[MovingToFlorida84]

Hi there!

I posted earlier today about affordable Florida beach towns. But after researching for most of the day, I have a better idea of what I'm looking for.

To put it in it's simplest form...I'm looking for that "beach" feeling. Not too touristy and not your typical retirement towns.

I'm looking for bike trails, piers, cultural environment, not too far from entertainment (read "bigger cities"), festivals, a mid-20's to early 30's crowd, deep sea fishing, crabbing, scuba diving...really...just a variety of different things to do.

Me and my fiance want to be adventurous...enjoy everything our future town has to offer. And we are looking for the perfect place that can offer that.

What do you love about your beach town? Does it offer any of the things I mentioned previously? Does it have that unique feel to it? What would you recommend? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

P.S. I know it's almost impossible to get everything you want out of just one place...but dammit...I'm gonna try and get as close to it as possible!

[IDASpaceman]

Originally Posted by MovingToFlorida84

a mid-20's to early 30's crowd

Ha! You mean 1920's/1930's? LOL

Best of luck in your moves...and be sure to post back where you end up!

[MovingToFlorida84]

LOL! I know...a far stretch isn't it? It definitely doesn't have to be a majority of younger people. I definitely don't expect that. But it would be nice to have a few sprinkled in here and there for flavor. It's always nice to have a couple of same age friends!!

[IDASpaceman]

^ Oh, from my visits you'll get lots of young people on the beach...around Spring break.

[Donna-501]

If you are looking for a younger crowd you should probably put efforts into looking on the east coast. Do you plan on looking for a job because there really aren't many to be had in most of FL.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by Donna-501

If you are looking for a younger crowd you should probably put efforts into looking on the east coast. Do you plan on looking for a job because there really aren't many to be had in most of FL.

I think they would be happiest in SE Florida rather than the Space Coast or Daytona areas because of the scuba, deep sea fishing, and larger city comments.

[MovingToFlorida84]

Donna-501: Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping to transfer with my current company (AT&T), but if not then I have 2 years experience in banking and I'm definitely not ruling that out.

Rabflmom: By SE do you mean around the Miami area or even further? Do you have any suggestions for places we need to check out? We're taking a road trip in March to visit various places. Right now they consist of the NE coast starting at Fernandina and ending around Palm Coast, but we're always open for other suggestions.

[TriMT7]

You might like Lake Worth.... very beachy/bohemian feeling, close to WPB, Ft. Lauderdale, etc., and more or less affordable. A nice little downtown as well, fishing pier, etc.

[SoFLGal]

You might want to try Anna Maria Island. The Official Guide to Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria is a very laid back sleepy beach town and is one of the few towns that still has the "Old Florida" feel to it. I used to live out that way when I was a kid and my father started the Islander Newspaper, which was the first newspaper for Anna Maria Island. As a kid I attended Anna Maria Elementary and have fond memories of the school.

The original old city pier the Rod & Reel that's been there since 1910, is still there. There are a few little restaurants and small beachy stores but definitely not touristy. Here's the local chamber website: The Official Guide to Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria has a free trolley that shuttles people up and down the island. It runs from Coquina Beach to the south end of Anna Maria. Anna Maria is actually known as the "wedding capital of Florida". It also has a great arts and theater community.

From May through October in Florida, sea turtles come ashore to nest. Anna Maria Island is one of the many places in Florida that sea turtles nest on the beaches. Protection of the sea turtles is an important aspect of the island culture, and information and training is available for tourists and locals in abundance. Manatees are also frequent summer visitors at Anna Maria Island, and similarly, the Manatee is held in great reverence by islanders. A subspecies of the Indian Manatee, these herbivores call Anna Maria Island their summer vacation home.

The entire island is a bird sanctuary, and pelicans, multiple types of cranes and herons, wild parrots, sand pipers, hawks, vultures, seagulls, and crows share the island with humans.
Anna Maria Island is actually comprised of three cities- Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach in the middle and Bradenton Beach in the south. Oh yes, and the beaches are beautiful.

[marcopolo]

Dunedin might fit the bill as close as anything. Active arts community, on the 37 mile long Pinellas hike/bike trail, on the water but not a high-rise transient touristy deal, Dunedin causeway attracts all ages for fishing, sailing, kayaking, biking, jogging, sunbathing or just people-watching. Close to Tampa and its cultural amenities, concerts, Broadway shows, etc. You are not going to avoid a certain fraction of the population being retirees or snowbirds--the question is, are they part of the scene or the whole scene?