[Crimson]

Curious if anyone has been to or lives on or in the Cedar Key area? Never been there but plan to vacation there sometime. How does it compare to areas a little further down the coast weather wise and are there things to do there? Does the mainland area have any new developement? Homes, shops, stores, restaurants etc. and is it considered a good retirement place?

[Crimson]

Anybody with any info????

[pianogal]

DH and I spent an afternoon there this summer. I would think it would be a good place to get away from it all. If you 're looking for a place to rest, read, reflect, meditate, etc. and if you're the kind that likes quant, quiet villages that look a little worn and tired and where they roll the sidewalks up at 5:00. Then you probably would like Cedar Key.

There is VERY LITTLE to do...unless you have a boat and can go out fishing. From what we saw there isn't even a good beach. The water access is deep water - lots of fishing boats coming and going. All the buildings looked a hundred years old. Think of the pictures you've seen of old fishing villages...this is what we saw of Cedar Key. There are a couple of restaurants right on the water that looked good, but we didn't eat there so I can't really say.

It does have some charming and quant older homes and we saw a little new construction going up, but there was more rundown and abandoned homes than anyplace I've seen in a long time.

The business district, if you could call it that, consisted of a block of stores, many of which were boarded up and looked like they hadn't been in business for a long time. To be honest, I was very disappointed - it was not at all what I was expecting.

Now, we did just drive through so perhaps we missed something wonderful, but I doubt it.

[Muggy]

Originally Posted by pianogal

...which were boarded up and looked like they hadn't been in business for a long time. To be honest, I was very disappointed

I think Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in that area around June 13. Maybe that's why it was alll boarded up? Did you visit before or after Alberto?

[pianogal]

I visited in April the week of Easter. You would think it would be busy....NOT. BUT, if you're looking for peace and quiet, I'm sure you could find it there. It's definitely small town. I guess I was just looking for a different sort of place..maybe like Mt. Dora on the gulf! LOL

[Crimson]

Ok, thanks to all for the insight.. I am looking for a quiet place but not that quiet!

[Rosario]

Oh it's very quiet seemed like Key West 30 years ago - check out Homossasa Springs (sp?)

[Susan058]

Was there a few weeks ago for first time. Have a friend that went there from Miami several yrs. ago. Main industry is fishing, town does close up early. I would compare it to a very mini version of Key West. Homes looked expensive prob. cause of being on gulf. Nice little place for a weekend, don't know about living there. Had a great loster dinner for $20.00 at restaurant on gulf.

[Crimson]

Thanks Susan.. Sounds like Cedar Key is a nice quaint and quiet place maybe worth a weeks vacation to get away from it all..

[TANC]

I would echo some of these thoughts. Went to Cedar Key for a weekend getaway a few years ago and absolutely LOVED IT. Live there full time however? I don't think so.