[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Weatherguy

How about Mt. Dora, the cool little artsy town on a hill overlooking a lake just north of Orlando? It's a very nice town to just walk around in, with many shops and local eateries. I also remember seeing B&Bs. I had lunch there a few years ago, and left thinking it would be one of my first choices in places to live (if I really had a choice).

I love Mount Dora as well but it really doesn't fit the bohemian/artsy vibe the OP is looking for. The only significant bohemian city/area in the state is St Petersburg's downtown areas (Grand Central District primarily). There are other art-centric towns in Florida, but they don't have the bohemian feel of places like Asheville NC, Burlington VT or Ithaca NY.

[squarpeg]

Agree with the above post. There is lots of art/artsy places in FLA. You can find that anywhere there are people with huge sums of money. Getting the bohemian vibe is a whole other story though. It is such a huge state you would think it would have some pockets of liberal debauchery and hippiedom. In all my travels through the state I have yet to find much of that. First off the whole state is full of very old people they are not bohemian. The center of the state is rednecks and the northern part feels like the deep south. I would say if you don't like the keys, which at least can have a breezy attitude you might try Sarasota and st pete. If you do stumble on a place that you think fits your description please post it......

[Rebek56]

Surely some bohemian-ish boomers will migrate to Florida (writes one who was hoping to be such a person).

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

I love Mount Dora as well but it really doesn't fit the bohemian/artsy vibe the OP is looking for. The only significant bohemian city/area in the state is St Petersburg's downtown areas (Grand Central District primarily). There are other art-centric towns in Florida, but they don't have the bohemian feel of places like Asheville NC, Burlington VT or Ithaca NY.

I both agree and disagree here. I think St. Pete is every bit as Bohemian as some of these places mentioned. For instance, Asheville, while Bohemian has a very high concentration of bums and "faux hippies" living downtown. St. Pete used to have more of that element, but tightened up and now you don't see so many panhandlers.

Also, I recently visited Tampa's downtown and Ybor - that area is getting MUCH more bohemian, with buskers all along the sidewalks and a lot happening.

At the end of the day, one has to visit these places in person to see if it fills their idea of bohemian. Not too many cities in Florida do. I live in Sarasota which I call "upscale" bohemian. To the north of me is Bradenton, which has a very small downtown but a whole "Village of the Arts" which is of course very bohemian, and has been written up in art magazines.

Hope this helps!

[StreetSmarts]

I was in St Pete several months ago. The downtown area is nice but other than that, I wasnt impressed.

[daytonadewd]

Originally Posted by Turquoiseblu

Any recs on a town like this? Looking to relocate to florida. Looking for somewhere with a vibe like that. Something similar to ashville nc or tulum mx. Not key west! Lol something morw kid friendly.

Sorry to say there are only "pockets" in Florida that resemble your OP. (Most of FL was only settled/developed/built after WW2!)

Florida isn't (generally) known for great educational resources for kids -- but the (mostly) awesome weather produces excellent opportunities for sports, athletics and exploring nature/marine life! There are also great student exchange programs in Florida to either host or have your kids travel!

If you venture around the State, here are my suggestions to find your "vibe":
Alachua/Lake Butler - North of Gainesville. County Seat. Low-Key Awareness Community.
Miconopy - South of Gainesville. Crafts trade/tourist store fronts and cafes
St Petersburg/Daytona Beach - Crafts trade; "community" pioneers of previously forgotten downtown
St Augustine, Sarasota, Vero Beach, Sanibel, Lake Worth/College Park - Lots of +/- (U Figure it out!)
DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, Cassadaga, Fernandina Beach, Winter Haven - History/Character/Arts/Spriritual Communities off the grid
Port Charlotte, Pine Island, Goodland, Cedar Key, Key Largo, Tarpon Springs, Edgewater, Buckhead Ridge - A hideaway for creative reclusive types with a lot of mileage

Good Luck!

[Rebek56]

"A hideaway for creative reclusive types with a lot of mileage"

Hmm...this sounds like a lot of people we know.

[dothetwist]

Originally Posted by daytonadewd

Sorry to say there are only "pockets" in Florida that resemble your OP. (Most of FL was only settled/developed/built after WW2!)

Florida isn't (generally) known for great educational resources for kids -- but the (mostly) awesome weather produces excellent opportunities for sports, athletics and exploring nature/marine life! There are also great student exchange programs in Florida to either host or have your kids travel!

If you venture around the State, here are my suggestions to find your "vibe":
Alachua/Lake Butler - North of Gainesville. County Seat. Low-Key Awareness Community.
Miconopy - South of Gainesville. Crafts trade/tourist store fronts and cafes
St Petersburg/Daytona Beach - Crafts trade; "community" pioneers of previously forgotten downtown
St Augustine, Sarasota, Vero Beach, Sanibel, Lake Worth/College Park - Lots of +/- (U Figure it out!)
DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, Cassadaga, Fernandina Beach, Winter Haven - History/Character/Arts/Spriritual Communities off the grid
Port Charlotte, Pine Island, Goodland, Cedar Key, Key Largo, Tarpon Springs, Edgewater, Buckhead Ridge - A hideaway for creative reclusive types with a lot of mileage

Good Luck!

In Pinellas County, I would add these 3 small cities for liberal and open-minded folks:
Gulfport
Safety Harbor
Dunedin

[squarpeg]

The suggestions above from Daytonadewed and dothetwist are worthy of a look, I have been to almost all of those places and while there is really no comparison between someplace like goodland vs sanibel Each of those places has it's own specific type of charm. I personally wouldn't put them in the bohemian classification so I think we have strayed a bit from that. However these are certianly some of the cooler more interesting places where you may find some like minded folk. Some of these places are very small, some are cities so you have a real mix. They are all fun to go and look at and that alone is worth the trip. Come down rent a car for a month and just drive around to all the places. Spend a night in the ones you like. That is what I did and it is great fun. To the poster who suggested Bradenton, While they do have a very small area I just can't see that as viable in any bohemian way. Not long ago Bradenton had the most mobile homes per capita in the country. Over 55 parks, traffic, no I am afraid not...Anna Maria is nice though, right across the causeway you might stop there for a drink looking over the the water, order yourself some gulf shrimp, if the sun is setting and a good band is playing, you might just decide the bohemian thing is not that important. Best of luck

[annerk]

St. Augustine and St. Pete both have thriving art communities.