Florida's most perfect location (Miami, Orlando: housing, rent, hotel)

[azemach]

south Florida should be excluded from what is known as the "south" it is as southern as NY city.

if you are looking to move to south Florida you must realize where you go is very different even within the Miami / Ft Lauderdale / Balm beach

Miami is mostly Hispanic while some areas are not dominated by Hispanic residents for the most part you must deal with broken English and south American attitudes (for good and for bad) every moment of the day.

Ft Lauderdale is a great city and if you like the beach and can deal with all the restrictions its a great place to live.

West broward is divided, towns like Weston & pembrook pines have easy access to I75 a major access route to Miami so they are dominated by Hispanic residents that are trying to get out of Miami (about ~60%)

Plantation is an older more established part of the "west" has all the conveniences you can ask for and is about a 15min drive to the beach.

Boca raton is an upper scale town mostly Jewish (i read its about 50%) and has a good mixture of family elderly and Young residents. But be ready to spend more on anything from gas to food.

I have been a resident of plantation for about 10 years now and am getting ready to leave but i will be happy to answer any questions about the area.

[moderator CUT]

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by bamboosmom

It truely depends on what a person is looking for. Beaches? The theme parks?
Lot's to do? Small town???
There are a number of different places to choose from.

Bam, we're trying to find out a bit of info about Ocala. Do you know the area well? It's good to read that it's beautiful and green and hilly. Have you ever been to the forrest area or on the glass-bottomed boats? Are Silver Springs/ Ocala a joined city? Are the people friendly up there? Any info about the area will be appreciated.

[lulu]

I do agree that S. Florida does not have that Southern feel like it did years ago, it's different. To some newcomers it might be fresh, exciting & new. It has been called lately the Tropical New York City...One comes down I95 heading South and one turns their head to take a glimpse to the East and the skyline is looking quite similiar, too. Up, up & away!
I truly understand the frustration that some non-spanish speakers have in S.FL and can sense it here. - it's quite understandable to me, believe it or not. As most know already, I am from an 100% Spanish European background ... & I do agree w/most that most of Miami has become spanish speaking for the most part & sometimes I myself have problems relating to some of the people, sometimes I don't understand some of their words or cultures, either. Unlike my parents & even grandparents whom had to learn English, English has become like a second language down here - it's like it's not necessary anymore down here even for some jobs as people are coming in droves from central & S. America & all the America's everyday (wonder how they can survive in this expensive city, well...that's another topic). Even my mom is always saying, "what's happened...??" Oddly to some but sometimes, I even feel like an outcast even living amongst spanish speaking groups here because they are very different than my family whom has been here practically forever. They speak different dialects..eat different foods, different customs, come for different reasons, etc. I'd like to stress to non-spanish speakers that being Hispanic (God I hate anything w/the word panic in it) does not mean we are all alike either physicallly, culturally and yes some can be Jewish, too. The same people that immigrated to N.American, immigrated to the surrounding lands too. When I speak that they are different, please I don't mean that I feel we are more or they are less, vice-versa or anything like that...it's just that my family has been Americanized or U.S.canized , & speak mainly English. I hear all the time from Anglos' "well, you should feel at home...you understand spanish, it's your people". But the funny thing is I really, reallly don't & they are not "my people" - it's only a language, a via of communication, that's all it is - it's not a race or anything like that. I was born here amongst some Southern folk, Anglos, in a different Florida all together - even my family & ancestors used to live or visit here in an ancient Florida dating back to the time of Tobacco making in Tampa and Key west - I can go all the way back to a time when Key west was called Cayo Hueso (bone key - named so cause it was full of old human bones - pirates, or native americans??) before it was even named Key West by the English. We have old family tales dating back centuries. I feel like I'm constantly put in a box in either one group or another even by spanish speakers whom sometimes cast me as an outcast because they themselves feel I don't fit in with them & then the others whom put me in a Hispanic race box (?). Most people here feel frustration or ask themselves where would I fit in?? I feel more confused than anybody here, where would a person like me really fit in?? I'm really caught in 2 waters. Personally, I have to follow my heart & intellect and hopefully my fellow American brothers & sisters will accept me in wherever we choose to go. The small minority that cannot see me for what I really am, don't have to talk to me. But one thing for sure I thank God everyday that the majority of Humans have more good, than bad in them. I pray & trust that the best of them will come across my way in whatever life I have left on this planet.

[bamboosmom]

We did take a ride in the glass bottom boats but it wasn't in Ocala. It was in the Keys and we got so sick!!! The smell of the diesel fuel plus all the rocking and looking down just did us in.

We drive through Ocala when heading to Jacksonville when we go to the Naval Base to see our sons.
I really don't know about all the people there. You will have nice people and not so nice people everywhere. There is a community called the Villages up around that area. I hear the people who live there love it!
It has its own banks, stores, etc. They drive around in their little golf carts to go get milk.
The state forest is right there and there are alot of lakes in that area.
It is also horse country.
We bought our dog from a breeder in Citra/Micanopy and we have become friends. She is the sweetest person. I also became friends with the head of the BT group and she is wonderful.
Hope this helps ya

[Jammie]

Bam, it does help and thanks for the info. I thought I'd be brave enough to try the glass bottomed boat, but since I have motion sickness, I think I'll pass.

[bamboosmom]

Jamie,
if the boat doesn't rock it should be fine. Especially the boats up there.
You go down a river and you aren't out in the ocean rocking like we were~

[t.roz]

Weston is great! Best place to raise a family!

[bunny8176]

Stay away from Prt St. Lucie - It's has the nickname "Port St. Lousy" for a reason

[bamboosmom]

Weston is nice. We have good friends living there. Its not far from the beaches in Ft. Lauderdale and lots of nice young families too!

[Lory-DavieFL]

Originally Posted by macguy

It is in Broward. South Ocean Dr. is just east of 17 St. where it becomes A1A. My neighbor is David Cassidy from Partridge fame, not exactly a bad part of town, you would think. Actually the crime here is higher then in other neighborhoods. The biggest problem is we are right next to the public beach and people like to wander around and look at the homes. That news story you saw a few months ago where the homeless guy was beaten and another was killed in the downtown area one of the beatings was just a few hundred yards from my house.

You are describing areas that are nice because they have to show ID just to get into the neighborhood, I would call that an indictment of the area, just the fact you even have to live like that. What happens when you leave your little sanctuary? You can get car jacked or murdered just trying to buy some gas. I think us that live here have become very jaded and don't even hear the news any more when it is on. We just had company here from Germany. They just sat watching the news with their jaws hanging and can't believe we live here. One story after another of murders, rapes and robberies on a daily basis and all right here where we live. Hay, I know people are all different, there are people who like living in the heart of Manhattan or Paris.

The last time I was in France I went out of my way to avoid Paris, maybe that's just me. I just think life was not meant to be like this. I have lived in South Florida off and on for 55 years, I grew up here when it WAS a paradise, maybe that is the basis for my opinion, but like my father used to say "Nothing is forever", I am afraid I can't take it any more not even on a part time basis. It is certainly a different place then I used to call home.

I don't think new comers or people who never knew the difference can even imagine how nice this place once was. My term cesspool may have sounded excessive but in the perspective I am coming from it is what I see. I understand change, I'm not even resentful, but as my father said, "Nothing is forever" so it is sadly, at least for me, time to move on. With the crowing and over building, there are only so many roads and waterways, I honestly don't know what the future of this area is. Not a place to raise a family in my opinion.

One of the funniest things I always hear is from people I grew up with who have moved away and have return for some reason. I graduated from Stranahan High School and we have had a few reunions. You should hear the comments from people when they come back. Interesting, I have never known anyone who once they left came back here to live or retire.

I probably should not even be in this conversation, my perspectives are just too different from someone new to South Florida. The days I remember days are long over, it is just a shame what they have been replaced with.

I share your perspective, I am a native South Floridian for all of my 38 years. It was a great place to grow up and such fond memories, but I have to get my kids out of here ASAP!!! I used to love being so close to the beach and my all time favorite Florida Keys, but even that has changed so much and I feel like I don't belong here anymore, I'm being run out because I don't speak spanish or creole. The crowded lifestyle makes me crazy and the traffic -ugh.
I'd be gone yesterday, but I have to carefully plan and consider the best way to get myself and 2 children moved as affordable, safe and as un-traumatic as possible. I have finally researched enough to know that Citrus County is where I'm headed. All my friends and family have moved towards the central area and not ONE person ever wants to come back.