[AliGilbert]

Hi,

We are looking for a beach town in Florida, especially south Florida, that is forward thinking with lots of character, greenspace, and a sense of community. We want to stay away from strip malls. We are a family of 3 with a toddler. Looking for something like a craftsmans bungalow or beach cottage within 10 minutes of the beach that is walking distance to things like groceries, farmers markets, parks, bike trails, restaurants, shops, and stores. I am a nurse practitioner and my husband is a PA. We don't want to commute much or pay more than 2,500 a month (2 bedroom at least), but may consider a little more for the right area. Some places we were thinking of were Miami (coconut grove) and Ft. Meyers, but I'm sure there are lots of cute beach towns in Florida. We don't want to live in north Florida. So not St. Augustine, Jax, panhandle, Amelia isl., ect...No conservative areas please. Open to smaller towns too. Any ideas? Thanks!

[kyle19125]

You definitely should look to the west coast and the small town of Gulfport. It adjoins a major city (St Petersburg) which provides job options and a very progressive vibe. Gulfport prides itself on being progressive as well and a bit funky/colorful in a Key West kind of way. There'll also be a number of bungalow or beach style homes to choose from in your price range.

Surprising St Pete
Gulfport Florida

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by AliGilbert

Hi,

We are looking for a beach town in Florida, especially south Florida, that is forward thinking with lots of character, greenspace, and a sense of community. We want to stay away from strip malls. We are a family of 3 with a toddler. Looking for something like a craftsmans bungalow or beach cottage within 10 minutes of the beach that is walking distance to things like groceries, farmers markets, parks, bike trails, restaurants, shops, and stores. I am a nurse practitioner and my husband is a PA. We don't want to commute much or pay more than 2,500 a month (2 bedroom at least), but may consider a little more for the right area. Some places we were thinking of were Miami (coconut grove) and Ft. Meyers, but I'm sure there are lots of cute beach towns in Florida. We don't want to live in north Florida. So not St. Augustine, Jax, panhandle, Amelia isl., ect...No conservative areas please. Open to smaller towns too. Any ideas? Thanks!

Sarasota, FL. Specifically Laurel Park. I think you can find something in your budget there. It's right downtown, one of the best smaller downtowns in FL (very walkable), a small but cosmopolitan artsy city. You can walk to Whole Foods, umpteen cafes and restaurants, beautiful Library, movies and entertainment, and a nice farmer's market. Then it is just a 2 mile jog/ride over Ringling Bridge to St. Armand's Circle (more entertainment) and then Lido Beach. Laurel Park has some of the older craftsman homes. Not sure how many you will find for rent, however. Sarasota is one of the more "forward" thinking cities in Florida for the most part.

ETA: I agree with Kyle also about St. Pete, but personally don't care for Gulfport - there is nothing there (it's TINY), and it's not really on the beach. But to each his own, I guess.

Hope this helps!

[HarryWho?]

Coconut Grove, South Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Delray Beach. If progressive is important.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Sarasota, FL. Specifically Laurel Park. I think you can find something in your budget there. It's right downtown, one of the best smaller downtowns in FL (very walkable), a small but cosmopolitan artsy city. You can walk to Whole Foods, umpteen cafes and restaurants, beautiful Library, movies and entertainment, and a nice farmer's market. Then it is just a 2 mile jog/ride over Ringling Bridge to St. Armand's Circle (more entertainment) and then Lido Beach. Laurel Park has some of the older craftsman homes. Not sure how many you will find for rent, however. Sarasota is one of the more "forward" thinking cities in Florida for the most part.

ETA: I agree with Kyle also about St. Pete, but personally don't care for Gulfport - there is nothing there (it's TINY), and it's not really on the beach. But to each his own, I guess.

Hope this helps!

Sarasota is nice but I'm not sure it fulfills the progressive vibe with a Red voting record and isn't right on the beach either. Gulfport has a nice little downtown area with cute shops/great restaurants (not exactly "nothing there" as noted here (Gulfport, Florida - Best of the Road), a very good weekly farmers market, art walk and other festivals with an active community (Tuesday Fresh Market), and a Blue voting record. The beach (St Pete Beach/Pass-A-Grille Beach) is also like Sarasota, just minutes away. The work options in St Pete will be far more prolific as well.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Sarasota is nice but I'm not sure it fulfills the progressive vibe with a Red voting record and isn't right on the beach either. Gulfport has a nice little downtown area with cute shops/great restaurants (not exactly "nothing there" as noted here (Gulfport, Florida - Best of the Road), a very good weekly farmers market, art walk and other festivals with an active community (Tuesday Fresh Market), and a Blue voting record. The beach (St Pete Beach/Pass-A-Grille Beach) is also like Sarasota, just minutes away. The work options in St Pete will be far more prolific as well.

Sarasota is pretty much 50/50, Kyle. I appreciate that you like Gulfport, I just don't see much there. I would pick St. Pete 1000 times over that place. But these are all only suggestions for the OP, anyway. They should visit all and decide for themselves.

[runswithscissors]

We don't want to commute much

Define "much"? Because if you mean it, that changes everything, IMO. What type of jobs are you doing? Hospitals or private offices or what exactly do you need? And who's watching the baby, are you sharing that with shift schedules?

Cleveland Clinic is in Weston at Ft Lauderdale but not 10 minutes from the beach. And probably doesn't meet your other criteria either but you wouldn't be the first people to change their criteria once they move here so yeah, RENT ONLY.

Have you been to Coconut Grove? Are you defining green space as one park nearby or a GREENSPACE community. And are the "bike trails" like...around the park or how far, exactly. If you mean that for real. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenspace

Here is a map of the 2012 Florida Pres. election results:

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/...esults/florida

Congress:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/FL

I've never been on the West coast but your desires sound more West than East to me; I don't know that our cute beach towns fit the bill.

[garyreno]

"forward thinking" is that like the MSNBC ads where they say they lean forward?

[AliGilbert]

Runwithscissors: Green space as in undeveloped, well planned, public land with lots of trees and grass (parks, community gardens, picnic areas, playgrounds, bike/walking paths, ect...). It's important for a healthy community. So I guess that means a green space community. I like that term.

We don't want to commute more than 30 minutes max. I will stay home with the baby unless I find suitable daycare, and if I do I'll only work part time. My husband can work in almost any setting, but he likes anything ortho.

Nope never been to Coconut Grove. Only to S. Beach once and wasn't impressed.

[AliGilbert]

Thanks for the great ideas. This is perfect. We are starting a list of places to hit on a road trip to check it all out. Keep them coming! Thinking about taking Miami off the list.