Are you glad you grew up/raised kids in Miami? (Miami Beach: home, movie theaters)

[PDX_LAX]

I frequent another board on this forum and the only attention Miami ever gets is negative. Soulless, no culture, endless strip malls, too hot in the summer to do anything, nothing to do, too many old people, etc. are all that people seem to think of Florida.

I want to ask people on this board who know best, what do you make of growing up in South Florida? Is there culture, things to do? Is it true that kids don't go out in the summer because of the oppressive heat and humidity? Is it family friendly?

[cuba libre]

All I can say is that most people, including myself, have a love-hate relationship Moderator cut: Flaming/Trolling

[ray1945]

I have lived here, with the exception of 4 years away for college, for 58 years.

Yes, I am glad I grew up in Miami. Yes, I am glad I raised my children here.

That being said, I wish all of us would move someplace else today. Of course, that is easier said than done. My children have established jobs in S. Fl and, my husband and I want to stay near our children and grandchildren.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by PDX_LAX

I frequent another board on this forum and the only attention Miami ever gets is negative. Soulless, no culture, endless strip malls, too hot in the summer to do anything, nothing to do, too many old people, etc. are all that people seem to think of Florida.

I want to ask people on this board who know best, what do you make of growing up in South Florida? Is there culture, things to do? Is it true that kids don't go out in the summer because of the oppressive heat and humidity? Is it family friendly?

Growing up in South Florida I think I had a great experience, but raising a child now in South Florida is a totally different story. If it means anything, most (not all) of my friends with children that could leave have left to give their children a better childhood, that they believe can't be had in South florida anymore. Yet, many do still raise their children here. So it really depends who you ask, just with most things. Do kids not go outside in the summer? I said this before, there are 9 kids on my block only 2 ever are outside, and its maybe once or twice a week if that. Is Miami family friendly, I think yes for the most part, but what city isn't family friendly??? And your last question on culture, Miami gets and has some culture. Just with any city, the people of the city kind of dictate what comes to the city. So because of the large hispanic population Miami gets more hispanic things vs. lets say country music or rock musicians. Thats just one example. But we do get lots of things that do come to Miami, is it what you want to go to, that is for the individual to decide.

[flyers29]

Originally Posted by PDX_LAX

I frequent another board on this forum and the only attention Miami ever gets is negative. Soulless, no culture, endless strip malls, too hot in the summer to do anything, nothing to do, too many old people, etc. are all that people seem to think of Florida.

I want to ask people on this board who know best, what do you make of growing up in South Florida? Is there culture, things to do? Is it true that kids don't go out in the summer because of the oppressive heat and humidity? Is it family friendly?

Miami (and even South Florida as a whole) isn't like the rest of Florida in many respects. I'd say the Latin and tropical flavor does give it culture and a uniqueness to it. Just personal opinion, but some other places in Florida do indeed seem like soulless suburban sprawl to me.

As far as raising kids there, well, that's up to you. I wouldn't say Miami is the friendliest of cities, and you can read the zillions of posts about being a non-Hispanic in Miami (though as a white person who doesn't really speak Spanish, I think most of the crap spewed here in that respect is a lot of hyperbole). That said, I wouldn't say it's much different than any other city in America, all things considered.

[dadeguy]

that depends. I grew up in hialeah/key largo. we had a second home in garden cove and spent the entire summer there dad showing up on fridays and leaving early monday morning. our summers were spent in the great outdoors and I really don't know much about this heat of which you speak.

after my military service I came home with a new jersey bride who is even whiter than I am (poor pasty celtic lass) and she eventually came to terms with the fact that this is my home and if she wants to be with me ... this is it. florida is paradise and miami is the sanctum sanctorum.

there might be a few wrinkles here and there but I don't see 'm, never have.

in time we were blessed with three kids (all boys except the oldest two) and they grew up outside in the lovely florida sun.

as they in turn wed and settled down they looked around the country a bit but returned to the paradise they know. now we all live within twelve miles of each other but the ancestral manse (such as it were) in miami gardens is party central. the grandkids are in the lake all summer long and on the weekends moms and dads join in on the grillin' if we don't have natural fireworks and liquid sunshine and sometimes.....even then.

so what is my opinion of florida? every step you take north of dade county should make you weep bitter tears. I feel for the rest of humanity, the poor suckers.

[Reptoid Humidian]

Originally Posted by dadeguy

that depends. I grew up in hialeah/key largo. we had a second home in garden cove and spent the entire summer there dad showing up on fridays and leaving early monday morning. our summers were spent in the great outdoors and I really don't know much about this heat of which you speak.

after my military service I came home with a new jersey bride who is even whiter than I am (poor pasty celtic lass) and she eventually came to terms with the fact that this is my home and if she wants to be with me ... this is it. florida is paradise and miami is the sanctum sanctorum.

there might be a few wrinkles here and there but I don't see 'm, never have.

in time we were blessed with three kids (all boys except the oldest two) and they grew up outside in the lovely florida sun.

as they in turn wed and settled down they looked around the country a bit but returned to the paradise they know. now we all live within twelve miles of each other but the ancestral manse (such as it were) in miami gardens is party central. the grandkids are in the lake all summer long and on the weekends moms and dads join in on the grillin' if we don't have natural fireworks and liquid sunshine and sometimes.....even then.

so what is my opinion of florida? every step you take north of dade county should make you weep bitter tears. I feel for the rest of humanity, the poor suckers.

I am currently a weeper of bitter tears! But hopefully for not much longer! I wish I had been raised in Miami/Dade! Instead I grew up in DRY A$$ Colorado! San Diego is definitely a step up from that but there are NO substitutes for Miami!

[dadeguy]

san diego is a great town too, I dig san diego but I wouldn't trade it for miami.

[FlyMIA]

Originally Posted by PDX_LAX

I frequent another board on this forum and the only attention Miami ever gets is negative. Soulless, no culture, endless strip malls, too hot in the summer to do anything, nothing to do, too many old people, etc. are all that people seem to think of Florida.

I want to ask people on this board who know best, what do you make of growing up in South Florida? Is there culture, things to do? Is it true that kids don't go out in the summer because of the oppressive heat and humidity? Is it family friendly?

I loved growing up in Miami I now spend most of the year in Washington DC and the summer in Miami. I love DC it is an amazing city and in many ways Miami wishes it could compare to DC. But Miami also has it advantages too.
Miami is a great place to grow up. Where in the world did you ever say Miami has no culture? Miami is one of the most diverse cities in the world. My friends where from all over the world, and 90% of my friends parents where born outside the country I think that is great I have met so many different people from different backgrounds.
Boring? Old People??? Where do you get your information. Miami is a young city, with tons of things for young people to do. Yea there are strip malls in the suburbs but I did not grow up in those Western suburbs I grew up in Miami Beach and Miami.
Summer heat? When you are a kid you really dont care, I played outside in the heat. I played 4 years of varsity football in the 100 degree heat. I went swimming all the time, the beach all the time. Swimming in January what is better than that? The summer heat does not bother kids as much as older people you drank some water and dealt with it. I loved the thunderstorms when I was a kid too. They were fun and gave you time to cool off inside.
Growing up in Miami was a great experience and I hope to be able to stay in Miami when I am done with school but of course I will go where ever my future job takes me. I have met people from all over the world. I have friends from Mexico, Italy, Colombia etc.., friends parents who are from Iran, South Africa, Italy or of course Cuba or the friend of mine who has a realative dated back to the mayflower! Miami has it all. It is a great place to grow up. You become very opened to other cultures. The sports games, the new movie theaters, the beach, the everglades field trips, the best high school sports in the country Miami was a FANTASTIC place to grow up. I could not imagine growing up anywhere else.

[Diannea16]

I am a rare breed!! A native-Born! I have raised 3 daughters here and finally I am able to move out of this place. If I had to do it again I would not raise my kids here. I think Miami is a horrible place to raise kids and live in general. I have watched this place go down the drain for a long time! Everytime I go out of town, I realize that alot of the people here are rude, inconsiderate;I could go on. Colorado here I come!!!