Getting to Know You: A Visitor to Your Hometown

Deb's Getting to Know You Wednesday:

Imagine you've made a connection with another blogger who lives in a completely different part of the world than you do. This blogger is about to take a trip and the connection you've made is so strong that she is going to make your house one stop on her trip. (Yay!) Unfortunately she can only stay at your place for 24 hours (boo!), but she'd like to see some nearby sights while visiting with you.

Keeping in mind that time is quite limited, so you have to stick pretty close to home (although not necessarily right IN your town - just anyplace you could go as a day trip), try looking around you with the eyes of someone who has never seen your area and tell us some things you'd share with...

A Visitor to Your Hometown

This isn't my hometown, but where I live now : )

1. Your visitor wants to see something historical. Where would you take her and why? Historic Bok Sanctuary http://www.boksanctuary.org/ Bok Sanctuary has a lovely garden, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed Central Park (a park in my real hometown :) ). Hopefully she will be visiting in early March, when the heat isn't too awful here, and the garden is in bloom. The gentleman, Derek Bok, who created and funded the park and the tower on the grounds, was an interesting character. He tried to create a peace prize, similar to the Nobel Peace Prize. The visitor's center has some interesting information on him.

2. She wants to see something hysterical...well, mildly amusing anyway. She'd even go for cute, quirky, odd, or unique. Where would you take her and why? I'd take her to Spook Hill. Definitely mildly amusing, quirky, odd, and unique! I'm not even sure I can explain it : )http://goflorida.about.com/od/attractionsaz/a/spookhill.htm

3. She wants to take some beautiful and/or interesting photos to fill her albums when she gets home. Where would you take her? Lake Kissimmee State Park is a gorgeous state park. This is one of the diminishing examples of The Real Florida (which coincidently is the tag prase that the park service uses on promotional materials lol). In addition to the many trails and the beautiful view, the park boasts a living history cow camp. Oldtime Florida cowboys were called Crackers. Several rangers dress in character all weekend long, and respond to visitor questions at the Cow Camp. Loads of fun! http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakekissimmee/default.cfm

4. She'd like to buy a souvenir that will remind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it? Florida's Natural orange juice is made here. We can visit the Florida's Natural Visitor's Center for a souvenir. Of course if you buy that brand of orange juice at home you will think of me every time you drink it :) http://www.floridasnatural.com/visitor_center.php

5. Wow, it's been a long day and you're both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get the flavor of your area? One thing I really miss here are restaurants that are not part of a chain! I would be pleased to prepare a meal for my friend- cooking is definitely an area of creativity for me. I take joy from the creating, but also the sharing.