Heading to FL as a travel companion, what should I do in FL?

[Xelerator]

Vic has been doing week long traveling courses to aquire her certification in equine podiatry. Anyways, this next week will be her last week and her test out in Florida, Ocala to be exact, and I wanted to support her by traveling with her. She will be in class every day from Saturday (6th) to Thursday (11th) of October. I will be stuck by myself everyday (with a rental) and I need things to do. I am obviously heading to Don Garlits Mueseum for sure! But I don't think I could do that for 6 days, well maybe? haha. I know that I should see the Camarofest on the 13th but I just can't swing staying down there that long. Any ideas?

[WMCC John F.]

Vic has been doing week long traveling courses to aquire her certification in equine podiatry. Anyways, this next week will be her last week and her test out in Florida, Ocala to be exact, and I wanted to support her by traveling with her. She will be in class every day from Saturday (6th) to Thursday (11th) of October. I will be stuck by myself everyday (with a rental) and I need things to do. I am obviously heading to Don Garlits Mueseum for sure! But I don't think I could do that for 6 days, well maybe? haha. I know that I should see the Camarofest on the 13th but I just can't swing staying down there that long. Any ideas?

Hey Derek, Christi and I go down to Ocala just about every February. We have friends that live there and enjoy ourselves. Don Garlits is a deffinate when we go. A lot of Hemi stuff but there is a lot of other history there also. Chances are you will see Don Garlits there. He usually shows up everyday and walks around if he is in town. National Parts Depot has a distribution center in Ocala, right next to I-75 so it is easy to find. Huge parts counter with lots of "goodies" you can buy. They used to have a personal collection of old cars in the building that you could go back and look at but they don't allow that anymore because they have expanded there warehouse and moved it into that area. That was cool. A lot of history. A nice place to eat is downtown called "Harry's". Lots of good food, both regular and southern cajun. Great place to party in the evening too. If you want to take a ride during the day, jump on 40 east and head over to Daytona beach and the race track. Daytona USA, etc over there. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Enjoy yourselves, or put it off until Feb. and we will be there. Plane tickets have been purchased.
John F.

[MiT/A'96]

Just being in Florida is awesome .Theres lots of things you can do.Just use your imagination.... Soak up the SUN !!!!

[meissen]

Yeah, I'd hit the beach personally.

[Xelerator]

Hey Derek, Christi and I go down to Ocala just about every February. We have friends that live there and enjoy ourselves. Don Garlits is a deffinate when we go. A lot of Hemi stuff but there is a lot of other history there also. Chances are you will see Don Garlits there. He usually shows up everyday and walks around if he is in town. National Parts Depot has a distribution center in Ocala, right next to I-75 so it is easy to find. Huge parts counter with lots of "goodies" you can buy. They used to have a personal collection of old cars in the building that you could go back and look at but they don't allow that anymore because they have expanded there warehouse and moved it into that area. That was cool. A lot of history. A nice place to eat is downtown called "Harry's". Lots of good food, both regular and southern cajun. Great place to party in the evening too. If you want to take a ride during the day, jump on 40 east and head over to Daytona beach and the race track. Daytona USA, etc over there. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Enjoy yourselves, or put it off until Feb. and we will be there. Plane tickets have been purchased.
John F.

Hey John, that is perfect information, I appreciate it. I will have to head over to National parts to check that out too! I am thinking I will head to Daytona and at least see it, I can't spend the cash to do the ride though. Do you know where Harry's is located? is it easy to find? Any other food places you can think of that we should check out? Thanks again!

[Xelerator]

Hey Derek, Christi and I go down to Ocala just about every February. We have friends that live there and enjoy ourselves. Don Garlits is a deffinate when we go. A lot of Hemi stuff but there is a lot of other history there also. Chances are you will see Don Garlits there. He usually shows up everyday and walks around if he is in town. National Parts Depot has a distribution center in Ocala, right next to I-75 so it is easy to find. Huge parts counter with lots of "goodies" you can buy. They used to have a personal collection of old cars in the building that you could go back and look at but they don't allow that anymore because they have expanded there warehouse and moved it into that area. That was cool. A lot of history. A nice place to eat is downtown called "Harry's". Lots of good food, both regular and southern cajun. Great place to party in the evening too. If you want to take a ride during the day, jump on 40 east and head over to Daytona beach and the race track. Daytona USA, etc over there. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Enjoy yourselves, or put it off until Feb. and we will be there. Plane tickets have been purchased.
John F.

HOLY COW, this is awesome, there will be an All GM show at the NPD (national parts depot) the saturday after I get into Ocala!! http://www.npdlink.com/modules/Silve...mages/SSGM.pdf

[WMCC John F.]

Hey John, that is perfect information, I appreciate it. I will have to head over to National parts to check that out too! I am thinking I will head to Daytona and at least see it, I can't spend the cash to do the ride though. Do you know where Harry's is located? is it easy to find? Any other food places you can think of that we should check out? Thanks again!

I wouldn't spend the money for a track cruise either. Lots of great things to see outside of the track. Very close to the ocean when you come into Daytona. Hwy 1 runs right along the water for a number of miles. Cool cruise. Harry's is right downtown. Ocala has a "town square", and Harry's is about one block from that. You can see the town square. There is also north of the downtown all your shopping centers and malls with a lot of food places. Shells is a good seafood place, El Terro's mexican is a hugh food/bar. Don't tell them its your birthday. Sombreo on head, whip cream pie in the face and picture on wall for years. (I know).
I wish I was going with you. We always talk to our friends on friday evening, kind of have drinks together but in different towns.
Be safe and have fun.
John F.

[Xelerator]

I wouldn't spend the money for a track cruise either. Lots of great things to see outside of the track. Very close to the ocean when you come into Daytona. Hwy 1 runs right along the water for a number of miles. Cool cruise. Harry's is right downtown. Ocala has a "town square", and Harry's is about one block from that. You can see the town square. There is also north of the downtown all your shopping centers and malls with a lot of food places. Shells is a good seafood place, El Terro's mexican is a hugh food/bar. Don't tell them its your birthday. Sombreo on head, whip cream pie in the face and picture on wall for years. (I know).
I wish I was going with you. We always talk to our friends on friday evening, kind of have drinks together but in different towns.
Be safe and have fun.
John F.

Well, we made it to FL! Man is i sticky here, I am sure Feb. time frame would be much better but it wasn't our decision to pick this time to head to FL. Not crazy about this weather.

Anyways, I spent all day at the all GM show that NPD put on, some nice stuff there but nothing "outstanding" it was fun, the park that the show was held in was awesome, it was a combination petting zoo and amusement park, got to go on some glass bottom boats and see all the way to the bottom of the Silver Springs! very neat, saw some neat fish and artifacts down below.

But, John, I am .5 miles from NPD of Ocala!! Isn't that ironic! too funny, I would never have known that it was here if you did not mention anything. Thanks John!

[Xelerator]

John,
Is this the Harry's you are speaking of? it sounds like it, we will try it out before we leave. http://www.hookedonharrys.com/page/28-4172.htm

Tomorrow will be the Garlits museum, can' wait for that, and then I will try the NPD warehouse, hopfully I won't find too much to buy,haha.

[meissen]

Hey Derek,
WELCOME TO FLORIDA! I just got home from Florida yesterday, go figure. My parents are still there, though, but over on the gulf side at Fort Myers Beach. Gotta love the weather, it's high 80's, low 90's in spots here in the Detroit area... about the same as FL.

[Xelerator]

Thanks for everyones imput! I had a good time in FL, I did not like the humidity but oh well you get used to it. I did some cool car related stuff. I went to NPD's All GM car show on Saturday, Then I visited Don Garlits museum on Monday, Visited NPD's warehouse on Tuesday, Got a tour of Eone fire apparatus, and then the big one.........I drove to Marietta GA to meet up with Matt Murphy to see GMMG!!

Wow, visiting GMMG was the coolest part of my whole trip. I drove a total of 11 hours that day just to see GMMG and talk to Matt for 2 hours. But I learned a lot and took some cool pics. If you have never met Matt before, he is one heck of a great guy, he is more than willing to answer any question and help in any way that he can. I hope to be doing some business with Matt in the near future !

But of course the reason we were in Ocala FL was for Vic to accomplish her Equine Podietry which she did with flying colors! Now we can relax for a bit an hopfully start gaining some clients! We are both very excited about her certification and can't wait to see what the future brings us.

[meissen]

Congrats! Glad you had a good time! 11 hour drive for a 2 hour visit -- that's dedication! I totally agree with you, though, Matt's a really cool guy to talk to.