Possibly moving to Gulf Coast FL... any suggestions
- Thread starter Kiber
- Start date
My son and I are naming our surf boat Meyhem Lauren. I may buy this next Friday after the sea trial
https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2008-tige-24ve-6311984/
I def wanna smoke with this guy
https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2008-tige-24ve-6311984/
I def wanna smoke with this guy
Fort Myers. You can get a house on a canal that leads to the ocean for a reasonable price.
Go North....Not South of Tampa.... congested shit holes to the south. Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties have wonderful restaurants. People there take more visits to the beaches in Clearwater, Pass-a-grille etc than those that live in those towns. You will be above the water table not underwater like Sarasota, Ft Myers and Punta Gorda.
The places north of Tampa are protected from Hurricanes by the Hernando Ridge that protrudes out into the Gulf.
The places north of Tampa are protected from Hurricanes by the Hernando Ridge that protrudes out into the Gulf.
How is the Bradenton / Bradenton Beach area.???
What we are looking for is beach life for retirement but not small isolation. My wife & I spent the first 55 years of our lives in either Philly or Atlanta (other than those 4 years in State College). 50+ years of living in mega-cities like Philly & Atlanta, we do not need the crowds & the mass of humanity any more. But we fear that if we get too isolated we will go stir crazy. That is why we'd like to be maybe with 30-60 minutes of a decent sized city like Tampa. Would a Bradenton / Bradenton Beach give us the combination of beach life, beach life retirement + proximity to a decent sized city for restaurants, dining, shopping, sporting events.... I figure that if I were in Bradenton Beach I could always go into Tampa for a Ligthning or Bucs game.
What we are looking for is beach life for retirement but not small isolation. My wife & I spent the first 55 years of our lives in either Philly or Atlanta (other than those 4 years in State College). 50+ years of living in mega-cities like Philly & Atlanta, we do not need the crowds & the mass of humanity any more. But we fear that if we get too isolated we will go stir crazy. That is why we'd like to be maybe with 30-60 minutes of a decent sized city like Tampa. Would a Bradenton / Bradenton Beach give us the combination of beach life, beach life retirement + proximity to a decent sized city for restaurants, dining, shopping, sporting events.... I figure that if I were in Bradenton Beach I could always go into Tampa for a Ligthning or Bucs game.
For those recommending north of Tampa, one thing to consider is how "warm" you want to be in the winter. There is an imaginary line running from roughly Tampa to Melbourne....above the line and you're looking at cooler winter temperatures. Sometimes significant.
As an example, I used to live in Palm Coast (above the line). Now I live in Brevard County. In the 17 years I've lived here, we have had a grand total of 3 nights go below freezing. In Palm Coast we could easily have three nights below freezing in one week. Despite only 100 mile distance.
My folks have a house in Ocala. There have been mornings where the temperature delta between my house and theirs is twenty degrees. It will be 33 there and 53 here. Granted they are much farther from the water.
If you dont mind occasional lows in the 30s and 40s in the winter then it won't matter to you. I just prefer living "below the line". I'm certainly not saying there aren't advantages to those areas north of Tampa as others have pointed out. Just one thing to consider.
As an example, I used to live in Palm Coast (above the line). Now I live in Brevard County. In the 17 years I've lived here, we have had a grand total of 3 nights go below freezing. In Palm Coast we could easily have three nights below freezing in one week. Despite only 100 mile distance.
My folks have a house in Ocala. There have been mornings where the temperature delta between my house and theirs is twenty degrees. It will be 33 there and 53 here. Granted they are much farther from the water.
If you dont mind occasional lows in the 30s and 40s in the winter then it won't matter to you. I just prefer living "below the line". I'm certainly not saying there aren't advantages to those areas north of Tampa as others have pointed out. Just one thing to consider.
As I mentioned as well as someone else, the Lakewood Ranch area might be a good fit. Technically in Bradenton, but on the county/city line of Manatee/Sarasota & Bradenton/Sarasota. Would be a bit of a drive to the beach, but not that far from Tampa. Beach town properties are $$$$$ and that might be for a $h!thole.
We did a lot of research before we settled where we are, the Palmer Ranch area of Sarasota. Still some cattle fields by us, although they are starting to disappear for house construction. We are 10-15 minutes from Siesta Key Beach and about the same for less crowded Nokomis Beach. A little further south is Manasota Key Beach where we like to go shark tooth hunting.
Where we live there are a mix of older (30 years and less) single family homes and condos/townhomes as well as new construction. We are close to shopping and the communities of Osprey, Nokomis and Venice are practically next door. Our home is pretty far above sea level and in the last evacuation zone in case of a hurricane pretty much for a 1000 year flood. Our flood insurance is the least expensive one can get due to location and many of our neighbors elected not to get any due to low risk.
We are close to the freeway, and about 8-10 minutes south of the Lakewood Ranch area. Downtown Sarasota with its lively arts community including the Van Wezel Performing Arts venue, Sarasota Opera and Ballet is about 20-25 minutes away. Downtown also has many good and high end restaurants and the northern side of downtown called the Rosemary district is undergoing a revitalization.
We considered Lakewood Ranch, but it was too much like where we came from (Powell, Ohio) and was too far for our tastes to go certain places like the beach, but it does have mega shopping, however we live about 15 minutes away so it really doesn’t matter to us. Other attractions in Sarasota include the Mote Aquarium (just broke ground for new facility), Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Benderson Park Rowing venue, and St. Armands Circle on Lido Key.
I’m starting to sound like a tour guide, but I thought I would give you a better idea of what the Sarasota area is like. You may want to research Palmer Ranch on the internet to see if it fits your needs.
We did a lot of research before we settled where we are, the Palmer Ranch area of Sarasota. Still some cattle fields by us, although they are starting to disappear for house construction. We are 10-15 minutes from Siesta Key Beach and about the same for less crowded Nokomis Beach. A little further south is Manasota Key Beach where we like to go shark tooth hunting.
Where we live there are a mix of older (30 years and less) single family homes and condos/townhomes as well as new construction. We are close to shopping and the communities of Osprey, Nokomis and Venice are practically next door. Our home is pretty far above sea level and in the last evacuation zone in case of a hurricane pretty much for a 1000 year flood. Our flood insurance is the least expensive one can get due to location and many of our neighbors elected not to get any due to low risk.
We are close to the freeway, and about 8-10 minutes south of the Lakewood Ranch area. Downtown Sarasota with its lively arts community including the Van Wezel Performing Arts venue, Sarasota Opera and Ballet is about 20-25 minutes away. Downtown also has many good and high end restaurants and the northern side of downtown called the Rosemary district is undergoing a revitalization.
We considered Lakewood Ranch, but it was too much like where we came from (Powell, Ohio) and was too far for our tastes to go certain places like the beach, but it does have mega shopping, however we live about 15 minutes away so it really doesn’t matter to us. Other attractions in Sarasota include the Mote Aquarium (just broke ground for new facility), Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Benderson Park Rowing venue, and St. Armands Circle on Lido Key.
I’m starting to sound like a tour guide, but I thought I would give you a better idea of what the Sarasota area is like. You may want to research Palmer Ranch on the internet to see if it fits your needs.
Inventory is low. Our office landlord up by the inlet is a realtor and he says sellers are naming their price and it's being accepted. He had a house he thought he had procured for a client and it ended up selling for $80K over asking price.
The first move to FL is an important one, because that's the area you're likely to remain. Unless you're in your 30's, get away from the people would be my advice.
It’s not necessarily a bad area. It’s growing and houses are relatively still on the lower end compared with many other areas on the gulf coast. It may be a little further away from Tampa than what you were looking for (around 2+ hours).
North Fort Myers is not a very nice area. Neither is Port Charlotte or Bradenton
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Post_ShockTherapy_MackDaddy
Well-Known Member
You are right about Palm Coast - my parens have lived there for 30 years and they will sometimes get frosts overnight in the Winter. I like the area especially the beach bars in Flagler Beach - The Golden Lion is my favorite been going there for 30 years as well.
That was me, I'm sure there are nice areas but lots of drugs and gang violence. South Ft. Myers is quite nice. Lots of new home construction, usually part of an association with an HOA but generally pool, health club, tennis courts, plus. South Ft. Myers to Tampa is about two hours.
I'll have to look you up this winter. Two years ago I met NittanyJoe who owns The Lighthouse Grill at Stump Pass in Englewood.
Kind of inconvenient to live there during season because there is a lot of traffic. Also Marco Island, Naples (Vanderbilt Beach) and Sanibel have nicer beaches
But you can't buy underwear in Sanibel.
True story. We vacationed there several times. One time, I completely forgot to pack underwear. No biggie, right? Except you can't find underwear on that freakin island. Finally found a 3 pack of boxers that looked like they had been on the shelf for 14 years at Baileys General Store.
That was a good 7 or 8 years ago, so maybe things have changed, but other than regular groceries you're crossing that damn 3 mile long toll bridge for everything else. Fantastic place to visit but I think living out there could get old quick.
McCurdys is a great comedy club in Sarasota. Some great comedy. Siesta Beach on Siesta Key is always rated one of the top beachs in the country. When timed right, 30 minutes from Lakewood Ranch.
Our current winter house is in Del Webb which is on the eastern edge of Lakewood Ranch. An over 55 resort community. Folks from all over have moved there . Neighbors are from Michigan (I will forgive them that as they are great people and even root for Penn State when not playing MSU). Others from England, midwest, northeast. Mostly great people with the exception of a couple from OSU who have since moved out.
As I mentioned we are on the eastern edge of Lakewood Ranch. Close to a sporting clays club, state parks, kayaking, restaurants, and a huge mall at University Town Center.
I was very leary when we first built but have enjoyed it to the point that we are building a larger house. We had planned to build a house on a lake in NC but after comparing summer weather I came to the conclusion there was not much difference in the summer but the winters sealed the deal for Fl. In the two winters I have spent there, I could count on one hand the days I wore long pants.
Our current winter house is in Del Webb which is on the eastern edge of Lakewood Ranch. An over 55 resort community. Folks from all over have moved there . Neighbors are from Michigan (I will forgive them that as they are great people and even root for Penn State when not playing MSU). Others from England, midwest, northeast. Mostly great people with the exception of a couple from OSU who have since moved out.
As I mentioned we are on the eastern edge of Lakewood Ranch. Close to a sporting clays club, state parks, kayaking, restaurants, and a huge mall at University Town Center.
I was very leary when we first built but have enjoyed it to the point that we are building a larger house. We had planned to build a house on a lake in NC but after comparing summer weather I came to the conclusion there was not much difference in the summer but the winters sealed the deal for Fl. In the two winters I have spent there, I could count on one hand the days I wore long pants.
Fort Myers Beach bridge traffic is ridiculous during the winter. Same with Sanibel/Captiva.
Estero & Bonita Springs are very nice but anything close to Naples is expensive. Fort Myers isn't very nice until you get a bit south of the city where it's nice.
Punta Gorda is a nice small town, especially for boaters. Port Charlotte is so so. Northport is nicer. Sarasota is very nice.
Bradenton Beach is on Anna Maria Island and we love that barrier island. It's laid back with beautiful beaches and no high rise condos or hotels.
My parents spent winters in Perico Bay, which is a few miles from the beach off Rt 64. It's the closest barrier island south of the Tampa/St Pete area.
Great location, close to Tampa/St Pete, Bradenton and Sarasota.
Cape Coral has a lot of bikers. Lots of canals. Is a bit hard to get to other areas, but is closer to Tampa. I lived there for 2 Spring Trainings. Would not be my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice. If I lived in Tampa I would live in South Tampa, Davis Island or Hyde Park. If an hour away Sarasota or north of Tampa. 2 hours away def South Fort Myers or in a condo in downtown Fort Myers along the river. They have events almost every weekend in downtown Fort Myers during season where it's like a big party. music walk, art walk etc... Lots of cool restaurants and bars.
Naples is an older crowd. 50+. Estero is nice, Bonita Springs Nicer. If you have a dog there is a cool dog beach near Bonita Springs.
Yes. You can live in South Fort Myers and take the bridge to go to the Sanibel beaches. 5-10 minutes away by car.
Cape Coral has 400+ miles of canals. You can have a house on the water with a boat dock in your backyard for a reasonable price. Of course, the more you pay, the closer your boat/house is to the river and the Gulf. Caloosahatchee rIverfront homes are $1 to several million. Those just off the river on wide/scenic canals can be $500,000 to a couple million, homes on smaller canals average $300-400,000 or so, but it may be a 10 to 20 min boat ride to the Caloosahatchee (the river), and another 20-30 minutes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Cape Coral also has a blossoming downtown dining scene. The old downtown seemed to have a majority of the new cool restaurants opening in Lee County before the pandemic hit.
But it is 2 hours from Tampa.
Cape Coral also has a blossoming downtown dining scene. The old downtown seemed to have a majority of the new cool restaurants opening in Lee County before the pandemic hit.
But it is 2 hours from Tampa.
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As I mentioned previously we like to go to the beaches on Manasota Key for shark tooth hunting. We go in the AM and then drive to the Lighthouse Grill for lunch and to enjoy Creamery ice cream. Still have not been able to meet the owner, though. He never seems to be there the times we have eaten there.
If I was moving back to Fla...I would go to Gulf Breeze......bedroom community outside Pensacola. I have lived in Pensacola, Sarasota, Venice, and St.Pete....nice areas but the latter 3 have to many people....plus the Naval Air Station keeps the economy and lifestyle going....
We have vacationed in the upper panhandle for close to 30 years. Started way back in early 90s in Ft. Walton Beach, then continued to migrate east until for the last 10 years settled on the eastern end of 30-A at Seacrest and Rosemary. From FWB to Destin to Sandestin to Seaside to Seacrest. We love the upper panhandle for vacation, but I could not see myself living/retiring there. IMO, you get off 30-A or 98 and you are in redneck boon-docks in about 1 minute. Plus, the area still is not very developed. Been down there a few times in November - January and it is a ghost town. In the Summer months you have masses of humanity from the vacation crowd, and in the Winter months you have ghost towns.
Like I said, we love vacationing there. Just got back from 30-A / Seacrest 2-weeks ago and we are planning a return trip over Labor day weekend. But I just do not see making that area my last move.
Thinking of retiring in Florida but spending summers on lake in the Carolinas. Figured it’d be significantly cooler BC of lake breeze and also BC up in or near mountains. Is it still really hot there in the summer?
I was comparing temps in Littleton NC, which is on Lake Gaston about 30 miles west of Roanoke Rapids off I 95.
Right now in Littleton it is 95 with real feel of 106. According to my weather station in Florida, the high today was 99 with a real feel of about 120. My weather station in State College showed a high today of 95 with a real feel of 105. There was a shower at my weather station in Fl today and it cooled down to 86 right now. Maybe a few degrees difference between Fl and NC but did not work for me. I am maintaining a cabin near Renovo, PA which I will use in May/June and again in Sept/Nov. Could not justify a third property in NC and chose Fl for the winters.
I'll take the year round use of a pool in Florida. Winters in Littleton NC can be damp/raw with snow and ice.
Don't know where in NC you are looking at, maybe in the mountains it is better but the winter is worse.
Right now in Littleton it is 95 with real feel of 106. According to my weather station in Florida, the high today was 99 with a real feel of about 120. My weather station in State College showed a high today of 95 with a real feel of 105. There was a shower at my weather station in Fl today and it cooled down to 86 right now. Maybe a few degrees difference between Fl and NC but did not work for me. I am maintaining a cabin near Renovo, PA which I will use in May/June and again in Sept/Nov. Could not justify a third property in NC and chose Fl for the winters.
I'll take the year round use of a pool in Florida. Winters in Littleton NC can be damp/raw with snow and ice.
Don't know where in NC you are looking at, maybe in the mountains it is better but the winter is worse.
A long time ago when I was a kid, I spent some winters in Naples. Much later I helped my father sell some land in Naples. If you want to be close to a big city, you should consider that Lee County (Ft. Myers) has about 800,000 people and Collier County has about 350,000 people.
Assuming you don't want to go really high end, you might like Bonita Springs or Estero or Cape Coral. Would add that the Southwest Florida Airport in Southern Lee County is ridiculously convenient from many places on the East Coast or Eastern Midwest. About 1.5 hours from Columbus.
We are going to go down for 2-weeks in November. Going to stay at Siesta Key Beach. Booked a very nice house about .4 miles from beach and supposedly within walking distance of restaurants/bars/shopping. Going to use that 2-weeks to scout area and meanwhile use Siesta Key Beach as "home base".
I figure this will give us a good idea how far that area is from Tampa. Not like I'd be going to Tampa regularly, but on the occasion I want to get to a larger airport, go to a show, a sporting event... it's nice to know how far that area is from Tampa.
I figure this will give us a good idea how far that area is from Tampa. Not like I'd be going to Tampa regularly, but on the occasion I want to get to a larger airport, go to a show, a sporting event... it's nice to know how far that area is from Tampa.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Yeah... I am not sure where I will end up. Most likely stay here in Delray Beach, but have thought about Jupiter area and New Smyrna/St. Augustine as well... even thought about Naples and Sarasota. For now we love Delray and Atlantic Ave. Our house is paid for and live about a mile from the beach. Here we are for now and who knows long term. My other half really enjoys it here in Delray so it would take a lot for her to move.
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