Life in the Shadow of the Mouse

Dateline--Orlando-ish, Florida....

I had a serendipitous thought the other day as I was driving down Highway 192 in Kissimmee, Florida.  There are two completely different Floridas.  

I noticed a year ago when I told people we were headed for Florida, there was often a pregnant pause, followed by..."oh, that's nice..." in a lukewarm sort of way.  Sometimes people would say, "Really? Florida?? Are you sure?"  I couldn't understand it.  To me, Florida was building sand castles with my girls on white sandy beaches, shelling on Sanibel Island, sailing and fishing (read: barfing) in the Gulf of Mexico. That's My Florida.

The second "Other" Florida brings me back to my Eureka! moment.  It's the Florida most people see.  It's the world of concrete and retention ponds that grew like Kudzu around the borders of Disney.  It's no wonder people were surprised when I said I love Florida.  

I snapped some pictures of that other Florida to prove my point.  I didn't search far to find examples:

The Gator Inn

Nothing says comfort and elegance like "The Gator Inn."  Why would they think people would find this image restful?

If you drive North on Highway 192, you will find the Magic Kingdom.  Head South, and you can find a million different ways to spend your money...

Shopping...maybe a Harry Potter wanna be?

Orlando used to be an Orange Grove.

Disney Gift Outlet...

Starting at $24, see Florida from the air

So I get it now.  If you have traveled to Florida, but never ventured out of the Orlando area, you've seen the "Other" Florida.  While it may be "the happiest place on earth," it isn't, by any stretch of the imagination, the most beautiful.