What do you love about Sarasota?? (North Port: fit in, home, to buy)

[buckeyegal78]

As I have mentioned in an earlier "thread", my husband and I are looking to possibly relocate to the Sarasota area from Ohio. We are trying to get as much information as we can, and I thought I'd post this and hopefully get some replies:

What are three things you LOVE about Sarasota? At the same time, what are three things you DON'T LOVE about it?

Thanks!

[SoFLGal]

Things that I love about Sarasota: The beaches, the weather, the downtown area, the restaurants, the things to do, the people, the schools the wildlife.

Things I don't like: I still can't afford to buy a home in downtown Sarasota, although the prices are better than a few years ago, they still don't quite fit into my budget. Mainly because I'm upside down on my home in North Port. That's all I really can think of

[smiledoc1]

Originally Posted by SoFLGal

Things that I love about Sarasota: The beaches, the weather, the downtown area, the restaurants, the things to do, the people, the schools the wildlife.

Things I don't like: I still can't afford to buy a home in downtown Sarasota, although the prices are better than a few years ago, they still don't quite fit into my budget. Mainly because I'm upside down on my home in North Port. That's all I really can think of

I would like to add a few points to SoFlGal's list: chocolate peanut butter pie at Yoder's and the SRQ airport.

Things I don't like: the galleries on Palm Ave. where my wife spends far too much time (but fortunately no money), the hunt for a parking spot downtown on a Sunday night of all things, and the confusion I endure trying to figure out why some streets change names at certain intersections.

[gypsychic]

What I love: beaches, gorgeous scenery which includes all kinds of wildlife and beautiful trees/flowers, etc., the neat downtown and St. ARmand's Circle, the multitudes of great places to eat, the multitudes of great food shopping (organic markets, gourmet markets, bakeries, etc.) the cosmopolitan feel, the colleges and museums.

What I don't like: lack of parking everywhere - downtown, beaches, etc., and North Trail needs to be built up (too many empty businesses and vacant lots. Honestly, not much I don't like here, for me it's about as good as it gets.

[FLBob]

I love the water, Sarasota bay, the intra coastal, the gulf, the rivers Peace and Myakka being my favorites. I love being able to grow orchids in my back yard and all the orchid growers in the area. I love the fishing, tarpon, snook, reds... I love that I see Manatee in the wild. I love that people come here to escape the winter weather, I love that they leave in the summer. I know that's more than 3 and I had to limit myself.

I wish there was a more diverse economy. I hate the bigotry I see and hear against Spanish speaking people. I wish the pro-environment / pro-development forces would work harder to find common ground.