[Chicken Wing]

Let's say you had to live in a gulf coast town that's relatively close to the beach, but not necessarily right on the beach (less 25 minutes from the beach). The town must be relatively safe. Also, the people moving....one is in public accounting and the other in the healthcare field (lab tech) so available jobs would be nice. These 2 don't have any kids and would rent initially before they get to know the area.

Which gulf coast town is the best for these people?

[SoFLGal]

I like North Port, it's between Sarasota and Ft Myers. You shouldn't have a problem finding a job in the health care field anywhere in Florida. I would think accounting would be relatively easy as well. The home prices are very reasonable and North Port is about 25 minutes from the beach. There is a lot to choose from if you are looking to rent.

Good luck with your search!

[FLAguy]

I like Bradenton, near Sarasota, great beaches, near Tampa, beautiful sunset...

[me3tv]

You may be totally surprised with Pensacola. Gorgeous homes and condos up and going in near downtown - preferable to on the beach-- yet only minutes from the best beaches in America. No kidding you need to see these beaches from Panama City to Gulfport MS. Sugar white sand. Great gulf water and super inland waterways and sounds and bayous and bays. Pensacola / Gulf Breeze - great mix of professionals - families and retired military (Naval air at Pensacola). Drawback - not a hub airport but costs are reasonable for air travel from there. PLUS - not the hassle of South FL. Minus-really not swimming weather from oct to March .. but still good for fishing. Much more home for the money.. Cost of living lower than S. Fla. Downtown P'cola is a little like a very small piece of New Orleans without the knife fights. For a little more resort flavor - look at DESTIN about 35 miles E. of Pensacola. Plenty of Health care opps and business opps in the major towns on that "Miracle Strip". Go inland to towns off Hwy 90 for more small town flavor and still access to the big towns - health care and beaches within reasonable drive.

[2bohemians]

Originally Posted by me3tv

You may be totally surprised with Pensacola. Gorgeous homes and condos up and going in near downtown - preferable to on the beach-- yet only minutes from the best beaches in America. No kidding you need to see these beaches from Panama City to Gulfport MS. Sugar white sand. Great gulf water and super inland waterways and sounds and bayous and bays. Pensacola / Gulf Breeze - great mix of professionals - families and retired military (Naval air at Pensacola). Drawback - not a hub airport but costs are reasonable for air travel from there. PLUS - not the hassle of South FL. Minus-really not swimming weather from oct to March .. but still good for fishing. Much more home for the money.. Cost of living lower than S. Fla. Downtown P'cola is a little like a very small piece of New Orleans without the knife fights. For a little more resort flavor - look at DESTIN about 35 miles E. of Pensacola.

Agreed. Northwest Florida is absolutely beautiful and our beaches are amazing. We do have a new international airport being built around the west end of Panama City Beach. They recently broke ground and hopefully by 2010 all we be up and running .... this should definitely make travel more affordable in our area and give us some direct flight options.

[spainbrit]

St Pete, I am making a very broad assumption, sorry if wrong, that you are younger - so life is in abundance here, with a good cultural base and cosmopolitan mix of population.
Plenty going on - safe walking places, all along the waterfront parks, you can live in a lovely area and walk to downtown at night safely from some residential streets close by. I have recently met up with a guy (through seeking a condo for some visitors to the area) who has a couple of really nice condos in the old NE area of St Pete and they are pretty nice, and close to downtown. DM me if you want the website details. Its the main city of Pinellas County (along with Clearwater) and therefore has a lot of medical jobs - with some very large hospital faciliities and ancilliary services. I am sure there are public accounting jobs too. Another benefit, good airport access (2 major airports) and highways to Tampa and south towards Sarasota. In the county, a lot of smaller towns to explore with different characters - Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Safety Harbor, many have farmers markets, street fairs, art events and other waterfront activities.

Good luck in your search

[spainbrit]

err I forgot to mention our beaches - they are marvellous and we have miles of them. Also two state parks that have been awarded in the past the top 10 beaches in the USA awards - Fort De Soto and Honeymoon Island/Caladesi Island