[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by OrlandoRE_Miracle

I don't know what neighborhood you live in but the entire metro area isn't what you're describing. I've met plenty of people who've been here for 10+ years.

Metro Orlando has some great areas no doubt. Can't get much better than Winter Park, Maitland, Longwood, Lake Mary in my book if you don't need to be close to a beach. Also a lot of high crime, very transient, very third world areas too that are growing. It is a lot like South Florida in a way.

[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Orlando is about twice as bad as anything in South Florida north of Miami-Dade, sans Riviera Beach and Lake Worth which are small. Orlando is big and has a crime rate that's as all-around high as those tiny pockets which are among the worst in South FL. Comparing crime in Orange County to Broward and Palm Beach County is like comparing Hollywood Studios to Islands of Adventure, no pun intended. You do have your "tower of terror" (Pompano Beach could be one) or "rockin roller coaster" (Riviera Beach could be one) here and there, but overall it's fairly tame. On the other hand, Island's of Adventure might have a tame gift shop. South FL has large cities of varying socioeconomic levels and demographics that have an average to low crime rate, such as Coral Springs, Jupiter, Boca Raton (as much as you hate it), Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Miramar, etc. The Orlando/Central FL area has small pockets with a low crime rate and mostly high crime. Also, Miami-Dade is bad, but not as bad as Orange County.

You always make most of Broward and Palm Beach counties out to be some kind of nirvana.. Sorry even the east side of Coral Springs has gone downhill dramatically in the past decade and that is common in many areas west of US 1 and east of university (or 441 in PBC). Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens seen to be exceptions IMHO..

Hey I finally made it to Minneapolis. Now that is a great city, incredible downtown, even nice diverse working class neighborhoods close in..

[Doctor Octagon]

[quote=JohnVosilla;8946141]Metro Orlando has some great areas no doubt. Can't get much better than Winter Park, Maitland, Longwood, Lake Mary (I AGREE, especially like Winter Park and Oviedo) in my book if you don't need to be close to a beach. Also a lot of high crime, very transient, very third world areas too that are growing. It is a lot like South Florida in a way. Bingo, bango, bongo!

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by JohnVosilla

You always make most of Broward and Palm Beach counties out to be some kind of nirvana.. Sorry even the east side of Coral Springs has gone downhill dramatically in the past decade and that is common in many areas west of US 1 and east of university (or 441 in PBC). Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens seen to be exceptions IMHO..

Hey I finally made it to Minneapolis. Now that is a great city, incredible downtown, even nice diverse working class neighborhoods close in..

I didn't say it was great, I just said it was better than Orlando which IMO is the worst . Also, could you honestly say you would be afraid of walking down Riverside Dr? East Springs is not what it was but it's not scary. I think Orlando became more like "South Florida" than South Florida itself, if you catch my drift.

Very nice city BTW, everything about it feels very clean, right? Minneapolis proper also has a crime rate similar to Miami proper, which I do admit is surprising, but there are some really bad areas to the north side of it! When did you visit? Spring and summer are the best time to be there!

[JohnVosilla]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

I didn't say it was great, I just said it was better than Orlando which IMO is the worst . Also, could you honestly say you would be afraid of walking down Riverside Dr? East Springs is not what it was but it's not scary. I think Orlando became more like "South Florida" than South Florida itself, if you catch my drift.

Very nice city BTW, everything about it feels very clean, right? Minneapolis proper also has a crime rate similar to Miami proper, which I do admit is surprising, but there are some really bad areas to the north side of it! When did you visit? Spring and summer are the best time to be there!

Was in MN a few weeks ago, the weather was perfect and was a day and night difference from New Engand where it was still overcast and in the 50's..jeez get that winter over with in Boston..lol I wonder about those crime stats, data mining sometimes and how that paperwork gets manipulated with many gray areas from jurisdiction to jursidiction.

Yeah I catch that drift on Orlando becoming more like SFL than SFL itself if you live in Boca or Weston or the east side versus the changes in many perimter areas of metro Orlando close in especially on the south and west sides.. Major changes in certain hoods of both areas in say the past decade courtesy of demographic shifts, economic fluctations and the housing bubble/bust is all I really wanted to say.

[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

I disagree both with those who say Orlando's crime is no worse than anywhere else, and also those who think it's incredibly dangerous here. The truth is somewhere in the middle, and although I did have someone try to burglarize me (as I related before) I don't live in fear or feel under threat when I go around town (except from the crazy drivers if I happen to be on foot).

[ffire]

Originally Posted by lvmy3grls

We moved to Florida from Long Island, NY in June 2005. We moved to Wellington in Palm Beach County. While it is a beautiful, safe and wonderful area, it just was not exactly what we were looking for. It was a little too hot too long, we experienced Cat 3 hurricane Wilma 3 months after moving, and reminded us too much of NY crowded, traffic, expensive. So, we decided to move North to St Augustine, we loved the Florida lifestyle, just needed something a little different. Well, I can happily say that we are extremely happy and settled here now, and rarely miss back home (except for the people of course). This area is so wonderful, change of seasons but no winter, beautiful beaches, sightseeing, great schools, nice people, we feel it really has it all!!
We love Florida for so many reasons, the weather, beaches, the fact that our kids play outside every day no matter the season, they are living a very healthy lifestyle, and people are just laid back - no stress here in Florida!! We have beautiful sunsets, and you can see millions of stars on any given night. My 10 year old called me outside the other day to look at the sunset, you just cannot get more confirmation than that to feel you made the right decision. Good luck to you - you make your own happiness no matter where you live!!
My advice would be come to Florida with an open mind, no preconcieved notions of anything, make your decisions once you are here, rent a house first then buy, make sure you have a job, ask around for advice, people are always willing to help you out, and most importantly make the best of whatever decision you make, your attitude can make or break your happiness in life.

I have 3 kids 9,7,6 and we are considering moving to USA from Australia. On paper we think Florida might be the place. I have looked into Tampa and West Palm Beach, the story about your 10 yr old brought tears to my eyes. Would you mind telling me some more about St Augustine - what makes it great for you and your family etc\
Thanks heaps for your post

[Sunny-Days90]

The topic is a positive one.

Those who moved to Florida and like it.

This post is meant to help people who may want to or are getting ready to move to Florida and want to get positive input and information from posters.

Its not about crime or anything else.

It is about those who have moved to Florida and like it in the the town they chose.

[rachaelb]

Originally Posted by Sunny-Days90

The topic is a positive one.

Those who moved to Florida and like it.

This post is meant to help people who may want to or are getting ready to move to Florida and want to get positive input and information from posters.

Its not about crime or anything else.

It is about those who have moved to Florida and like it in the the town they chose.

Love that!! Too much negativity happening, FLorida is just like any other place -- it is what you make it!

[Sunny-Days90]

Originally Posted by rachaelb

Love that!! Too much negativity happening, FLorida is just like any other place -- it is what you make it!

Thank you!!

Far to many people in Florida blame Florida for their ills and forgot they need to try a little harder before they blame someone who something else.

Florida is not the problem, it's the blame Florida for everything in their life people that is the problem.

Florida is heaven compared to many parts of the country right now.

That is why I would like this thread to be for those who moved to Florida and like it. Many people wont post in a positive thread because they know it will get ruined by the bashers in time.