South Florida is our home and I love it. I moved here in 1999 and have heard many comments about our region over those 20 years. The majority of people speak very highly of our area, especially those in the Northern part of the United States. They enjoy our weather and beaches in particular. Then, of course, there are those that see our state in the news often, for a variety of reasons (unfortunately they aren’t all positive). Others complain about our humidity, our traffic, and even the diversity of our population. Some of the biggest complainers, are those that live here themselves. This is quite sad, because our home is truly amazing and full of fun opportunities.
Too Close
Because we live here, at times we forget how lucky we are to be in such a wonderful section of the nation. We are smack dab in the middle of most of the activities that tourists flock here for, so we don’t fully appreciate everything we have around us. We take our hometown for granted.
I must admit I am sometimes part of that crowd. While I love living in South Florida, I don’t always show how thankful I am to be in this wonderful area. Thank goodness for family and friends from other states, and other parts of Florida, for bringing me back to reality with their positive comments.
Entertainment for Children
One of the biggest compliments about our area is that we have SO MUCH entertainment for our children (and those who are young at heart). It’s a fact! I’ve lived in three other states and can testify that our South Florida region has a plethora of activities for all ages, not just children. But, because we’re here all the time, we often overlook just how much there really is to do.
I was raised to be active. When I was younger, my dad took me on trips all over the U.S., to many different theme parks, festivals, etc. I in turn, raise my daughters the same way. I prefer to try to make memories by doing activities, instead of buying tons of toys (we all know how they take over!). We go to parks, fairs, parades, indoor play places, and children’s events nearly every week. Not to mention the hundreds of functions near us during the holiday season. For us, it’s something to do, to keep us busy, and enjoy each other’s company. I’m also a photographer at heart and take joy in sharing our adventures with family and friends on social media.
It took me a while to realize that the abundance of experiences near us is quite rare. From what I’ve heard from those that don’t live nearby, their cities and towns don’t have half of what we do. I often get dozens of comments on my pictures saying things like, “You guys have the best stuff to do down there!” or “We wish there were activities like that near us!” and “Too bad we don’t live closer to South Florida, so we could join you in all of your adventures.”
How Did We Get So Lucky?
I started to wonder Why it is we have so many activities in the area to entertain our children. Our weather plays a crucial role in this, since we can do so many things outdoors year-round. Plus, our melting pot of different cultures is a bonus as there are countless events celebrating and honoring many traditions. Yet another factor is that we live in a pretty wealthy area. Besides having the funds to do all the extra things, many parents have the option of staying home with their children. With so many adults working from home or staying with their kids until they begin school, these families need more activities to do during the day to stay busy. Smart businesses are aware of this and cater to our area, providing adventures that other places in our nation simply don’t have.
Even when other locations try to duplicate some of the play places we have, they aren’t as successful-most likely because of the reasons mentioned before. Their weather can’t compete with ours, and they have more families where both parents work, therefore they don’t have as much time to visit those places. Without being able to stay as busy as businesses down here, those companies can’t bring in the crowds, and sadly, many close.
Enjoy and Appreciate What We Have
So, in case you weren’t aware, or no one has told you lately, us South Floridians are a very lucky bunch. We should all be extra grateful that we live in such a beautiful area with so much to keep us entertained. Other locations aren’t nearly as fortunate. We also need to teach our children how blessed they are to have so many fantastically fun things to do and places to visit. With enough time and money, you could experience a different adventure every single day for well more than a year. There certainly aren’t many other places that can top that, especially for our children. This Thanksgiving, I am extra thankful to live in a location that allows my family to create countless memories from the many entertainment opportunities provided by our region.
