On the Road to Jack Kerouac's House

"Here's the plan," she said, "we take a vacation."

"A vacation? Where do you propose we go?"

She laughed with a mischievous smile that remained long after her words, "Orlando, of course. Where better to met interesting people? Sure they have 50 million tourist, but you know how we love those British accents? A good portion of the two million international visitors that go there are from the UK."

Since there was no interruption, she continued, "It's not like I suggested Vegas. Orlando only ranks second in Carlson Wagonlit's Travel Trends Survey. And it is not like we have to stay at a hotel if you don't want to. There are around 25,000 rental properties from which to chose. Surely,we would find a nice place."

The other still looked unsold, "I'm not so sure O-Town is for us."

"You mean the City Beautiful and you do know it was on the map before Disney. There is history there. It was incorporated in 1875."

The other just shook her head, "If it is so great, where are all the citrus groves? Isn't that why Orlando is the county seat of Orange County?"

There was laughter, "There are no citrus groves because they had to make room for the Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters, which I know you are a fan. I guess the groves went away when big business like Darden Restaurants came into town. But this is all for expansion and your comfort as a visitor. And, if it makes you fell better, there is still cattle land along the GreeneWay Expressway. Disney didn't do away with all those."

She was beginning to see why this would be a popular destination. "Do any locals still live there, I wonder?"

"No, most people who live there are originally from somewhere else, except for Wayne Brady and Delta Burke. But just think of all the beautiful people that are there now. It could be the perfect place for one to meet the person they could be with for the rest of eternity."

She mulled it over like a Christmas wine, "I'll think about it."

Her friend looked flustered and then the mischievous look was back in full force, "I know what will work and why we need to go to Orlando."

"What and why?"

"Because Jack Kerouac lived in Orlando in 1957 while his novel 'On the Road' was being publish."

Bingo.