Be thankful for 101 things in Central Florida
It’s Thanksgiving again — which means it’s time for one of my favorite columns of the year: 101 Things to Love About Central Florida.
For the fifth year of this holiday tradition, readers offered hundreds and hundreds of suggestions — and pushed to bring back a few from years past.
Many of these things are probably near and dear to your heart. Others you may need to check out. All make Central Florida unique. Things to love … Manatees, great blue herons and spiny orbweavers.
The serenity of Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. The cacophony of the Central Florida Fair.
Watching rocket launches from your backyard.
The bacon-infused bourbon at the Ravenous Pig.
Watching the sun set over Lake Monroe. Or Lake Dora. Or Lake Eola.
Hot Dog Heaven and Yellow Dog Eats.
That Maitland has its own symphony and that most every town has its own farmers market.
Wearing shorts on Christmas and sending a photo to relatives in Wisconsin. Airboat rides. Sunrise strolls around Lake Baldwin and moonlight tours at Greenwood Cemetery.
Shepherd’s Hope, New Hope for Kids, Hope-and-Help Center of Central Florida.
Free bike-repair stations on local trails and free air stations at some Wawas.
That the Plaza theater, though past its prime as a movie theater, still showcases everything from live music to stand-up comedy.
“Friends Talking Faith” on WMFE. “The Philips Phile” on WTKS. And the communitywide celebration of Mix 105.1 good guy Scott McKenzie after he passed away last year.
Hontoon Island. Wekiwa Springs. Lake Toho.
Nude Night and Nerd Nite.
The Cornell Museum of Art, the Morse Museum, the Maitland Art Center and hidden art collections at the Grand Bohemian downtown and the Alfond Inn in Winter Park … even in the bathrooms.
Using SunRail for a dinner or Lymmo for lunch.
Canine Companions for Independence, Community Food and Outreach Center and the League of Women Voters.
Hawkers Asian Street Fare, JB’s Fish Camp and Johnny’s Fillin’ Station.
Big-name soccer players, such as Kaká and Alex Morgan for the Orlando City and Pride, who are new to town and putting on a show.
Big-name alumni basketball players, such as Bo Outlaw and Nick Anderson for the Orlando Magic, who stayed in town as ambassadors and are making a difference.
The hard-core hockey players with the Solar Bears, who don’t care who knows their names … they just want to hit the ice. Our winters. The humbling and inspiring work of the Apopka nuns.
The impressive and uplifting work of the Orlando Philharmonic.
The tireless and enlightening work of many of my colleagues at the Sentinel.
The hills of Clermont and the marshy flats along the St. Johns River.
The sculptured bus stops on International Drive.
The fact that Floridians, more than most, get to decide who gets to be president of the United States.
Quality meats at Charley’s. And Beefy King. And Kappy’s.
Quality non-meats at Ethos. And Bosphorous. And every year at Veg Fest.
That the Mills 50 district now has its own brewery (Ten10) and winery (Quantum Leap).
That our region is finally getting serious about homelessness.
The Orange County Library, which delivers books right to your doorstep.
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which now lets theatergoers immerse themselves in the set after shows as part of its brand-new “Share the Stage” program.
The remote-control regattas that sail every Sunday morning on Lake Estelle in front of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater.
The Orlando Shakespeare Theater.
The Orlando Science Center.
Osceola County’s Pioneer Village.
Diverse people. Diverse architecture. Diverse cuisine.
Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rollins College and the Learning Institute for Elders at UCF.
Track Shack, The Lovely Boutique in Audubon Park and Maya Books and Music in Sanford.
The Manatee Festival. The Fringe Festival. And the Mount Dora Art Festival.
Great staycations for when you want to stay near home, and a great airport for when you want to leave.
Crystal-clear springs everywhere.
That we have two law schools (FAMU and Barry), one med school (UCF) and an improv-comedy school (SAK).
The Community Food & Outreach Center. And Second Harvest Food Bank.
A burgeoning literary community, thanks to the nonprofit publishing effort of Burrow Press.
The Festival of Trees and a month’s worth of holiday music on 107.7 FM. Peacock crossings. That families jam the streets of downtown Orlando for both the Veterans Day and “Come Out With Pride” parades. Top-notch hospitals. That, for all of Central Florida’s new urbanism, we also have a Genealogical Society. And 4-H clubs.
That we make newcomers feel welcome, because most people here were once newcomers themselves.