As college is on the horizon and I'm getting ready to start my journey in North Carolina, I have been feeling so many mixed emotions. Most of these pertain to the change of weather. Living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and knowing nothing but humidity and heat makes it quite hard to even think about snow appropriate clothes. Throughout all of the preparations, now more than ever I have been feeling appreciative about my home. Here are my top four things I’m going to miss about my citrus growing state.
First off, I'm going to miss the 20-minute drive to the beach. Regardless of this being the most obvious perk of living in South Florida, I feel it remains the number one thing that gets taken for granted. You don’t realize what a luxury it is until you see that your short drive to the bay now needs a vacation all in itself to get there. We also can’t not talk about the feeling of pure bliss as you cruise down A1A with your best friends, blasting music, the windows down, feeling the breeze and smelling the salt in the air. It really doesn’t get better than that.
Another very obvious and under appreciated perk of South Florida: the theme parks. Between Disney, Universal and Busch Gardens, if you didn’t have a season pass to at least one of these parks at one point in your life did you really grow up a Floridian? The fact that my best friends and I could take a trip and experience all of Disney’s Magic Kingdom all in 24 hours really is something special. It’s true what they say, this is where all of your dreams come true.
Growing up in Fort Lauderdale means that the infamous city of Miami is only a 30-60-minute drive away. This new lifestyle experience was only discovered about two years ago when I got my license, but I really wish I could’ve found it earlier. Whether you’re looking to shop, eat some (ridiculously) good food, or see some art, Miami has it all. My favorite would be the Wynwood Walls. Normally known for their unique graffiti from local artists, it is now known as being the home of the Zika virus. I hope it clears up soon because these walls are a must see for everyone.
Another underrated, and my most beloved luxury, of South Florida are the picture perfect sunsets. No bad day dealing with the crazy drivers (one of the not so great parts about where I live) couldn’t be cured with the view on the drive home. Florida sunsets are a new level of beauty and I’m so sad to leave them. Whether it’s watching from the beach or your own backyard, it’s the perfect way to end the day.
So although South Florida is full of crazy drivers and humidity that makes it hard to breathe, it is so taken for granted. I will truly miss my way of life down here and will be nothing but overjoyed to return when the frost bite has finally gotten to me up north. For anyone who is currently living here, don’t take it for granted! For anyone planning on visiting or moving here, come on down, the waters great.
