Chiao.
Auf Wiedersehen.
See ya later.
No matter the language, good byes are a scary mixture of waving good bye to what was while welcoming a new unknown. Last week, it finally hit home that after 6 years of living in perpetual summer we were in fact leaving…no driving back for a quick stop at the beach or feasting on my favorite sweet potato fries. Which meant only one thing:
Bye Bye Florida Bucket List!
Here’s how it all went down…11/25 the movers took everything except 1 suitcase of clothing, my computer and the cats. We moved in to a hotel in Orlando and the bucket list project began.
11/22 – Clay Road
This is the one exception as I did it prior to the packing, but it was a MASSIVE one so it must be included.
The first month I live in Orlando some new running buddies introduced me to Clay Road, which is about 30 minutes from downtown and literally the ONLY place to find hills! It’s in Clermont near the Olympic training center and frequently elite athletes and cross country teams can be found there training on the weekends, along with regular Jane’s like me. Initially I was just hoping to get my running buddies together, but it just so happened that the first ever 15K was happening there that day, so we all ran our own race and then waited around for all my speedy friends to get awards before refueling over eggs and a chat.
Since I didn’t care about racing by any means, my goal was to ENJOY the views that make me so love this place and though I was pushing, I found myself smiling randomly through the last half and I knew I’d done it right.
11/26 – What’s up Thanksgiving!
We thought it might be a day spent dining on Chinese, but of course a wonderful friend came through and we had one of the best meals ever dining outside looking out over the lake. Of course the food was outstanding (I miss that home cooking!!), the friends were great, and the table was rock star as Jennifer is a designer, but it was also a last chance for David to chat with someone he’s worked with every single day since we lived in Kansas City. They might know each other better than just about anyone!
11/27 – Swan Boats
Everyday for the last 2 years I’ve watched people embark on paddling around the lake in large Swan boats…in pouring rain, in bizarre wind gusts, in sweltering sun. I could see it all, so I had no real need to do the swan boat, but we agreed it felt like a fitting good bye which we could follow up with dining at Dexter’s the sweet potato fries that sold me on living there.This is what I loved about our place, we could see the rain coming and those people on the boats…ehh not so much. Many hours of laughs as we watched them furiously pedaling against all odds to get back to the dock.
All of that is to say, we knew it was a beautiful blue sky day for our paddle. Fun to take a look at the world from a new vantage point! Bizarrely the day also included a very important stop at WaWa, which is indeed a gas station and yet is very well known for its sandwiches. I’d never had one and they were doing a limited time turkey with dressing one, so it was a must!
11/28 – Flagler Beach
When I said let’s go for a run and hit the beach, David didn’t have to ask which one. For me there is only one that I really love…Flagler. It’s just South of Daytona, but feels like you’ve entered the Florida Keys with the laid back vibe.
A normal weekend here involves David hitting the mountain bike trails, while I get in a nice long run along the water or the nearby shaded trails. However, our stuff was gone which meant no bike for David and thus a running buddy for me!!! As we hit the path I knew I wasn’t feeling my best, but just being out there always makes me happy and when we finished he agreed it’s a spectacular run.Next up the reward for all our efforts…the beach!! Of all the things that I will miss about Florida, watching the ocean waves is definitely at the very top of the list. In fact, it happened to be insanely windy on this particular day which meant we not only got a show from the water, but the sky!
Locals here are always surfing, fishing, skim boarding or as we now know putting up huge kite displays! Just another reason why this remains one of my favorite places to relax. We have both agreed it’s a potential spot for a future vacation home. Who ever thought I’d post a bikini picture on the Interwebs?! Not me and yet I’m happy to say all I’m thinking is I should be tanner for someone living in Florida. We were both determined not to depart that beautiful sand until we had some kind of tan line, our brains are convinced there will be no warm weather in Colorado.
Looking for some new things to do in #Orlando (besides Disney)- checkout this good bye tour Click To Tweet11/29 – Winter Park and Leu Gardens
With our last day of Florida time, I thought we should soak up a little more sunshine and nature. Our first stop was a stroll through Winter Park, which is just a cute street of shops, like the amazing Ten Thousand Villages, and restaurants that’s located near the amazing river boat tour I’ve mentioned before.It has a beautiful green space with a rose garden and a farmers market on the weekends. We debated hanging around a few hours for the concert in the park, but had other things on our list, so off we went!
Just a few miles away is Leu Gardens, a 50-acre botanical garden that isn’t quite as amazing as our favorite in Miami, Fairchild Gardens, certainly gives you a flavor of Florida vegetation. While you might naturally think of citrus fruit and Florida, the truth for residents is that unless we venture out in to the country we aren’t seeing huge groves!
And of course there is something always relaxing about walking through the tall palm trees, listening to a little stream of water or watching the butterflies explore the many still blooming flowers.
11/30 – Fly Time
We gave the kitties some anxiety meds and it was time to go!
9 hours of sitting in their little cat carriers later, we arrived at our last temporary home….I think. The plan is to rent for 11 months and then buy a house once again to settle in and plant roots.
It was a long stressful day for everyone involved (you listen to those cute little meow’s and not feel bad), but this was the view we received upon walking in to our new place.We’ll be hanging out in a hotel here in Denver until at least 12/7 when we hope our stuff arrives and David starts his brand new job. What you may have noticed missing from this list is Disney…I really did want to see the Osborne light show, but otherwise it just wasn’t our scene. We were about the people, the nature and the serenity of these places.
Thanks to everyone who has wished us well on this journey, provided advice and ideas…I’ll be hitting you up soon with more questions and definitely for all those friends you tell me live out here!!
If you moved, would you have a bye bucket list?
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wendy
You showed the stuff I love about Florida. Most people think Disney and tacky spring breaky kind of towns, but what I love about Florida are the beaches and the amazing nature that you don't get anywhere else in the US!
If we were moving, I'd spend a weekend in Chicago doing all the things I love there. I'd miss Chicago. It is my favorite big city, and not just because it's my hometown. Don't believe all the bad stuff you see on the news. It's an amazing place.
You look fantastic in your bikini!
My recent post Why I won't be #RWRunStreaking
SuzLyfe
I think you did Florida well! And now on to the snow!
My recent post Recent Discoveries – Thinking Out Loud
thisrunnersrecipes
If I ever visit Florida, I'm using this as a guide! Flagler Beach and Leu Garden look especially beautiful. Denver looks gorgeous! I have a random question: what anxiety meds did you give your kitties? Ryan and I are flying to my hometown for Christmas and need to make sure our puggle handles the flights well, and he's prone to anxiety.
My recent post Why You Should Opt Outside This Winter
RunToTheFinish
I don't have the bottle, but we took them to the vet and they gave us something – which from what I can tell is basically a SUPER low dose of what a human would get. We actually gave them a light sedative for the flight and anxiety pill the day the movers were there
My recent post Now That’s How You Say Farewell
Kathy McElhaney
If we were leaving California there would be so much I'd want to say goodbye to! Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is in our town (Simi Valley), but I'd also want to make the 250 mile drive north to Yosemite! I'd need a beach day as well. I would NOT need to visit Disneyland or any of the other amusement parks or Hollywood.
Meredith
I absolutely love Colorado and Denver is a great city! Don't worry you will get some hot days in the summer! :)
aladygoeswest
Ha! I lived in Orlando (in downtown mind you) for about six years and NEVER went on a Swan Boat … always talked about it though. :)
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joyce brooks
Great idea visiting all your favorite spots as a farewell gesture. Loved your list.
RunToTheFinish
And you know what I love?! YOU!!
Laura - Chronicles of Passion
Amanda. I can't begin to express how excited I am for you to get to run in snow and the cold. It's 100% my fave, and it a totally different experience that I know you will love. I'm anxiously awaiting the snow's arrival here on the east coast of Canada but for now am settling into just enjoying running in the cold! Get your balaclava and Smartwool socks at the ready, because you're going to need them! ENJOY!!
RunToTheFinish
I lived in Kansas City until I was in my late 20\’s, so I\’ve done all this before :) it\’s just been a long time. But I\’m excited for the new location and figuring out the altitude!