– You guys! Did you know there’s a place right here in the US of A where it’s possible to wear shorts and sandals in February? And you won’t get frostbite. This magical land is known as ‘Florida’, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are more hidden oases just like it. Yes, I’ve returned from Fort Myers Beach, which is just one big bundle of sunshine and sand.
– I had what was possibly the Best Ice Cream Cone Ever. It’s the one in the background, strawberry cheesecake (my mom’s cappuccino chocolate chip is in front). I’m quite particular about… well, everything, really, but when it comes to cheesecake ice cream flavours, this is my rule: don’t make the ice cream itself taste like cheesecake, because it will be overwhelming. Instead, go with a nice vanilla base, swirl in the fruit of your choice, and then put in cheesecake chunks. This stuff had whopping big chunks of a cheesecake/crust hybrid — Best Ever.
– The strawberries that we got from the regular old supermarket (Publix) were not only local, they were perfectly in season and ripe. No pale shoulders or rubbery texture. Also, local citrus and sugar. But can they grow rutabagas?
– Speaking of Publix, if you live near one, you should run out and buy a loaf of their ‘Breakfast Bread’. It’s packed full of nuts and bits of dried fruit, and it was one of the best things I ate in Florida.
– Most every morning while we were there, my mom would wake up and go out to the beach to search for good shells while the tide was still out. I stayed in bed and then showered, and then we had breakfast when she got back. I did NOT go out looking for shells in the morning, because it couldn’t have been more than 60F at that time of day, and why bother going outside on your Floridian vacation if it’s not above 70F?
– I saw two dolphins just a ways out from the beach. Thank goodness I was on our balcony at the time. (I do not like dolphins.)
– If I could afford it, I would seriously consider renting a little apartment in the Fort Myers Beach area every February, for the entire month. I would pack up my car with the cats and all my houseplants and just pretend that snow doesn’t exist for twenty-eight days. I still sometimes can’t believe how lucky I’ve been in certain areas of my life, but I’ll know I REALLY have it made when Florida Februaries start happening.
It is perfect weather right now, but usually I complain about the heat, seriously, it’s horrible! I’m glad you had a good time.
Yay and also hooray. Glad you had a good time and that there was ice cream.
I can almost get my head around your dislike of dolphins, but now I’m worried that what’s happened is dolphins and sharks have got flipped around in your head and one day you’ll want to pat a shark’s nose. (NB: Don’t)
..I plan on Florida in Feb in 2010…I wont be staying on Ft Myers beach, but you can certainly join me for a few days wherever I am! It is, indeed, a lovely place!
Ok, seriously unfair…way to make a pregnant woman drool! Those ice cream cones look freaking awesome! It sounds like a great time, FL in Feb.!
Oh bliss – sunshine to banish February.
Ok…ok… I’m delurking! The ice cream made me do it! Thanks for bringing a bit of Florida back to share with us. That felt great!
Now about those Florida Februaries. If I brought you an ice cream cone every.single.February.day — would you please pick me to be your room mate? I know… I know. We don’t even know each other. That’s ok. We’d be too busy licking drippy ice cream cones to care.
Let me know when to submit my resume.