[Nadanique]

Originally Posted by wizrap

Good luck and safe travels! I hope you enjoy our wonderful state. You’re visiting at a great time of year and if you decide to drive to some of the northern parts, you’ll have a chance to experience the cooler climate and see whether or not it’s too cold for you and your family.

I suspect you’ll find a city or area that is the right fit. Please report back when you get home!

This will be our journey next week. We will land in Orlando, drive up to:

Drive up to:
1. Jacksonville then head back down and west to
2. Auburndale
3. Lakeland
4. Tampa
5. St. Petersburg
6. Cape Coral

Leave Cape Coral and head east to
7. Coral Gables
8. West Miramar
9. Pembroke Pines
10. Davie
11. Sunrise
12. Lauderdale lakes
13. Oakland Park
14. Pompano Beach
15. Boynton Beach
16. Riviera Beach
17. Port St. Lucie

Finishing up in Port St. Lucie... then fly back out of Orlando.

Thank you...our date has been expedited to February 1st so hopefully something stands out.

[SanyBelle]

There are some nice places in Miami, it's not all trashed like C-D members think and complain about. Look at Kendall, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay, South Miami, Palmetto Bay - basically SW Miami areas. You might want to put these areas on your list when visiting Coral Gables.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by Nadanique

This will be our journey next week. We will land in Orlando, drive up to:

Drive up to:
1. Jacksonville then head back down and west to
2. Auburndale
3. Lakeland
4. Tampa
5. St. Petersburg
6. Cape Coral

Leave Cape Coral and head east to
7. Coral Gables
8. West Miramar
9. Pembroke Pines
10. Davie
11. Sunrise
12. Lauderdale lakes
13. Oakland Park
14. Pompano Beach
15. Boynton Beach
16. Riviera Beach
17. Port St. Lucie

Finishing up in Port St. Lucie... then fly back out of Orlando.

Thank you...our date has been expedited to February 1st so hopefully something stands out.

To be honest, I don’t think Auburndale and Cape Coral are worth visiting. Both are poor fits and Cape Coral is way out of the way. If there’s a city in SW Florida that’s worth a detour, it’s Sarasota… I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on the other cities, particularly St. Petersburg.

Enjoy your trip!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

To be honest, I don’t think Auburndale and Cape Coral are worth visiting. Both are poor fits and Cape Coral is way out of the way. If there’s a city in SW Florida that’s worth a detour, it’s Sarasota… I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on the other cities, particularly St. Petersburg.

Enjoy your trip!

Auburndale is very small, and so close to Lakeland they may as well pass through, although I agree I don't think they will find anything worthwhile there. I also agree I would put Sarasota MILES ahead of Cape Coral, which (to me) is not that interesting. As you know, we live in Lakeland, and I definitely think (since it is on their list) that they may find it appealing.

Anyhoo, sounds like they have lots to check out!

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Auburndale is very small, and so close to Lakeland they may as well pass through, although I agree I don't think they will find anything worthwhile there. I also agree I would put Sarasota MILES ahead of Cape Coral, which (to me) is not that interesting. As you know, we live in Lakeland, and I definitely think (since it is on their list) that they may find it appealing.

Anyhoo, sounds like they have lots to check out!

I maintain Lakeland is perhaps the best value city in Florida. I doubt it will be the best fit for the OP, but when you weigh what you get for your money there it’s easy to see the appeal. A good home in Lakeland may cost half of one in Coral Gables.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

I maintain Lakeland is perhaps the best value city in Florida. I doubt it will be the best fit for the OP, but when you weigh what you get for your money there it’s easy to see the appeal. A good home in Lakeland may cost half of one in Coral Gables.

There is great value in the real estate here. I was just talking to my husband about it. There was an article in the Tampa Bay times talking about a few of the "million dollar homes" for sale here, and believe me you get your million $$$ worth here. These homes would be two to three times the price in Sarasota or Coral Gables, etc. But there are many, many beautiful neighborhoods here where you can get a really, really nice home for way less than that (400-500K) and still many that are only in the $300s. And Lakeland has some of the best parks and recreation I have seen in ANY city in Florida. I always remark that kids don't know how good they have it here, it is truly one of the best and most family friendly towns I have seen in Florida. Fabulous places and things for kids here that I have seen nowhere else. (Bonnet Springs Park is an INCREDIBLE gem!) People make day trips here just to visit that park.

But as you said, this may not be what OP is looking for, but definitely worth checking out.

ETA: OP you may find this article interesting: Lakeland ranks 7th best city in the nation for black professionals according to this study, there is both positive and negative from the black point of view)

https://www.lkldnow.com/study-ranks-...professionals/

[brickpatio2018]

Olive Branch, Mississippi is 32% Black. From the data I have seen, the median household income for Blacks and Whites is virtually identical and the neighborhoods are fully integrated. Median household income is $93,000.

It's not near coast obviously, being just across the state line from Memphis, but the quality of life is high, as it is for all of DeSoto County, Mississippi (very safe, well-managed suburbs with reasonable housing costs, large spacious lots, top schools, robust and well-planned but not overwhelming growth, moderate traffic, and a bright future).

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by Nadanique

This will be our journey next week. We will land in Orlando, drive up to:

Drive up to:
1. Jacksonville then head back down and west to
2. Auburndale
3. Lakeland
4. Tampa
5. St. Petersburg
6. Cape Coral

Leave Cape Coral and head east to
7. Coral Gables
8. West Miramar
9. Pembroke Pines
10. Davie
11. Sunrise
12. Lauderdale lakes
13. Oakland Park
14. Pompano Beach
15. Boynton Beach
16. Riviera Beach
17. Port St. Lucie

Finishing up in Port St. Lucie... then fly back out of Orlando.

Thank you...our date has been expedited to February 1st so hopefully something stands out.

You can skip right over Lakeland or anywhere in Polk County. That's where they have that racist sheriff that likes to make national news with his comments. Florida, one of the few places where someone in the govt. can publicly refer to black people as "cotton picking" and remain employed. Something that would certainly never be tolerated in the DMV.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/20...otton-picking/

[firmbizzle]

Originally Posted by Nadanique

Julio, I really didn't feel like unpacking all that was needed to address his comment and/or concern. I am not really even looking to live around mostly black people, simply put, I would like there to be "some" where my kid isn't the only one and teachers are not accustomed to teaching kids from our culture, us being the only ones in the grocery stores, movies, mall, park, etc...

Definitely the eastern part of the state will have the most black folks but all black folks aren't the same. You have more traditional southern people in Jacksonville, transplants in Central Florida and Caribbean diaspora in South Florida. I like Central Florida, we have everything here. All kinds of shades with some curl in their hair. It's also more middle class with plenty to do. I'm curious to hear your experience after your trip.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sinatras

You can skip right over Lakeland or anywhere in Polk County. That's where they have that racist sheriff that likes to make national news with his comments. Florida, one of the few places where someone in the govt. can publicly refer to black people as "cotton picking" and remain employed. Something that would certainly never be tolerated in the DMV.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/20...otton-picking/

OMG you are so full of it.....You don't know squat and this is pure BS!!!!