[ffire]

I am sorry I seem to have started a bash Florida thread. That is certainly not my intention at all. I have read a lot that makes it very very appealing to us, I was just wanting to get a rough idea of how it is viewed in USA as a whole. Where we live now is routinely called a backwater, quiet, boring (and it has taken us 7 years to realise it really is). The difference here is that the whole country bags the state and young people are leaving all the time. It will become a retiree state eventually i think/

[Alatex]

Maybe our love of beaches is why Florida came up in the quiz then. Why is the rest unappealing to you? If you don't mind saying.

In general, so much of Florida's development occurred rapidly in just the last 20-30 years that I don't get the sense that there was enough thought put into planning. People from all over the place moved down there for the warm weather and seeking what they perceived to be a culture of "fun" that there wasn't time to really develop enough quality jobs and sense of place to support them all. So, you get a lot of rich old retirees, then a bunch of near-minimum-wage, young, service-sector employees, and not as much middle-class as there needs to be in between. I do think it can even out over time, and that the current housing slump will eventually be the impetus for a new middle class to take hold.

The beach areas are as nice as any in the US, though.
The panhandle area of Florida (so named for the geographic shape of the area - nothing derogatory ) is culturally more like Georgia and Alabama.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just more rural, slower paced.
There are some of the best beaches in Florida, though.

Hadn't read anything about Alabama beaches.

I own a condo in Gulf Shores, AL that I rent out. Alabama has a very small bit of coast, but Gulf Shores-Orange Beach is practically an extension of the Florida panhandle. Mobile is a better-developed core city than any along the Florida panhandle, as well, so you see some people with professional jobs in Mobile who visit Gulf Shores and the FL panhandle beaches regularly on weekends.

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by ffire

You will have to forgive me I think Panhandle might be an American term that I dont really know the meaning of, but I gather it might mean extremely slower pace - or is it more derogatory.

The term "Panhandle" refers to the geographical area of any (as in this case) state that protrudes out like the handle on a pan. Florida, Texas and Oklahoma come to mind.

It has nothing to do with the pace or anything derogatory.

[TB Fla]

Originally Posted by ffire

I am sorry I seem to have started a bash Florida thread. That is certainly not my intention at all. I have read a lot that makes it very very appealing to us, I was just wanting to get a rough idea of how it is viewed in USA as a whole. Where we live now is routinely called a backwater, quiet, boring (and it has taken us 7 years to realise it really is). The difference here is that the whole country bags the state and young people are leaving all the time. It will become a retiree state eventually i think/

You didnt start a bash FL thread, TANaples did. Her life is so miserable, she wants to drag eveyone down with her.

[MiamiRob]

ok let's give ffire some sane advice and if you want a vibrant energetic cosmopolitan city Miami and southeastern Florida is for you. Tampa is a very laid back but a ugly city. The panhandle is more Southern culturally than the rest of Florida and the way of life is also more reserved. The southwest coast of areas like Naples are very nice but the population is older.

[Chinolala]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

It depends on what part of the country people are from. For the most part people from the North East prefer the South East Coast, more things to do, more high end restaurants shops, etc. And people from the mid west prefer the west coast, quieter, simpler, slower paced, nicer people, more retires, etc. The Panhandle over to Jacksonville are more like Southern Georgia, if you catch my drift.

Sounds like a good recap. I don't fit "the mold" though. I live in Chicago and vacation in South Beach. The west coast is too quiet and drab for me. I'm not Latin, but love the Cuban culture, diversity, quick pace and high end choices in Miami Beach. The Lowes in South Beach if fab!

[ffire]

So ...... would any of these cities compare with Atlanta in terms of culture or size?

It sounds like Miami is the most vibrant, we will def visit, but not quite sure if its a good place to raise kids??? Just a massive generalisation based on TV shows lol

[TB Fla]

Originally Posted by MiamiRob

ok let's give ffire some sane advice and if you want a vibrant energetic cosmopolitan city Miami and southeastern Florida is for you. Tampa is a very laid back but a ugly city. The panhandle is more Southern culturally than the rest of Florida and the way of life is also more reserved. The southwest coast of areas like Naples are very nice but the population is older.

I agree with everything except Tampa being ugly. Miami is way uglier than Tampa. It acually has slums.

[TB Fla]

Ok ffire. Let me give you the lowdown on Tampa, since I live there. It is a pretty big city, but not cosmopolitian. Its got all the amenities of a big city but on a smaller scale. If you look at the positive of it, its a wonderful place to live. I believe all the cons of Tampa are worse in other Florida cities. It is pretty laid back for a city its size, but thats why I love it. Its also surrounded by water. Water everywhere, and world-class beaches in St Pete/Clearwater. I was raised here, so I believe its a good place to raise kids.

[Jammie]

I'm not from Fla. so I can give you my opinion of it, for what it's worth.

We've been to Fla. several times and I love the palm trees and the warmth and the humidity and the beaches. We've never been to the Panhandle, but it may have too much of a southern culture for us. We've never been to Miami, but it may have too much of a melting pot culture for us, too.

Orlando is nice and SeaWorld is actually not mentioned nearly enough. People often concentrate on "The Mouse". It's a beautiful city, but it didn't feel that friendly or "homey".

We're from the upper Midwest and we fit the stereotype of being drawn to the Tampa Bay area. We love it there, especially St. Pete. The traffic doesn't seem too "laid back", but the people do. Most of the people there seem very friendly and happy. We noticed a difference as soon as we got off the plane. (No one yelled at me like they did in the Orlando airport. They smiled instead.)

I actually think that Fla. would be a wonderful state to live in if you find the right spot for you and your family. Right now the Fla. economy is awful so I wouldn't choose to move there, but when things turn around, it'd be a definite consideration.

Fla. is also known for having problems with politics. They have a rep for having problems with elections. Sorry Floridians, I HAD to throw a bit of humor in here.