Today I Learned (TIL)

[iNEVERSLEEPg]

TiL:: eli5 [=

 

[Vixxen81]

TIL Fannie Flagg was Nurse Wilkins in Grease. Watched that movie a million times and watch Match Game. Never put two and two together.

 

[Maxi]

TIL that Flo Rida is called Flo Rida because he’s from Florida

Didn’t make the connection…

 

[Maxi]

TIL that Flo Rida is called Flo Rida because he’s from Florida

Didn’t make the connection…

Been to the state twice, loved everything about it!

 

[yummybrownfox]

Been to the state twice, loved everything about it!

I've started taking solo trips to Florida in 2025, and loved it there so much that I've decided to start going there around three times a year. I absolutely love waking up to seeing palm trees outside, being on a beach with white sand, hot weather and wearing shorts/dresses in December...which I'd never do when freezing my ass off here in Maryland.

 

[Vixxen81]

You two are the only people on earth who love Florida. )

 

[yummybrownfox]

You two are the only people on earth who love Florida. )

Nope, there’s lots of people like me who enjoy going there to visit for some of the reasons I’d stated above or other reasons. There are also many attractions there that I love, and I’ve even befriended some of the folks who are regulars of the Siesta Key drum circle.

Visiting there and living there are two different things. Will my Black ass ever live in red state Florida? I doubt it!

 

[Vixxen81]

Nope, there’s lots of people like me who enjoy going there to visit for some of the reasons I’d stated above or other reasons. There are also many attractions there that I love, and I’ve even befriended some of the folks who are regulars of the Siesta Key drum circle.

Visiting there and living there are two different things. Will my Black ass ever live there in red state Florida? I doubt it!

I have military connections to Florida. My opinion of that state will always be negative. Enjoy your vacations but elsewhere on the internet Florida basically has its own "stupid, meth, weirdos, old people, Disney freaks" reputation.

 

[yummybrownfox]

I have military connections to Florida. My opinion of that state will always be negative. Enjoy your vacations but elsewhere on the internet Florida basically has its own "stupid, meth, weirdos, old people, Disney freaks" reputation.

I thought you were gonna mention its reputation of being MAGA Land, Ron DeSantis territory. I actually didn't even know it has a meth reputation. Interesting. I knew about the old people reputation though. There's a lot of old people on the beach, but the ones I've encountered there are cool af, dance along to the drum circle's music, join in on the Conga line, and are there to have a relaxing time with their spouse and watch the sunset. Disney freaks don't bother me. I'm pretty vocal about the fact that I'm a Universal Orlando type of gal myself. And luckily the only weirdo that stood out to me is that crazy Jesus freak on Siesta Beach who preaches and yells at people that they're gonna go to Hell for having tattoos, etc. Luckily he and I have never exchanged words or made direct eye contact. We all ignore his crazy ass and continue dancing. The drunk college kids who are there for spring break are the annoying ones imo...and the Jesus freak I'd mentioned earlier. Lol.

 

[MarieElise]

For some reason, I thought it had always been a red state, but apparently it used to be a swing state. I don't know where I picked up the impression it had always been solid red. Honestly, I would like to visit; I've never been. But I did watch Bloodlines, which is filmed there (I think), and was really awestruck by the beauty.

ETA; I always think of it as like the Australia of the US because they have so much heavy duty Wildlife & weather there. Pretty sure they have boas, alligators, crocodiles, and sharks I don't even have the pussy balls to google Florida spiders. They probably have massive ones.

 

[yummybrownfox]

Honestly, I would like to visit; I've never been. But I did watch Bloodlines, which is filmed there (I think), and was really awestruck by the beauty.

You should!

The prettiest sunset I've ever seen was while standing at a bus stop outside of Spot X Hotel in Orlando in December 2025, and turning my head to the right to see it among all the palm trees.

The first time I'd ever been on a white sand beach was in April 2025 when I decided to check out Siesta Key in Sarasota, which was ranked the #1 beach in the U.S. The white quartz sand there remains cool and doesn't get hot. I brought some of it home with me last year, and keep it in a bottle. Watching the sunset on that beach while placing your bare feet in the cool white sand, and jammin' in the Sunday drum circle is awesome.

Going "glamping" at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (a dark sky park in the middle of nowhere in a town called Okeechobee)...where there's minimal light pollution, I got to lay in a hammock and look up to admire tons of stars in the sky. I'd never seen so many stars in the sky in all my life.

 

[MarieElise]

You should!

The prettiest sunset I've ever seen was while standing at a bus stop outside of Spot X Hotel in Orlando in December 2025, and turning my head to the right to see it among all the palm trees.

The first time I'd ever been on a white sand beach was in April 2025 when I decided to check out Siesta Key in Sarasota, which was ranked the #1 beach in the U.S. The white quartz sand there remains cool and doesn't get hot. I brought some of it home with me last year, and keep it in a bottle. Watching the sunset on that beach while placing your bare feet in the cool white sand, and jammin' in the Sunday drum circle is awesome.

Going "glamping" at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (a dark sky park in the middle of nowhere in a town called Okeechobee)...where there's minimal light pollution, I got to lay in a hammock and look up to admire tons of stars in the sky. I'd never seen so many stars in the sky in all my life.

Omg all of that sounds like a dream come true! Now that you say that, I don't think I've ever been on a beach with white sand before. I went to some nice beaches in Rhode Island, but not that nice. Omg that would be so awesome, sand that remains cool! I didn't even know that existed in the world. I'm gonna go look at Florida and see where those places you mention are. I think the Bloodlines place was filmed in the Florida Keys, which I think might be on the Southeast side.

ETA; One thing I do know about Florida is that nothing in the whole state is a higher elevation from sea level than 350ft. Idk why I find that so interesting, but that fact always sticks out to me about Florida. I've joked about it in the past, but I think it might be true, that everyone in Florida is getting a lot of oxygen. I lived (most of my life) somewhere at about 3000-4000 ft. When I first moved there (from Sea level) it was a crazy adjustment, but your body adapts.

 

[yummybrownfox]

Omg all of that sounds like a dream come true! Now that you say that, I don't think I've ever been on a beach with white sand before. I went to some nice beaches in Rhode Island, but not that nice. Omg that would be so awesome, sand that remains cool! I didn't even know that existed in the world. I'm gonna go look at Florida and see where those places you mention are. I think the Bloodlines place was the Florida Keys, which I think might be on the South East side.

Yeah, after being on a white sand beach and being in awe of it, I'm not even interested in visiting other beaches anymore with the brown sand. Lol. I've seen photos and videos online of beaches with black sand (like Iceland) and pink sand (Bahamas), and they're cool-looking too!

Florida is such a large state, so depending on where all you decide to go, the drive (or bus or train ride) from point A to point B could be a bit time-consuming...but worth it imo. I always bring my pink Beats headphones for the Greyhound bus ride to/from Sarasota.

I went to the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, FL last year to see a rocket launch...and paid for the "Feel The Heat" admission package, but the launch got scrubbed at like the last second. It was rescheduled to the next day, though, so luckily I was able to still watch the rocket launch from a nearby park...before it was time for me to catch my Greyhound bus to my next Florida destination.

 

[MarieElise]

I've seen photos and videos online of beaches with black sand (like Iceland) and pink sand (Bahamas), and they're cool-looking too!

I really need to get out more. I didn't know any of this even existed. So cool!

 

[Maxi]

I have to say I’ve only stayed in Miami Beach in Florida (twice) and I realise Florida is bigger than the whole of England

Loved it both times though - the food, people/culture, palm trees, dive bars, ocean, easy access to downtown Miami and quick to the Bahamas… always had a blast! We drove down to the Keys last time over this huuuge bridge over the water which was awesome too. Fun times.



ETA: plus I’m obsessed with Cuban sandwiches.