Arizona vs Florida...what's YOUR opinion (America, populations, climates, job)

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

I have thought about that before, that if I were to look on the bright side of things at least I don't have trees through my house and loss of electricity. i wonder if I will change my view of how great it may be to live out there the first time a hurricane hits lol. Sorry about your tv, that would make me nuts! Enjoy the storm though : )

We have Cable but it is totally out of date and I doubt they will string new cable to a small market. I've lived on the east coast plenty of trees fell there.

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I know what you mean about the mountains. I grew up looking at the 7000 ft. mountain, that is still in my 'backyard', and no matter where I live I'm not really happy unless I have mountains.

It is one of the things I loved when I moved from Illinois (so much nothing there!) to AZ! Not counting Sedona I fell the most in love with Superstition mountain...something about the way the sun hits it and creates shadows : )

[CMK10]

The Truman Show without the friendly locals. No one you meet is from here and nearly every community is fractured because of it. The inland parts of the states all look alike and barely differ from the coast. South Fl is probably the more aesthetically pleasing place but they have a their own large host of issues that outweigh it's minor beauty points.

Plus side: Sunny nearly all the time. Water everywhere you want it. Small beach towns carry some unique charm. New Smyrna in particular but, the beach is shark attack capital of the world. Google it.

I live in central Florida and own a beach house in New Smyrna beach. Been here since 1989. Wow, has my area changed. I'm keeping the beach house but my family and I are headed outta here in September. Had it with the heat, crime, rudeness and lack of community.

Summarize my experience: loved it for about 10 years when I first moved. Hated it ever since. Makes sense for some people I suppose, just like everywhere else. Good luck. Hope you find what you're looking for.

[GMonkey]

I lived in Surprise, AZ for 1.5 years and St. Augustine for 1, plus I've visited other parts of FL several times. I definitely prefer FL.

[bongofury]

I've lived in different areas of Florida (Saint Augustine/Coral Gables) and Arizona (Ahwatuckee/Sedona). Hands down better IMO is the central coast of California (Arroyo Grande, SLO, Pismo Beach areas) even with California's broken, dysfunctional state government. The great stuff to do out west within a reasonable drive within the state just annihilates the other two states offerings. I'm saving and hoping one day to be renting (no chance to buy a decent place) out west with the time I have left. I've been there done that with the White Mountains, Grand Canyon, Red Rocks, Bryce Canyon, Colorado river, Santa Fe, Taos, and the sticky humid penis shaped state with the Keys, Palm Beach, Disney World, South Beach, Redneck Rivera, Sarasota, Saint Pete. OK, I love Stone Crabs, Cuban food, good mangoes, horseback riding and hiking, rafting, wildflowers, Arizona's star gazing, sunsets - but I can live without it. I've done more cool, memorable stuff in California over my life time to fill a volume of books, but my Florida and Arizona experiences would fit into one slim volume, and not for want of trying, but for want of opportunity.

Note: Much is said about which states (Arizona, California, Florida, New York) have the most aggressive, dangerous, psychotic drivers. No question in my mind all things considered - Florida wears the dubious crown (especially Orlando to Miami).

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by bongofury

I've lived in different areas of Florida (Saint Augustine/Coral Gables) and Arizona (Ahwatuckee/Sedona). Hands down better IMO is the central coast of California (Arroyo Grande, SLO, Pismo Beach areas) even with California's broken, dysfunctional state government. The great stuff to do out west within a reasonable drive within the state just annihilates the other two states offerings. I'm saving and hoping one day to be renting (no chance to buy a decent place) out west with the time I have left. I've been there done that with the White Mountains, Grand Canyon, Red Rocks, Bryce Canyon, Colorado river, Santa Fe, Taos, and the sticky humid penis shaped state with the Keys, Palm Beach, Disney World, South Beach, Redneck Rivera, Sarasota, Saint Pete. OK, I love Stone Crabs, Cuban food, good mangoes, horseback riding and hiking, rafting, wildflowers, Arizona's star gazing, sunsets - but I can live without it. I've done more cool, memorable stuff in California over my life time to fill a volume of books, but my Florida and Arizona experiences would fit into one slim volume, and not for want of trying, but for want of opportunity.

Note: Much is said about which states (Arizona, California, Florida, New York) have the most aggressive, dangerous, psychotic drivers. No question in my mind all things considered - Florida wears the dubious crown (especially Orlando to Miami).

Lol, but we must be a close second, considering we have drivers from all those areas lumped into one!

[MotleyCrew]

We enjoy visiting Florida and would not mind having a condo there, but as far as living full time AZ was our choice. AZ is, in my opinion, far cleaner than Florida, from the restaurants to the public restrooms and even the sidewalks.

[bongofury]

"AZ is, in my opinion, far cleaner than Florida, from the restaurants to the public restrooms and even the sidewalks."

Depends. I know plenty of destination Coral Gables, Florida restaurants, hotels that are almost always professionally staffed, wonderful and clean, whereas in Phoenix the preponderance of media hyped restaurants, hotels, in destination locations were a letdown TIME AND AGAIN because of lackadaisical/indifferent management, untrained wait staff, INCONSISTENCY, lack of cleanliness, maintenance issues, etc. The Phoenix Magazine has a good "Best Of" foodie issue every year but I have found that more than a few of the listed places start with a bang and then inconsistency creeps in. Often I felt "this place is living on past accolades". I used to work at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, The Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, and The Beverly Hills Hotel. I know a thing or two about what good management is and isn't. p.s. I don't get the hype about Nic's in Cottonwood. It's OK for so-so, uncreative menu. Take a trip to Santa Fe and try recommended restaurants there and they'll all stand heads and shoulders over Nic's. Of course Nic's would never last long in Santa Fe. Nic's is hyped locally because much of the rest is really mediocre. When a towns chain restaurants are as good or usually better than established restaurants look out. Wildflower Bread and Pita Jungle in Sedona and Flagstaff are very popular for good reasons. Above (local) average quality creative healthy menus with CONSISTENCY. Note: Flag to their credit is undergoing a mini Renaissance in creative restaurants and the demand for it is growing because the population is wanting it and supporting it. If mediocre survives in a town the town deserves it. Sedona visitors: Sedona is not a foodies haven by any stretch, but try the Margaritas and entrees at Elote (in The Village of Oak Creek) not because it's spectacular but because it is good and it is consistent. Garland's is lovely if you can get reservations.

[~PaperMoon~]

Originally Posted by ComposerRyan

I have been researching Florida A LOT and have narrowed it down to moving to the Winter Springs area...that is, IF I feel that Florida is the right place for me. I still have a couple months to decide on this.

I've also been recently looking at Arizona for its always-sunny weather and great housing.

So, I realize I'm posting in the Florida forums, but what is your opinion on these two states?

As you can see, I'm still trying to decide!

I think Florida is nice too, it has the pretty palm trees and always sunny like Arizona, but Florida is humid with a capital HUMID! LOL! Plus I like the westcoast better than the eastcoast so I like Arizona better. Florida is more densely populated than Arizona, here it's more spacy and things are spread out. My maternal grandmother was from Florida before she moved to Ohio and had my mom I wished she had stayed in Florida! But it's okay because now I love Arizona better.

[autism360]

I have lived through 15 Florida summers and my opinion is that the summers in Arizona are better because of the low humidity factor.
You cannot do weekend 6 hour trips from S Florida because it is much to far to travel in a weekend to get out of the state,in AZ you can do weekend trips to Vegas, N AZ , CA and mexico if you want a change of scenery,from S Florida you cannot. I suggest you do a mapquest search to see how long it will take to drive from S Florida to Georgia or North carolina which are the 2 closet states from S Florida. It will take you almost 12 hours to get to NC and 9 hours to get to Georgia which makes a day trip almost impossible.
Over 1/2 the population from S Florida are from New York where in Arizona they are from the Midwest and my 15 years of S Florida experience tell me New York City people do not have the same mentality as people from the Midwest.


[quote] I lived and near Jupiter for 15 years and have lived in Arizona for 3 years now. All factors considered Arizona is the hands down winner.
1. better weather(7 months are better than Florida and the summer is more bearable than Florida)
2.closer proximity to weekend vacation areas(california,vegas,mexico and N arizona)
3 less bugs
4 friendlier people( more people with core family values live in Az)
5 better housing available in AZ (newer and cheaper)
6 cheaper food costs due to having over a dozen different food stores in AZ as opposed to 1 major monopoly in Florida (Publix)
7 This is the reason I moved (no natural disasters in Arizona where in Florida you never no when life or property will be ruined by a hurricane or a tornado)