[TravelPlant]

What are some "must see" spots in Florida that only visiting will open our eyes to the prospect of settling there. Or alternately your Florida dream town? We're a professional family of 4 going to check out the following places for sure as possible places to move in the near future but any additional suggestions and descriptions are welcome!

We'll be flying down and renting a car for a semi road trip to check out 2 regions in the next year to year and a half.

First will be Panhandle from Pensacola/Gulf Breeze to around Destin. Most interested in Gulf Breeze and Destin, never been to either.

Second about 8 months later will be Madeira Beach/Treasure Island down to Fort Myers. Most interested in Madeira Beach, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral & Ft. Myers. Familiar with the area, love the boating and pretty much year round summer.

Thanks for all replies!

[Coconut1]

Miami, without a doubt.

It gets a bad rap about being some Hispanic cesspool, but has so much to offer.

Quality of life in places like Coral Gables, Brickell and South Miami is second to none. The water is beautiful, and the landscape even better.

Few places in FL can you walk to charming cafes, have a nice meal out on the town, catch a show, or do some shopping, all in your backyard, or a short train ride, like you can in Miami.

[beachmouse]

If you've got the time when you're in Destin, go east to Seaside. It's probably not a relocation option-about 20 permanent residents and a whole bunch of vacation homes, but it's the birthplace of the New Urbanism movement. I'd also have a look at the Bluewater Bay area on the north side of the Mid Bay Bridge just north of Destin- excellent schools, one of the places popular with the Eglin AFB rocket scientist crowd, and you largely pick which community amenities you want to pay for.

[Nomadicus]

Jacksonville if premium medical facilities are important. Mayo Clinic there is top of the best.

[npz]

If you are coming down as far as Fort Myers and Cape Coral, you need to come a little further and check out Naples.

[beachmouse]

One other thing to ask about when you're looking around: what percentage of the homes in an area are used as primary residences? I can think of a place like the Sandestin development, which is utterly gorgeous, but many of your neighbors will only be there for a month or two of the year. Which is nice if you want peace and quiet and all, but if can make it harder to find more of a community in some ways.

[marcopolo]

Originally Posted by TravelPlant

What are some "must see" spots in Florida that only visiting will open our eyes to the prospect of settling there. Or alternately your Florida dream town? We're a professional family of 4 going to check out the following places for sure as possible places to move in the near future but any additional suggestions and descriptions are welcome!

We'll be flying down and renting a car for a semi road trip to check out 2 regions in the next year to year and a half.

First will be Panhandle from Pensacola/Gulf Breeze to around Destin. Most interested in Gulf Breeze and Destin, never been to either.

Second about 8 months later will be Madeira Beach/Treasure Island down to Fort Myers. Most interested in Madeira Beach, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral & Ft. Myers. Familiar with the area, love the boating and pretty much year round summer.

Thanks for all replies!

Do yourself a favor on trip #2 and start from Dunedin, 20 miles north of Madeira Beach. Visit downtown, the Marina, drive out the causeway to Honeymoon Island. When you are done, you can go south to Clearwater Beach and on down to Madeira. You'll get a little more laid-back town feel, on the water but not as touristy as the islands just to the south--but they are CLOSE when you want that.

[Wwanderer]

Originally Posted by marcopolo

Do yourself a favor on trip #2 and start from Dunedin, 20 miles north of Madeira Beach. Visit downtown, the Marina, drive out the causeway to Honeymoon Island. When you are done, you can go south to Clearwater Beach and on down to Madeira. You'll get a little more laid-back town feel, on the water but not as touristy as the islands just to the south--but they are CLOSE when you want that.

Funny, I was just going to suggest Dunedin too.

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Pass Destin a bit and stop at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach.
Continue on to Seaside, as posted upthread.

I love that whole little area.

[SoFLGal]

Add Sarasota to your list.