Nicest areas of Florida....

[Ninja Jordan]

I am working in Jacksonville next summer. I've never been there.

Is Florida a total pit (like some on this board say), or does it get bad rap? Are places like Tampa, Orlando, WPB, Miami nice?

[SteppingRazor]

1. I think every state's got its ups and downs...

Florida's really nice in spots. And if you like urban life -- which I happen to -- South Florida's great. Always something to do, no matter what time of day or night.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. Jax is cool

they actually have infrastructure there, which is kind of unheard of in florida. but yeah - there are some great things to do here. great beaches - check out the keys - and areas south of tampa like captiva and fort meyers. Orlando - eh - hmmmm. . may want to just drive around. Miami can be quite exciting - a cruise down the main strip is really cool.

[Ninja Jordan]

3. Hey thanks for the input.

So its pretty convenient to get around in Jax? Is the city close enough to the ocean that it loses a little of the "hell on earth weather" feel of other southern cities (Atl, Dallas)?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. absolutely.

Jax can have a very breezy feel to it, nothing like Atl - more like a Savannah. Downtown Jax city is not directly on the coast but it's close enough to benefit from the nearby ocean. Havent been to Dallas but I hear it sucks. I'm not sure of the convenience of getting around public transport-wise - but Jax doesn't have a traffic problem like most other Florida urban centers - they have an efficient highway system.

Jax is one of the biggest cities in the US, if not the biggest, in terms of sq mileage - so Jax means different things to different people - of course the coast is king. There are some great bars on the beach with excellent seafood. Good looking girls there too, University of North Florida - but they congregate towards the beach like any sane people would. I'm not from there by the way I live in Orlando.

While you're there make sure you take a short trip south to St. Augustine and see the Castillo de san Marcos - and St. George Street. check out The Columbia restaurant. There're several hotels in St Augustine that offer very reasonable rates, you can see all of St Augustine in a day. Awesome stuff.

Then you can just cruise down the coast, Daytona - New Smyrna - Cocoa - actually just drive thru Daytona and hit Smyrna - chill out there. If you had 4 days 3 nights you could make it to Miami and back to Jax comfortably. I think I've gotten way ahead of you though, but that's what i'd do.

[stuartrida]

32. My feelings as well!

[Dirty Hippie]

5. If your in Jax visit St. Augustine

about 40 min away.

Very nice get-away.

[El Fuego]

6. If they say Florida is a total pit...

WHY DO THEY KEEP COMING HERE????

:banghead:

[Fla Dem]

7. Jax / St. Augustine very nice...but heavily Repug

Live in St Aug area. Not like a lot of the overdeveloped areas on the rest of the coast. Still can find affordable housing within a 10 minute drive to the beach. Jax is up and coming. Lot of development, Jax beach has lots of restaurants, night life. Downtown Jax pretty much rolls up the sidewalks after rush hour, although the are trying to bring night life in. Only real problem is this corner of NE Fl is heavily Repug. If you're young you probably want to live near Jax beach or Jax Southside.

[ChiciB1]

8. I'm Told Where I Live... OUR Beaches Whitest Sand In the World!!

And recently they tested the Gulf waters here and state that they are cleaner than most other Gulf waters. Now, I'm not SURE I believe them, I have seen some serious deterioration since I moved here, but they ARE cleaner than last year. Someone dumped a lot of waste off our shore and it was pretty dirty. Took the county a long time to fine it out too!

Then, even though I like where I live... a mile from the beach... I also have to put up with Cruella Harris!! A "red" county here. Maybe she'll be gone soon, but I'm not taking any bets on THAT either!!

But this area is one of the "fastest" growing in the state and it is green and pretty. I also have to say that even though I've lived in this house for at least 20 years, even with ALL the hurricanes through ALL those years... we have NEVER even had so much as a flood or high water even though we are so close to the Gulf! Had a lot of debris from time to time, but given how close we are to the Gulf, we have been very lucky. Now that I said that, I'm taking it back for fear of jinxing ourselves!!!

I've been to Jacksonville, have a niece who lives there. It's big, but I liked it a lot! St. Augustine is a nice place to visit... lots of history!! Sarasota is pretty "snobby" for the most part! Add Ft. Myers & Naples into that category too!

I'm very "middle class" or what used to be middle class, so I don't run with the "big dogs" who visit the cultural sites such as The Van Wezel or Theater Groups. But we have several of them around too.

Personally, I can't wait until we won't have to care for my mother-in-law anymore and I'm headed to OREGON for a trip. Now that's BEAUTIFUL! Plus need to go to S. Dakota to find the parents of our dog "Shawnee" a Chocolate Lab! Really should have named her Dakota, but felt it was a more masculine name at the time. But did want to name her after an Indian Tribe so it's SHAWNEE!! I'm braggin'on my "baby" I KNOW!!

[Divameow77]

9. My boyfriend wants us to move to Daytona

from Minnesota, what can you guys tell me about that area? I have 2 little boys 9 and 3 that would be moving with us.

[nosillies]

10. I live in the Daytona area

Notice I said area -- Port Orange, to be exact. Pretty much the same as Daytona, but nicer, I think. Maybe I'm snobby, but for nice neighborhoods and good schools, I wouldn't want a Daytona address.

This is such a great area for children, though. Beaches, themes parks, zoos, museums, all close by. We have a blast living here.

If you ever want more details, feel free to PM me.

[teenagebambam]

17. I used to live in Daytona

...the Daytona "area", as well, Ormond Beach which is North of town. I agree that a Daytona address is maybe not the best for children (though Daytona has made amazing strides in recent years) but the surrounding areas are great.

Jacksonville, on the other hand....I just moved here six weeks ago from DC, and I'm ready to go back. It's a steaming cauldron of filth and conservatism.

[never_get_over_it]

11. Just be prepared

don't make the mistake I did - this is a VERY southern state - which of course I know sounds silly but - I thought that there would be enough transplants here to make it tolerable - but I was unfortunately VERY WRONG. I'm a bit further south than Daytona - maybe its not as RED statish in Daytona as it is here - ironically given that you are in MN - the person who conned me into moving here was from MN and up and went back about six weeks ago leaving me pretty much alone here - frankly I find the people here extremely racist, stupid, selfish, unfriendly and nasty and some are down right looney.

The big plus of course is the weather and the ocean - which will probably keep me here.

[nosillies]

12. OUCH OUCH OUCH!

I'm a southerner!

Are you still in Volusia? It's a blue county. Brevard's more red.

And some of the biggest freeper wingnuts I know live out west and up north.

[never_get_over_it]

13. I'm sorry don't mean to offend

but I'm not kidding you I'm in culture shock here - Brevard....

I have heard more racist crap since I have lived here - and it has shocked me - the sad thing is I love my house - love the weather - love being close to the ocean but most of the people I have met have been a HUGE disappointment.

I moved here from Northern VA which is like a huge melting pot - not as much as say NYC probably but VERY diverse and I loved the diversity

I'm in a gated community - not because I have any big thing for gated communities - but the house I liked the most when looking happened to be here....I got roped into being on the board and was once at a meeting where some guy came up to me said he was thinking of buying in the community and asked if there were any blacks in the neighborhood - my answer I sure hope so - to me having a diverse community is a GREAT thing and it wasn't until later that it dawn on me that for him it probably isn't. That is just one story I have several more and I've only been here two years....so discouraging.

[nosillies]

14. Oh, that's OK, we're used to it!

It's funny, I do think that imaginary line between Volusia and Brevard makes a difference. It seems there's not as much of that in my area. Granted, it's everywhere, but maybe to a lesser degree here. Be glad you're not in the panhandle.

[shortcake]

16. Double ouch

I'm a southerner living here and I don't find it very southern. I find a lot of northern, rich Repubs. One county south of you. Doesn't Brevard have Space Coast Progressives? Did you go to the Memorial Day anti war march?

[never_get_over_it]

18. I've just had a really rotten two years

which has made some of the crap that goes on here harder to take. I didn't know about the Space Coast Progressives - but just googled them and am looking at their web site. THANKS! I'm hoping things will get better here because I really don't want to pack up and leave - don't really know where I would go.....

[Herman Munster]

23. there really aren't many true blue counties in Florida

But I would look at Broward, Palm Beach. But the cost of living in South Florida is CRAZY.

I suggest you take a trip north and spend some time in Gainesville and Tallahassee. Both great little liberal college towns.

[SpecialK]

25. Melbourne?

Hey there!

I'm from Melbourne - left 10 years ago and lived in NYC and Europe - and now I can't believe I'm back living in central Florida again. I'm in downtown Orlando,though, which is slightly more tolerable, but trust me - I feel your pain!

I have to say I never realized how RED Brevard was until I left and came back. My family was/is dem, although not really involved in the dem community, so I didn't realize what a minority we were (I left immediately when I was 18). There are LOTS of transplants from the north, which would lead one to believe that there'd be more diversity, but I think the issues are as follows:

1) The middle & upper-middle class are largely employed by Space/Gov/Defense-related corporations like Harris, Lokheed, Northrup-Grumman, etc. This industry naturally attracts your stereotypical Repug.

2) Those that are native to the area are generally, for lack of better term, quite red-neckish. Sorry if that offends anyone, but most of these confederate-flag-waving folk will say with pride that they are indeed rednecks. We know how these people tend to think and act....

What's changing, though, is as Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (largely dem) becomes expensive and overcrowded, those types are beginning to settle in Brevard & elsewhere in central Florida (downtown Orlando is going to see unprecedented growth over the next 10 years), which will change the demographic somewhat. I promise you that if you were to get a glimpse of central Florida 10 years from now, you wouldn't believe it was the same area as it is now.

And you nailed it on the head in your post why any of us stay here, really. THE WEATHER. THE WEATHER. THE WEATHER. I learned when I moved away to northern climates that I am spoiled by sunshine & warmth. I get depressed when it's overcast for one day here. I hibernate in temperatures lower that 60. And, of course, the beach is beautiful!

Although it's hard to tell amid the sea of W bumper stickers, there are lots of us here. You're NOT ALONE!! ;-)

[DawnneOBTS]

36. You live in Brevard?

I am so sorry for you. I finished school there in the last few months, and I will never step foot in that county again. I live in Volusia (well, my parents do now, and I visit-my home and heart belong to New Jersey).

[DawnneOBTS]

37. I have a lot of Brevard racist stories too...

Seriously, I really do feel bad for you.

[6th Borough]

22. True "yankee blue" country is down in Broward.

Broward County provides the closest cultural approximation to the Northeast in Florida.

Nearly 2 million people, of which, last I checked some 5 years ago or so, 60+% were of Tri-State (New York, Jersey, Connecticut) extraction. It contains the cultural diversity that many "southern" areas/states don't; our large, integrated international community makes an indelible mark on the area. Miramar, in southern Broward, is rated as on of the top 100 cities to live in as ranked by Forbes...it is also ranked 3rd in number of Reggae/dancehall albums produced worldwide, following only Kingston, Jamaica and New York City. Broward has a thriving cricket fan base; I'm not sure if it has been completed yet, but Broward should have a proper Cricket stadium built sometime soon if it hasn't been completed yet, the intention being to draw international tests (tournaments in cricket-speech) to hold entire competitions at a single location in South Florida. There are Hindu temples and a rather large, by Floridian standards at least, number of mosques; Buddhist temples (there is a fairly large Chinese-Caribbean community), etc; cultural festivals, the occasional Dali Llama visit, etc.

[libertad]

24. I concur. I was also suprised by the extreme racism and hatred

here. If I had known, I would have never moved here.

[retread]

26. A lot of people do not understand the extent of the bigotry here. I live

in a blue, liberal college town and it is jaw dropping what people will say to you because you are white and they assume you think the same.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

19. try Deltona area. or listen to Amy.

[nosillies]

20. Your second sentence makes SO MUCH SENSE

If everyone in my life only listened to Amy a little more, things would rock!

But I can't agree about Deltona. Something about it is just weird to me.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

21. lol

Deltona is a little weird, but not as weird as raising children in Daytona. can you imagine?

[floridadem27]

30. Born and raised...

in Daytona Beach myself and am proud to live in a blue city with a Dem mayor in a blue county. There are not many of those in Florida. And although I don't have kids myself I turned out well (I think) and my siblings' kids are happily normal, intelligent and well adjusted too. :)

Since others have talked up Tampa/St. Pete and S. Florida, I'll tell you about my area - St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and the Space Coast. If you get time to travel down from Jacksonville, take a daytrip down I-95 to St. Augustine to visit the Old City. It's a great American history lesson. Next is Flagler County. Since you're living on an intern's salary, in Flagler I recommend stopping in at one of Florida's first theme parks, Marineland, for practically nothing (maybe $5-$10 tops) you can visit the dolphins there (you can swim with them too, but that is much more expensive). One, I believe her name is Nelly, is one of the oldest dolphins in captivity. She's been there for decades and they sell watercolor tees that she's painted (don't ask, would take too much time to explain). Head down A1A from Marineland and The Daytona area is next, specifically Ormond Beach. If you like desolate beach you should try Ormond by the Sea. Beautiful uninterrupted coastline there. Daytona has alot of good cultural offerings like theater, music festivals and a great small museum in the Museum of Arts & Sciences, it's one of the best museums in Florida, I think, and it's Smithsonian-affiliated. Further south in Port Orange you can go kayaking and canoeing on Spruce Creek. You can do the same at Tomoka State Park too. Further south you can climb the tallest lighthouse in Florida (second tallest in U.S.) or visit the Marine Science Center which specializes in sea turtle and seabird rehab. There are some great seafood restaurants in Daytona and Ponce Inlet too. If you prefer southern style seafood there are a couple of good eateries in Port Orange as well. And you can't forget to check out New Smyrna. There is a new water taxi that will take you from Ponce Inlet to New Smyrna Beach. It's a nice two hour scenic cruise. On the west side of Volusia County is Cassadaga, its a little spirtualist community (one of the last in the U.S.) that's filled with psychics. They perform free readings on Sundays during the message service -- and yes, they are certified (again, don't ask). Also at Old Spanish Mill Griddle House at DeLeon Springs you can griddle your own pancakes. And they have the best hot chocolate! Of course the next county south of the Daytona/Volusia area is Brevard and it's home to Kennedy Space Center. They have a "lunch with an astronaut" program now that I've heard is pretty cool. That pretty much covers the St. Augustine/ Daytona Beach/Space Coast areas.

[nosillies]

31. HEY, welcome to DU!!!!!!

:hi:

[newyawker99]

39. Hi floridadem27!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DawnneOBTS]

35. I live in the Daytona area...

PM me if I can be of any help to you also-I live in Ormond-By-The-Sea. I know Daytona Beach mainland you certainly don't want to live in, and, yes, Port Orange is nice.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

15. South Tampa is great, St. Pete's ok also....

n/t

[fishnfla]

27. Took me awhile, but I've learned to love Florida

I relocated here 17 years or so ago. i'm living in same area as amy. With kids, its real important to get in a good school district. For the most part, the newer bedroom communities have newer and nicer schools. The trend on the east coast is west of 95 corridor, so you'll be some ways away from the beach...but there is plenty to do, dont have to go far to have a vacation....

just about everyone here is from somewhere else, so there are all types and cultures. Jax and N. Florida tend to be more old-timey florida, generally speaking

the housing market is going thru a glut in these parts at present. Some are saying that next year and into '08 will be good time to get a deal on housing. Equity investors are renting places cheap now, even waterfront (not ocean)

[nosillies]

28. Hey there!

:hi:

[fishnfla]

29. Howdy, ma'am

Enjoying the rain? I know the lawn is.
enjoyed your replies in this thread.

The OP is right on one thing, alot of people knock FLA, but its allright I guess

[cwydro]

33. Florida is what you make it

just like anywhere else...make sure you visit us down here in the Keys!:hi:

[RebelOne]

34. Stay out of Miami. It's the hell hole of the South.

I moved from there to North Georgia in 1989. It's the smartest thing I ever did. There's bugs, crime, heat, humidity and any other horror you can name.

[JCMach1]

38. Gainesville

Green, liberal University town...

[fladonkey]

40. Favorite areas...

Orlando is very nice but the traffic can be stressful - lived here for over 40 years
(voted Dem in both 2000 and 2004)
St. Augustine is beautiful - historical -- before the Pilgrims and relatively cheap
Sarasota is gorgeous but expensive
South Florida is more tropical and more cosmopolitan
St. Petersburg is beautiful, cosmopolitan has a great newspaper and is more 'international' in flavor - great museums
small towns in the Ocala national forest are quaint, a little conservative and rustic but Astor has some great restaurants where you can drive your boat right up to the front door
Tallahassee is complicated - very 'southern' in architecture and food but is a Democratic town despite Jeb and his crowd.
Florida is what you make it. I could not see myself living anywhere else. Good luck!

[fladonkey]

41. Favorite areas...

Orlando is very nice but the traffic can be stressful - lived here for over 40 years
(voted Dem in both 2000 and 2004)
St. Augustine is beautiful - historical -- before the Pilgrims and relatively cheap
Sarasota is gorgeous but expensive
South Florida is more tropical and more cosmopolitan
St. Petersburg is beautiful, cosmopolitan has a great newspaper and is more 'international' in flavor - great museums
small towns in the Ocala national forest are quaint, a little conservative and rustic but Astor has some great restaurants where you can drive your boat right up to the front door
Tallahassee is complicated - very 'southern' in architecture and food but is a Democratic town despite Jeb and his crowd.
Florida is what you make it. I could not see myself living anywhere else. Good luck!

[bluevoter4life]

42. Hell no

I hate Florida. This state offers nothing for someone like me.
I live in Fort Lauderdale, the most liberal area of the state
so I am immune from most of the nut jobs. I do alot of
travelling and just be prepared to have religous propoganda
shoved down your throat. There isn't a thing to do in
Jacksonville. Miami and Fort Lauderdale and WPB have a little
more, but you need to come with a lot of cash otherwise you
can't afford it. My suggestion, don't stay any longer than you
need to. I've been trying to get out for years.

[cwydro]

45. so where did you come from

and why did you leave?

[Ninja Jordan]

43. Thank you all for your posts (nm)

[spin]

44. Lake City area

I'm currently living in north central Florida west of Jacksonville (Lake City Area). I moved here after 37 years in Tampa. I find the people here are friendly and VERY religious. There are lots if hunters in this area. The Shell gas station, within a mile of me, sells ammunition...something I never saw in Tampa.

The police presence in this area is amazing. It’s not unusual for me to spot 6 or more police cars in the five mile drive to town. No wonder people tend to obey the speed limit and seem slow off the line when the light turns green. They also STOP when the light turns red. I can see I will have to alter my driving habits.

So far I have avoided talking politics with the locals, but I have learned a lot about deer and deer hunting.

[Herman Munster]

46. north central florida is florida's best kept secret

Ocala/Gainesville/Lake City is beautiful.

It's away from the coast and in the north part of the state that historically has much less intense hurricanes so your hurricane insurance premiums will be significantly lower than elsewhere in Florida.

There is also abundant recreation opportunities. The parks, springs, rivers, lakes, in this area are amazing because most are of pristine condition without being polluted by concrete and development. And if you need to get your beach fix, you are only a 90 minute drive from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

I prefer Gainesville to Ocala or Lake City though because it's much much more liberal town because of the University but you really can't go wrong anywhere in north central florida.