they keep it from getting crazy-crowded, but half our group didn't get in. But still, it was really really really sweet.
Top Ten Free (or Nearly Free) Things to Do in Central Florida
1. Rock Springs/Kelly Park
2. Watch Shuttle/Rocket Launch
3. Orlando Science Center (especially when free for Orlando residents)
4. Orlando Art Museum on Thursday Afternoons
5. Watch Big Planes Take Off/Land at Orlando Int'l
6. Leu Gardens on Monday Mornings
7. Tour Model Homes
8. Winter Park Farmer's Market on Saturday Mornings
9. Watch Thunderstorms Develop
10. Pressing Pennies (esp. at Turnpike Service Plazas)
Honorable Mention: Benefit Wine Tastings at (now-defunct) Salvatore's Restaurant
Construction continues to zoom along. We have cabinets and countertops, and the tile is mostly finished.
(1) What is the past participle of forego? Forewent? That sounds ridiculous.
1 comment:
You might add...
1. Wine tastings at Bacchus in downtown Clermont.
2. Sunsets at Lake Minneola.
3. Shopping at Kim's Cabbage Patch.
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