[Amanda63]

We currently live in Crystal River now (after fleeing from St. Pete/Tampa Bay area due to insane amounts of people, crime and traffic!!). We're here temporarily and want to move to the NE. We're in search of a town somewhere in between JAX and Daytona Beach. We checked out St. Augustine but it was a little too crowded. Also we want to try to be somewhere with a low crime rate. Can anyone tell me some info on places like Green Cove Springs, Palm Valley, Fruit Cove or Palm Coast? It's nice here in Crystal River, but we have to drive at least 45 mins to get a decent mall with more than 10 stores and some regular restaurants other than "Grannies Country Cookin". Plus, we prefer the atlantic coast. I guess I'm looking for a nice medium between a busy city and a sleepy town. The less the snowbirds the better, too. They've pretty much taken over Crystal River in their RV's. Thanks for the help!!!

[LM1]

Let me see if I got this straight.

You're moving away from the Tampa Bay Area because there are just "too many people". Upon leaving Tampa, you want to move into the one part of Florida that represents the most dramatic population growth in the entire United States Of America (The Jacksonville/Daytona corridor)...

I'm sorry. I don't get it...

Sounds like you need to come to terms with the way things are, accept that Florida is what its become,and it ain't going back to the better times we all once knew.

Your 3 options (and my 3 options) are:

1) deal with it

2) live rural (which won't be rural very long)

3) boogie on to other states with less crowded pastures.

[Amanda63]

I was asking for anyone with information on certain towns along that corridor. I wasn't asking for you to give me a smart remark and tell me where I need to live. I find it hard to believe there is nothing in between a rural farm community and a buzzing city in the entire state of Florida. By the way, I'm not looking to Florida "going back". I don't know how old you think I am, but I am apart of the generation that's making it what it is today. Thank You.

[crabbydebbie]

Try World Golf Village Nice Area It's 1 Exit Pass The Saint Augustine Outlets It Really Nice And Just What You Looking For I Think Safe Not To Busy Also Try Off 210 It A Fewexits Pass World Golf Village Lots Of New Homesthere Good Luck Debbie

[Mike98WS6]

I'm moving to Palm Coast. Were having a house built there. I could care less if it get's really populated. I live on Long Island right now. You can't get any more crowded than it it is here. Palm Coast is a nice city (that's what they call it) to live in. My friend lives there and he loves it. Your going to get alot of people with different opinions on here. Do what's best for you.

[Amanda63]

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it!

[Mike98WS6]

Your welcome, anytime.

[Alaska-Florida]

Hi Amanda, I'm not from Florida, but I'm planning to move down this fall. I've been researching and checking around for a while now. Gainesville is the area that I'm moving to. The city is just big enough, but not too big. If you want a smaller town/population, there are several around the area. My family knows a lot people there and we've heard lots of great things about the area. Although, it all comes down to personal preference. Oh ya, and it's very close to Jax, about 1 hour away.

[daedalo]

Gainesville is a medium sized city with culture and a civic activity level not matched by most of the largest Florida Cities. Jacksonville is a cultural lightweight compared to Gainesville. Jacksonville's socioeconomic profile is lower level administrative and service-oriented. Gainesville has a socioeconomic-geographic profile closer to that of New England:

a high proportion of middle class college educated professionals with high voter participation living in small autonomous towns.

Of all Florida cities the sphere of communities around Gainesville and the city of Gainesville itself is the best Florida has to offer. Gainesville is more liberal politically but that reflects its socioeconomic profile which like I said is closer to New England than nearly any other mature community its size in Florida. When people with education and community values get together in Florida it results in a much different political and cultural map than the rest of this state.

[Lisa Allen]

Hey Amanda63,

Dont take anything LM1 says to heart... look at all his posts... "smart remark"... that's just his MO! Gotta laugh it off. It's pretty funny :>)

I have been doing lots of research on Palm Coast myself. My husband used to live in Cocoa Beach, which is gorgeous, but we are finding too pricey now. PC looks like a nice place that is still affordable! If you go to palmcoast.biz you'll find a forum there with people discussing Palm Coast specifically.
Hope this is helpful.
Best Wishes :>)