Thinking about Florida

[f6john]

   I feel fairly confident that in the next couple of years I will be selling my home of 35 plus years and relocating, possibiliy to Lexington Ky because that's where the grandsons are or to a sunny spot in Florida. I would like any recommendations on places to consider and places to avoid. My last name is not Trump so no need to suggest South Beach. I'm not a golfer so I don't need a swanky country club address. I'd like to get back to riding my bike more even though 700 mile day rides are long past for me. I do enjoy driving my Corvette which has always been a fair weather ride too.

   Looking forward to any enlightenment those of you with experience would like to share.

[FLAVALK]

I've lived in the Orlando area for over 20-years. Where to live depends entirely on what you want to do. If I had to move again it would be a smaller town nearer to the gulf. Just about anywhere on the west coast north of Tampa would suit me fine. South of Tampa is great but there are just too many people for me. Maybe around/between Homosassa and Crystal River or farther north to the big bend area (Apalachicola). The lifestyle is slow and easy and there are some good places to ride. The northern gulf coast is awesome but it's becoming more and more touristy with lots and lots of folks. I would avoid south Florida like the plague. It's a different country down there.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have no knowledge of any of that area. But I doubt you and your wife will relocate far from your grandkids. 

[f6john]

I've lived in the Orlando area for over 20-years. Where to live depends entirely on what you want to do. If I had to move again it would be a smaller town nearer to the gulf. Just about anywhere on the west coast north of Tampa would suit me fine. South of Tampa is great but there are just too many people for me. Maybe around/between Homosassa and Crystal River or farther north to the big bend area (Apalachicola). The lifestyle is slow and easy and there are some good places to ride. The northern gulf coast is awesome but it's becoming more and more touristy with lots and lots of folks. I would avoid south Florida like the plague. It's a different country down there.

Good info, thanks

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Beautiful east Tennessee we have mountains and we have roads just made for motorcycling . 100 miles to Lexington , Kentucky from my house 20 miles north of Knoxville. You can't buy a curve in Florida unless its on a get on / off ramp .

[f6john]

I have no knowledge of any of that area. But I doubt you and your wife will relocate far from your grandkids.  

    Your right, mostly. When the twins were born, my son bought a new house more than double the size of his first one. Since they were premies and we had already committed to help with their care, we have been living with them 5-7 days a week for the last year. At some point we will all need a break from one another but I'm guessing Nanna's and Poppa's room will always be available for extended visits. I'm also guessing that they would enjoy having a place crash when they need to get away.


     Joe, I've ridden from Knoxville to Lexington and it's beautiful countryside the whole way.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I have no knowledge of any of that area. But I doubt you and your wife will relocate far from your grandkids. 

    Your right, mostly. When the twins were born, my son bought a new house more than double the size of his first one. Since they were premies and we had already committed to help with their care, we have been living with them 5-7 days a week for the last year. At some point we will all need a break from one another but I'm guessing Nanna's and Poppa's room will always be available for extended visits. I'm also guessing that they would enjoy having a place crash when they need to get away.

No disrespect to our Florida buddies, but I think Joe is right. I know I wouldn't enjoy riding flat roads all the time.

[Alpha Dog]

Valdosta, GA.  That way when the oceans rise and cover FL as has been prophesied for a long time now due to you know what, you will have beachfront property.

I would give SmokinJoe's advise serious consideration.  I just looked up ave. daily temps in Knoxville.  Jan. is about 13 degrees higher than me in SW OH.  The mtns promote themselves.

[..]

Cedar Key round to Mexico Beach.

[TJ]

If you like cold weather move north of I-4 ... I live about an hour south of Orlando and there are a lot of good roads to ride with a whole lot of less cars... A nice small town with great rides to anywhere you want go... Joe is right , if you are looking for curves stay , in Ky. or Tn. because they are very few in Fl.....   

[3fan4life]

I have no knowledge of any of that area. But I doubt you and your wife will relocate far from your grandkids. 

    Your right, mostly. When the twins were born, my son bought a new house more than double the size of his first one. Since they were premies and we had already committed to help with their care, we have been living with them 5-7 days a week for the last year. At some point we will all need a break from one another but I'm guessing Nanna's and Poppa's room will always be available for extended visits. I'm also guessing that they would enjoy having a place crash when they need to get away.

No disrespect to our Florida buddies, but I think Joe is right. I know I wouldn't enjoy riding flat roads all the time.

If I were to move to FL something along the Gulf Coast would be my first choice.

My plan used to be to move to FL when I retired but that was when my brother was living there. Since he died I don't have much interest in living there anymore.

The non-tourist part of FL is nice I really like The area between Horseshoe Beach and Cedar Key.



And MH I really have to disagree there are plenty of curves in FL and even a mountain or two  



  

[Danny McMillin]

Flat roads make you appreciate the mountain riding more!!!

[Patrick]

I didn't like Florida for most of my life. Now I own a winter home there. We spent 15 winters in the Keys and still love that area, but, really couldn't afford to buy a place there.
We found that the west coast from Clearwater to Crystal River is nice and affordable.
However if you want to be pretty much below the frost line then its about at Tarpon Springs and south. But then the area south of St Pete is getting priceyer every year.

[f6john]

All my time spent in Florida has been going to Bike Week and traveling out from Daytona for day rides. One year we did nothing but ride, making a loop down to the Keys. I still don't have a feel for the state and what it would be like living there. Appreciate all the suggestions. I'm not really a corner carver so a lack of "asphalt" curves wouldn't be a big problem. As for Florida curves, wife says I can look but not touch!

[henry 008]

my daughter lives in the spring hill, weeki wachee area. I really enjoy it there when I go to visit. 

[vanavyman]

  We've been looking in Florida for a couple years and have a few more before retirement.  Friend of ours winters over in Fort Myers and likes it a lot.  Warm there in the winter and he can fish comfortably through the whole winter.  I do like most non-big city areas of the Gulf. Still like Joe's idea of Eastern, TN and enjoying those mountains as much as possible.  Would love to talk Trish into our primary home being there and spending January and February in FL in an RV or Double wide rental close to the Gulf after retirement.

   St Augustine and St Johns are nice too on the ocean side.  Have a couple friends that have retired there.  These can be a little to hectic for me. 
 
Dan

[Rams]

All my time spent in Florida has been going to Bike Week and traveling out from Daytona for day rides. One year we did nothing but ride, making a loop down to the Keys. I still don't have a feel for the state and what it would be like living there. Appreciate all the suggestions. I'm not really a corner carver so a lack of "asphalt" curves wouldn't be a big problem. As for Florida curves, wife says I can look but not touch!

I have family that live in Port St. Lucie.   Been there several times.  This I swear, they have skeeters big enough that if you're not doused in Agent Orange and tied down to the ground, two will carry ya off.

Florida offers something but, I've never figured out what it was.................     Personally, I like Eastern TN, Southern NC, NW SC and SE KY.   But, it really depends on what you like.

[sandy]

Please: Nobody tell him we hit 84 in PHX today.

[fudgie]

Lexington is a pretty area. Partied hard one night at a "club" down there. Got a limo ride back to the hotel. 

[cookiedough]

we visited gulf shores border of Alabama and Florida line was nice but way too darn HOT for my liking day in and day out.  To have 90 degrees at 7 a.m. in June was too much for me to handle day in and day out.

I agree,  stick with the hills and curves unless you REALLY like the HOT weather and beaches.

[Pappy!]

Yep!
From July through September a lot of years the temps here are mid-90s to 100f and humidity in the 90% range as well. About the time you think it will cool off in the evenings the mosquitos come out to enjoy their evening feast on you.
Oh....and don't forget about the Love Bugs twice a year for almost two weeks at a time.

[f6john]

  Some of you guys are about to pop my bubble!

[Farside]

Born and raised in Tallahasse, A really nice place to live with rolling hills and canopy roads.   Beautiful North FL roads east and west in the panhandle.  Most rides south to the coast are less traveled than you might expect. Beaches are some of the best you'll see in Florida.   Nice folks and great seafood! Also Close enough to get to North GA and Western Carolina in a day. Check it out!  

[_Sheffjs_]

  Some of you guys are about to pop my bubble!

John,  I work for the City of Sarasota and I have been coming here since 68 When I was 7. All I can say is stay away from the larger cities. Sarasota has changed so much!  More like Miami now. Traffic is hell. 17 miles to work at the wrong time is 1.25hrs         As for Joe and a few others, wrong! If,   Big if, you choose the spot wisely. From Zephyrhills going NW you have plenty of curves and hills up to and slightly past Brooksville, any of this areas would be a great place to live and ride. Is it East Tenn? No, but not flat and straight at all. Another place that is hilly curvey and a great area is Howie in the Hills.  Away from the madness.  Fort Myers?  Sarasota?  No thanks I made that mistake.   

Simply my take here folks.   

[f6john]

  Some of you guys are about to pop my bubble!

John,  I work for the City of Sarasota and I have been coming here since 68 When I was 7. All I can say is stay away from the larger cities. Sarasota has changed so much!  More like Miami now. Traffic is hell. 17 miles to work at the wrong time is 1.25hrs         As for Joe and a few others, wrong! If,   Big if, you choose the spot wisely. From Zephyrhills going NW you have plenty of curves and hills up to and slightly past Brooksville, any of this areas would be a great place to live and ride. Is it East Tenn? No, but not flat and straight at all. Another place that is hilly curvey and a great area is Howie in the Hills.  Away from the madness.  Fort Myers?  Sarasota?  No thanks I made that mistake.   

Simply my take here folks.   

Thanks for the info, definitely not looking for a traffic nightmare. My son bought a car from a guy in Miami last year and I flew down with him to check it out and drive back. Would not want to do that again anytime soon.

[cookiedough]

well if you do not like traffic just like me, stay away from the big cities say 30-40 miles or so like I do.  I live 35 miles south of big city Madison and takes me 45 minutes to get up there.  Some who live 15 miles from Madison take 25 minutes due to traffic conditions and am sure Madison is nowhere as congested as much other big cities.  For an extra 20 minutes of driving time one way I will gladly live in a smaller rural town where my property taxes are 2-3 grand cheaper per year. Gas is cheap! 

I like the idea of warm sunny days but in Florida and other states like Arizona,  I could not handle the 90+ degree daily temps almost all year round doubt I would ride my cycle much if much over 95 degrees in temps.  I would much rather drive in 45 degree temps than over 90 degrees on a cycle.  But,  that being said,  northern winters SUCK out 4 months for sure not riding at all.

[..]

Am I right?

They like going to the beach cause every body of fresh water has at least one alligator in it that's ready to bite yer ass!

[Patrick]

Bugs;

As far as they are concerned, when we were in the Keys for 15 winters there were no skeeters. They have a good program for them. They are fighting the release of the sterilized males now though. But, the sand fleas/ no-see-ums will tear you up.
Where we are now, along the mid-west coast, there are no skeeters or sand fleas. The fleas can be a problem later in the season and after a hard rain, but, for the most the bugs aren't bad. The skeeters are far worse at home in upstate NY.

The temps now are ranging about 60F at night and mid 70s by day.

The fishing is good and there are a lot of good joints to hang out at.

[Pappy!]

Am I right?

They like going to the beach cause every body of fresh water has at least one alligator in it that's ready to bite yer ass!

Except the lake by my house. Gators are invited to leave this lake on a very regular basis.........

[..]

Am I right?

They like going to the beach cause every body of fresh water has at least one alligator in it that's ready to bite yer ass!

Except the lake by my house. Gators are invited to leave this lake on a very regular basis.........

Do they fit on your BBQ? 

[BF]

I'm a native...born and raised in this state.  I live in Northwest Florida, the Panhandle...Fort Walton Beach....smack dab half way between Pensacola and Panama City/Panama City Beach (2 entirely different things....there's the city then there's the beach).  Growing up here back in the 50's, 60's, 70's and even into the early 80's, this used to be a nice and quiet and great place to live, work and play....not so much anymore.  It's still a very good place to be, but we're being over run with tourists. 

Thanks to the Tourist Development Council, we've been over run with tourists, snowbirds, spring breakers and anyone else with a wallet flush with cash to spend here.  It's to the point now that even during the winter slow tourist period, it's not slow anymore.  Our roads are over crowed and jam packed.  What should normally be a 20 minute drive to my Doctor's office now takes at a minimum and hour in the winter.  In the summer, that same drive takes and hour 15 to and hour and a half.  And even now with the over crowding that's occurring now, the TDC says that we don't have enough tourists and we need even more.  Crazy.  Tourists suck.  I honestly believe that the TDC won't be satisfied until our roads and highways reach total gridlock....which already occurs now everyday of the week during the spring and summer. 

I've lived in this state my entire life (well, except for a short while in Mississippi and New Mexico via Uncle Sam) and if there's anywhere that I'd move to it is the Port St Joe/Cape San Blas area on over to the Apalachicola area.  It's nice and quiet there...Port St Joe has a main street reminiscent of Mayberry's.  There are beaches there that the massive hords of tourists haven't found yet....nice place to live, work and play.  The biggest cities close to there is Panama City and Tallahasssee.   

Another nice little place, but rather isolated somewhat, is Cedar Key.  I like it there too.  The closest cities to Cedar Key is Gainesville or either Ocala.  It's a straight shot on over to Gainesville however.

Anything and everything south of Gainesville you can keep.  Everything south of Tampa is another world altogether.  I was born in Bradenton.  Bradenton used to be named after my family's name before it was known as Bradenton.  The old cemetery there on Riverview Blvd is named after my family.  Most all of my relatives are either in the Tampa area or are still in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.  I wouldn't live down there for anything. 

But down to choices....I'd either stay here where I'm at, or move to the Port St Joe area myself.  But that's just me. 

One good thing about here is that you're only a six hour drive to at least 4 major NFL teams.  New Orleans, Jacksonville, Tampa and Atlanta. 

It's about 12 hours to Miami if you're a Dolphins fan. 

About 10 hours up to Tennessee if you want to ride the mountains with Smokin' Joe.  But then again, it snows there too. 

[f6john]

Thanks for your insight and taking the time to share your experience. I think of you and your circumstances every time I see you post. Hope you are having a better than average day.

[_Sheffjs_]

John, the Florida group will be glad to share some wind and show you some roads if you are ever in these parts.

[f6john]

John, the Florida group will be glad to share some wind and show you some roads if you are ever in these parts.

Hope to take you up on that down the road. Presently still full time caregivers for our grandkids which we are enjoying but finding it to be very restrictive too.

[BF]

Thanks for your insight and taking the time to share your experience. I think of you and your circumstances every time I see you post. Hope you are having a better than average day.

I are John.  Thanks.