[beachmouse]

I'd give greater Pensacola a look. It's flawed, but hits a lot of points on your list. In the Ft. Walton Beach area, the part of Crestview north of I-10 is still pretty Southern. I'd also look at Panama City and surrounding areas, provided that you specifically exclude Panama City Beach (which has some small virtues, but is the decidedly non-Southern part of Bay County)

[hymnsinger]

Originally Posted by mango23

I read about some crazy religious movement in Lake city. I thought it was silly till I did some checking. Have you heard anything about it or experienced it? It kind of made me check Lake city off my list.

That would be the End Timers, led by Charles Meade.

In the years I lived there (1994-1999), I never heard about it, or anything about them. I did see their compound and thought nothing of it, just that it was a large church. I learned later how wrong I was! I think they pretty much keep to themselves for the most part. They haven't been in the news recently that I can find.

I wouldn't let them keep me from moving to Lake City. Lake City is a big town and there's lots of room for everyone. That said, they are a dangerous cult and bear watching. Charles Meade has been compared to David Koresh and Jim Jones. There is plenty about them on the web, both true and untrue. A good site is End Time Ministries but don't let it scare you too much. I believe that we can coexist, as they have done in LC since 1988. Just keep your kids away from them!

Blessings,
Tracey

[GhettoKC]

Florida is the most southern state in the country. By geography.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

FL has become such a melting pot since my youth I can't see any real southern except up near the GA and AL state lines.

You gotta get out more!

From my experience, anything outside Tampa, Orlando, and Miami is still pretty southern. Jacksonville, although a major city, would still be considering "southern" in my opinion; especially once you get outside the downtown area and definitely along the st. johns river.

Taylor county FL and the surrounding areas make alabama look like california.

The "most southern" people I've ever met were from southwest Florida.

[StreetSmarts]

[quote=southgeorgia;13290330]You gotta get out more!

From my experience, anything outside Tampa, Orlando, and Miami is still pretty southern. Jacksonville, although a major city, would still be considering "southern" in my opinion; especially once you get outside the downtown area and definitely along the st. johns river. If it's still small town and rural, yes, many are still considered southern. But in FL, nowadays, it's FAR easier to find a transplant than a native, and most cities are a large mix of people. Small towns in Central FL like Oviedo, Winter Springs, etc... are made up of a ton of people from the midwest. Kissimmee and Deltona are very hispanic. Bithlo is still very southern. But there arent a lot of cities that I can think of in South or Central FL that are still southern. Lake Placid, Loxahatchee, Davie, Ocala, Clermont and much of Lake Co is still southern.

Taylor county FL and the surrounding areas make alabama look like california.

The "most southern" people I've ever met were from southwest Florida. LOL, that's hilarious!

[seasidejules]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

I'd give greater Pensacola a look. It's flawed, but hits a lot of points on your list. In the Ft. Walton Beach area, the part of Crestview north of I-10 is still pretty Southern. I'd also look at Panama City and surrounding areas, provided that you specifically exclude Panama City Beach (which has some small virtues, but is the decidedly non-Southern part of Bay County)

You must be joking! There is no part of Bay county that is non-Southern. Having moved to PCB from Destin 2 years ago and from Atlatna before that- I can assure you ALL of Bay county is very, very southern. Panama City or Panama City Beach sound like a very good choice for you. Pensacola - Gulf Breeze and Milton areas would be a possiblity as well.

[beachmouse]

I wrote PCB off as a place to live not because of the Southernness but because of the Spring Break crowds. (how many other places have an office pool on the number of Spring Breakers who fall off condo balconies and the date the first one of the season happens)

Only maybe look there if you're talking north of US 98 and can avoid the worst of the chaos.

[Jimbobster]

I appreciate all the information. I have some follow-up questions, if you all don't mind:
1) What kind of industries are strong up in the Panhandle/Pensacola? Is there something other than tourism?
2) I know that all of Florida has a surplus, to put it mildly, of retirees; are there a fair amount of younger and middle-aged folks in the Panhandle/Pensacola? I am asking to know how easy it will be for us to find friends and activities.
3 & 4) I am wondering the same about Lakeland.

[beachmouse]

The Panhandle cities are actually relatively young compared to much of the state. We get enough winter to scare the retirees further southward. (November through March tends to run 10-15 degrees cooler than it does south of I-4)

While there is a fair amount of tourism, the bulk of the economy comes from agriculture, the fishing industry, and the military/industrial complex. About 70% of the local economy in Ft. Walton Beach/Okaloosa County is because of the Air Force. Metro Tallahassee also has a lot of jobs related to government and education as you'd expect.

[Miles Vineyards]

doggiebus, I will address this to you as you are familar to me and you were the last post I regognized. I saw a few names that are regulars and they gave sound advice as you did. I think back on when I first moved to Florida and it was an East Coast trip. The farthest I made it was Boca but did make some day trips farther south. I have often told people that Southern Florida is not a State but a foriegn country. I laugh when people would refer to Florida as a " Gone with the wind " scenerio. The true Floridians are really great people but after being exploited by carpetbaggers for so many years they have become somewhat indifferant to people from the North, I do not think you can call southern Florida as "Southern Charm", you can call it a cultural melting pot but do not confuse it with "Southern Dignity". I was once told by a "Gentleman" that the closer you came to Georgia, the better your chance of seeing "Southern Hospitalty". I learned this first hand by moving to Vero Beach, a wonderful place but make no mistake it is still coastal oriented and as such has an influx of "Northerners", not that there is anything wrong with northern people, hell, I am from the north but it seems that the people who can afford to move to southern Florida with out regard to making a living, seem to adapt a "superior" attitude. This attitude attracts the opposite of what "Southern Charm" is all about. A long story short to say I agree with the group, that in order to experience "Southern Charm" head a little further North, get away from the scam artists, the con men, the beach parties, the "little people" that can not see over the steering wheel. etc. Go to an area that still respects manners, etiquitte, principles and everything else that reaks of "Bret Butler". Now do not confuse some of the old country boy mentality that is not a southern attribute but a "food chain" mentality, with true southern dignity. Even us northern boys know the differance between country and Jack pine savages. lee