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Cutler Bay Florida

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. A couple of Sunday mornings ago (early on Palm Sunday) I drove 3½ hours southward from Sebring to Homestead Florida. It took a little bit longer than normal for the trek on that particular Sunday morning due to a bicycling event that I wasn’t expecting until I reached Florida State Road 997 (Krome Avenue) in Miami-Dade County.

And actually when I went to plot my trek on Google Maps a few minutes prior to leaving home – it warned me that my route was partially closed – the northernmost 18 miles of Krome Avenue from U.S. 27 southward. I figured that it was due to wildfires adjacent to the road, as that’s sometimes a problem at this time of the year (the end of dry season). It was actually due to the annual GFNY (Gran Fondo New York) Miami endurance competition – a 35-mile loop for bicyclists (70 miles if you do it twice). The left-hand lane of both directions of Krome Avenue was orange coned off and reserved for the bicyclists, as regular vehicular traffic continued in the right-hand lane.

That was pretty unique to be driving alongside an active bicycle event. We rarely reached the speed limit of 55 MPH, and actually traffic slowed down quite a bit as we drove by bicyclists.

I arrived at my Sunday morning destination – my longtime home church from 2015 to 2024. I got to see my Homestead Pastor preach LIVE for the first time since December. (I previously filled-in for him for a couple of Sundays in January and February.)

From downtown Homestead I drove around the outside of the airbase for the first time since I retired almost 14 months ago. There has been rapid development adjacent to the main entry of the airbase since I was last there. A MASSIVE Miami Dade County Transit Operations Center for electric buses is currently under construction on 20 acres of land that was previously undeveloped for 30+ years ever since Hurricane Andrew destroyed what used to be the base housing area of the original airbase.

I proceeded northward and eastward over to Cutler Bay Florida – picking-up a longtime friend along the way. We went to Applebee’s for lunch. I was not impressed with my meal – or the service. Both were slightly below average. I remember Applebee’s being a bit better than that; although, it had been almost 3 years since we last ate there.

From Applebee’s we drove around the Southland Mall – which was unbelievably packed (at least on one side of the mall – facing U.S. 1). That was my neighborhood mall (sort of) during my 36 years of living down the road in Homestead. Southland Mall redevelopment has begun, and the former Sears building of 48 years (1972-2020) is no longer there. About 5,000 residential apartments (via high-rises) will be built to create a new live, work, and play community experience, and the legacy mall itself will be supplemented with new “town center” stores individually accessible directly from the exterior.

Finally – we made it to The Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center (across the street from the mall) to attend a concert – The 13TH Army Band of the Florida National Guard. Tickets were free, but they had to be reserved in advance. The Army band was large, and they mostly performed patriotic and military songs. This was the 2ND such concert that I’ve seen at this nice modern entertainment venue since it opened in 2011.

Next #TravelThursday – My Miami-Dade County Florida adventure continues with more nostalgia on the Monday after – including a visit to the first church that I called home for 8 years. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Lehigh Acres Florida

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my recent trip to and from the Fort Myers area of Southwest Florida to see MercyMe, Zach Williams, and Sam Wesley LIVE in concert at the Hertz Arena.

I took the same route arriving and departing the area. Of course – I departed the area early on a Sunday morning under much more favorable traffic conditions than the afternoon before.

From Ben Hill Griffin Parkway (the same road in front of the Hertz Arena) – I continued northward as it became Treeline Avenue. I then head east on Daniels Parkway – which is a major thoroughfare in the area. I made a right at Florida State Road 82 – at a weird intersection known as a “continuous flow intersection” (CFI). It’s the first one in Florida. It’s hard to explain, but as a visitor to the area – I definitely wouldn’t want to drive it at night. I’ve actually been studying this innovative intersection on Google Maps and elsewhere in order to figure out its history and reasoning. It looks like it cost over $57 million to construct from 2017 to 2019. It was designed to alleviate heavy turning traffic at the intersection, and it seems to be working. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen such an intersection design. Wikipedia explains it nicely, so head there for more information.

At that intersection I entered Lehigh Acres. It’s not a village. It’s not a town. It’s not a city. It’s not incorporated. It’s merely a “census designated place” (CDP). But over 130,000 residents live within its municipal district boundaries. It’s one of the fastest-growing areas of the Fort Myers area, and its population has quadrupled since 2000.

Fun Fact: Last week I wrote about the Christian rock concert that I attended at the Hertz Arena. Back in October 2009 I attended a Christian rock concert in Lehigh Acres at a church. As it turns out I drove within about 1,500 feet of that church on this trip a couple of weekends ago. (I didn’t know it at the time. I just realized it as I was doing research for this post.)

I drove through a substantial portion of Lehigh Acres to and from Estero – Florida State Road 82, Alabama Road, Leeland Heights Boulevard, and Joel Boulevard to Florida State Road 80. Just shy of 80 is the northern boundary of Lehigh Acres – and the southern boundary of Alva – another CDP – a rural area with less than 3,000 residents.

After Alva it was on to Fort Denaud, Labelle, Florida State Road 29, U.S. 27, and then back home again to Highlands County and Sebring. And yet again I drove right through the heart of downtown Labelle without stopping (aside from traffic lights). I really need to stop doing that. I’d like to stop and visit and eat at one of the local restaurants.

I definitely want to visit the newly restored Labelle Heritage Museum at 360 Bridge Street (Florida State Road 29). Google says they are open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 AM to 1 PM, but a recent feature on the historic house museum on the local news stated that they are open on Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM. I should call beforehand. I recommend that you do the same if you plan to visit. It appears that they have no Facebook page or web site.

Next #TravelThursday – What life changing event may be occurring soon down south ? If you’re a regular reader – then you may have an idea of what it is. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging Christian Driving God Ministry Music Radio Travel

Hertz Arena

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last Saturday night I attended my 14TH LIVE event over the past 15 years at the Hertz Arena in Estero Florida (adjacent to I-75 – between Fort Myers and Naples). Opened in 1998 – it’s my favorite medium-size arena. It’s got a maximum capacity of over 8,000, but a little over 7,000 for most events.

I attended the MercyMe, Zach Williams, and Sam Wesley concert. MercyMe and Zach Williams are two of my favorite Christian rock artists – with a combined 20 hits on my weekly music chart since 2017 including 8 # 1 hits. Sam Wesley is an emerging artist, and he’s the eldest son of Bart Millard – the lead singer of MercyMe.

It was my 5TH time seeing MercyMe, 3RD time seeing Zach Williams, and 2ND time seeing Sam Wesley. I bought my ticket to the concert last July First. It was originally scheduled for Thursday October 10TH 2024, but 3 days beforehand it was postponed and rescheduled for almost 6 months later due to Hurricane Milton approaching the area. (It made landfall and devastated the area late on the night before the scheduled night of the concert.)

The original concert had two different opening acts for MercyMe – Crowder and Cochren & Co. (I’ve seen both of them twice before.)

The concert itself was wonderful. I shared a few details on Zach Williams this past #MusicMonday. I love his “Rescue Story” – his song and his testimony on how his salvation started in 2012. He’s been praising and worshiping his Lord + Savior Jesus Christ ever since. His music truly reflects his fantastic journey and his love for Jesus.

MercyMe have been a band for 31 years. I’ve only been a fan since 2017; although, I actually saw them for the first time in concert as an opening artist in 2015. I saw them as headliners for 3 years in a row in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It was the last LIVE event I saw in March 2020 a few days before the COVID pandemic shut down the world. It was the 2ND LIVE event I saw in October 2021 post-pandemic. A MercyMe concert is always a fun time for all ages – from kids to adults. It’s always great to attend a concert that’s filled with families – all singing along in unison – with a little bit of swaying and even some “happy dancing” mixed in.

It cost $30 to park in the arena parking lot (cashless). For a 4½-hour event (arriving an hour before the start of the concert) – that’s less than $7 per hour. Considering that there are some other arenas in Florida charging as much as $75 to park – I’d consider $30 to be a bargain. (You can also park at the adjacent shopping center for free, and walk over to the arena.)

Departing an arena parking lot post-event can be aggravating, but that’s usually not the case with Hertz Arena. Traffic generally flows reasonably well out the parking lot and onto the main highway (Ben Hill Griffin Parkway) thanks to strategically positioned orange cones and police officers directing traffic. We had a sold-out show, so a few thousand vehicles all leaving at roughly the same time was no problem at all. It was much tougher getting out of the South Florida State College parking lot following the Three Dog Night concert on the previous weekend.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll write about my drive to and from the Hertz Arena through Lehigh Acres. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Florida Medal Of Honor Memorial

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. This week I’m writing about my first-time visit a little over 3 weeks ago to our newest museum right here in my hometown of Sebring Florida. It’s the Florida Medal Of Honor Memorial.

Their Mission is “to honor and preserve the legacy of Florida Medal of Honor recipients through education, leadership, and inspiring displays, ensuring their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten.”

24 Medal of Honor recipients are Floridians – including our very own Major Thomas “Mickey” McGuire Jr. (1920-1945; Sebring High School Class of 1938). Check out his displays inside the Visitors Center.

What a wonderful Memorial (outside) and a beautiful Visitors Center (inside). It’s a fantastic addition to downtown Sebring, and as a Director of a neighboring historical museum – I welcome them to the family. I went home that night, and the next day I wrote them a check to cover a 5-year membership for myself. I want to be part of their growth and evolution. I want to support them in any way that I can.

Fun Fact: Surrounding the museum and the memorial are mostly (90%) native Florida plants – over 650 of them – including over 40 species. The plants were selected based on their colors, textures, and interactions with wildlife – attracting and supporting local butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects.

They are located at the corner of South Commerce and South Eucalyptus in downtown Sebring – 0.4 miles from our Circle – right next to the Highlands County Government Center. They are open 5 days a week – Tuesdays to Saturdays – from 10 AM to 4 PM. In addition to their official web site (hyperlinked above) – you can check them out on both Facebook and X.

Mama Told Me Not To Come, but The Show Must Go On, so we’ll Shambala An Old Fashioned Love Song Out In The Country – at least this One time, so that there is Joy To The World for the Black And White – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp