[TANaples]

Originally Posted by bdpop

No one I know in NJ wants to leave. Everyone I know is very happy there. They would not even consider moving to Florida.

I didn't know anyone who wanted to move to Florida either. Most people I knew just wanted to stay where they were, like me. As I said, the people I knew, who moved away for retirement, went to NC, Pa., Nevada. Actually, the younger people,who I used to work with who moved, all went to Pa. because they found it to be cheaper. Weather was not a factor at all for them. Being close to their families was though.

In my entire life having grown up in NYC, the majority of people I knew, who moved at all, went to Long Island or New Jersey. Those are really the most popular places STILL.

[bdpop]

A lot of retirees, including my in-laws are moving into over 55 communities in NJ so they can be closer to family.

[Janemom]

Can any of you transplants tell me what area of Florida would be kind of like the family friendly vibe of Ocean City, New Jersey area? I was thinking maybe Melbourne Beach, or Sarasota? Any comments please would be great. Considering move from suburb of Philly.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by Janemom

Can any of you transplants tell me what area of Florida would be kind of like the family friendly vibe of Ocean City, New Jersey area? I was thinking maybe Melbourne Beach, or Sarasota? Any comments please would be great. Considering move from suburb of Philly.

You will not find the vide of Ocean City in Florida. Closest may be St. Augustine/Ponte Vedra area.

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Official Visitors Web Site - Getaway4Florida.com

[dmccauley]

Originally Posted by Janemom

Can any of you transplants tell me what area of Florida would be kind of like the family friendly vibe of Ocean City, New Jersey area? I was thinking maybe Melbourne Beach, or Sarasota? Any comments please would be great. Considering move from suburb of Philly.

You know its really funny I lived in NJ my entire life but on the shore in Monmouth County and I have never been to Ocean City.lol I now live in Sarasota. Siesta Key does offer the small shops and the outside bars with lots of good munchies and drinks. You really can't compare the beaches they are free here and you don't have to pay to park. As far as family friendly neighborhood, just do your research and make sure that the homes are owner occupied all year round.

[Janemom]

Thanks for the help. I am looking for that I guess bike riding, off-season kind of Ocean City vibe, where it is pretty safe to let tweens walk to little stores by themselves, etc. Also - is anyone a doc down there? My husband is a family doc, and we do have one friend who did residency with him who is now there in Fl, but he does mostly derm stuff, so we are wondering (unbiased, ie., not one of the groups he's looking at to practice) what the climate/atmosphere is there in Melbourne Beach area or on other coast, Sarasota area. Pay seems to be a lot higher on west coast, but limited patient population, that is, mostly older folks, and he really does enjoy taking care of whole families. Any comments? Thanks and take care.

[gypsychic]

I've never been to Ocean City, but Sarasota is really a wonderful place to be - I agree with the poster about Siesta Key, and want to add that this is where more of the younger people and families are. Sarasota has several keys and many great areas. Good luck to you!

[Janemom]

Thank you - there is a job that we've looked at in Sarasota. So - I'll look more into that area. Take care!

[Sunny-Days90]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

I've never been to Ocean City, but Sarasota is really a wonderful place to be - I agree with the poster about Siesta Key, and want to add that this is where more of the younger people and families are. Sarasota has several keys and many great areas. Good luck to you!

Ocean City NJ, been there a number of times and the comparative area would be Daytona Beach. Both going down hill and both cash cows waiting for their next victim to grab the money.

The Sarasota (toss in Ana Maria, Lido etc ) has beauty and class, beautiful buildings and the towns are clean, that's not Ocean City.

Take it from beach people like we are, you can find beaches far better all over Florida, the comparison to me would be Daytona.

You are going to be in for a real treat with the beaches in Florida if you are used to OC, like night and day.

[bdpop]

You can't really compare the beaches in Florida to the beaches (shore) in NJ. They are so different and each have their good and bad points. NJ beaches have boardwalks; most Florida beaches do not. My favorite beach in NJ was Pt Pleasant Beach. I also like Wildwood. I never really understood how you can charge people to go on the beach, though.