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Id say from your likes perhaps the south Texas coast near Corpus. 100+ miles of protect sea shore. The choice between that and Florida is more getting away for maddening crowd or joining it :IMO. There are also spots in Alabama and Mississippi sea shore still pretty much unspoiled by maddening crowd to look at. Florida ok for off season in some areas like Emerald Coast but south is a mad crowd zone unless very rich and can buy seclusion.
We are native Texans and also have a home in Nokomis, Fl--just north of Venice.
We bought there because our daughter married someone who was living in Venice and didn't want to relocate. We spend probably half the year there now that husband is retired and spent most of this summer there because our daughter teaches and was off during the summer..
It is definitely more humid but the evenings usually cool off and you have the cycle of heat showers which help break humidity.
My husband thinks summer is easier in FL and he does a good bit outside...
Winters are definitely better although you can get some rain...
Our TX home is in DFW area--hot summers last few years...more urban but both areas have enough for us to do that we don't feel deprived.
We aren't really beach people but our area of Florida has some nice ones...
red tide not that bad last few years...
Texas beaches not that great and there are other issues being that far south/close to MX
Rock port which was mentioned has historical aspect, good fishing...my husband's nephew bought vacation house on one of the canal neighborhoods...
Personally I don't think there is good diving off Tx beaches
Don't know personally about The Keys but our SIL and daughter like to vacation there
I have lots of FL relatives and my wife has TX relatives. Both sets of relatives say the FL beaches are better. Some of the TX relatives say having Houston as the nearby large city is better than anything FL has if city is important.
I have never lived in FL but I spent years in TX. FL always worried me because of the hurricanes and evacuation. I lived through a bunch of hurricanes in TX but was never forced to evacuate. A lot of my concerns center around pets. I would not leave them behind under any circumstances.
It's always all over the news whenever there is a threat. Are they sensationalizing or is it for real?
And for sure, the beaches in FL are nicer than TX.
Native Texan here, Florida beaches are WAY better than Texas beaches. However, South Padre Island isn't bad at all. I also like the weather better in Florida (it's too hot in Texas). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my home state. The thing I like best about Texas is the people, everyone is just so darned nice (at least the natives are). I spent a ton of time in Florida and found folks just weren't very hospitable like they are in Texas, especially the snowbirds. I found many were very rude and to this day, I can't figure out why they were such miserable people.
I also like Texas because I can get to the coast in a few hours when I want beach time, the BEAUTIFUL Texas Hill Country and fine wineries are a short drive away, the San Antonio Riverwalk is a stones throw away, Austin's music scene is right up the highway from me, Houston isn't far away and offers lots of museums and then there are always a ton of small, quaint country towns to visit and explore.
If the beach living is all you are about and you don't mind some rude people then I'd pick Florida hands down. BUT, if you want more variety and things to explore with easy access to the beach, then it's Texas (specifically south Texas) all the way. Good luck on your decision, I'm sure you will be happy with whatever you decide.
I have never lived in FL but I spent years in TX. FL always worried me because of the hurricanes and evacuation. I lived through a bunch of hurricanes in TX but was never forced to evacuate. A lot of my concerns center around pets. I would not leave them behind under any circumstances.
It's always all over the news whenever there is a threat. Are they sensationalizing or is it for real?
And for sure, the beaches in FL are nicer than TX.
None of my many FL relatives has ever had a major problem with a hurricane though a couple have been asked to voluntarily evacuate. I have suffered major hurricane damage once in my life - over 100 miles inland in NC (Fran). FL gets press because they have so much coastline and the entire state gets the most hurricanes as a raw number. But NC gets more per mile of coastline, so if you own beachfront property here you are more likely to get hit than if you own beachfront property in FL. It is tough to say if FL is "sensationalized". My heart goes out to the folks who lived in path of Andrew; they suffered a lot of damage. But that is not likely to happen to most residents ever. Obviously it is even less likely to happen in Montana and probably in Texas as well, but that doesn't make it a deal breaker in my book.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Our little Texas Hill Country Memorial Day rain shower (12+ inches in one day) bordered on hurricane damage for those living within 40' elevation of the creek.
Nothing is ever LITTLE in TX...
I do like the variety of things, terrain to enjoy in the Hill Country of TX. I have never been to Houston, and never intend to go. I also enjoy my income tax free domicile of WA State as well. Very diverse climate / activities / and GREAT coastline nearby (100% Public access Oregon Coast (not WARM!!!). No Hurricanes, but Volcanoes and earthquakes can add to the excitement, possible tsunami will convince you to stay on high ground.
50f sleeping nights even in August are nice, (as are the fresh salmon and wild berries)(47f the other night was down right chilly.). I Celebrate the 200+ days of WA drizzle by heading to the TX Hill Country. Direct flights to CA, AZ, NV, CO help as well.
FL, I tend to only enjoy St Augustine, but I have not yet been to the keys. I would miss my Mtns (Colorado kid).
None of my many FL relatives has ever had a major problem with a hurricane though a couple have been asked to voluntarily evacuate. I have suffered major hurricane damage once in my life - over 100 miles inland in NC (Fran). FL gets press because they have so much coastline and the entire state gets the most hurricanes as a raw number. But NC gets more per mile of coastline, so if you own beachfront property here you are more likely to get hit than if you own beachfront property in FL. It is tough to say if FL is "sensationalized". My heart goes out to the folks who lived in path of Andrew; they suffered a lot of damage. But that is not likely to happen to most residents ever. Obviously it is even less likely to happen in Montana and probably in Texas as well, but that doesn't make it a deal breaker in my book.
I had major structural damage in 1983 from I believe it was Carla. The cleanup was massive. 2 weeks with no power, no water, 100% humidity, and around 100 degrees. Truly miserable!
Absolutely love vacationing in Florida!! The beaches in the Panhandle can't be beat. On our last trip there, I was surprised at the number of people there from Texas, so that might tell you something. Have you thought about Gulf Shores/Orange Beach. AL? Touristy, but not nearly as much as Florida, but of course you'd still have to contend with the possibility of hurricanes. We thought about retiring somewhere in Florida, but between the relentless humidity and the possibility of running from a hurricane at 80, it just lost its appeal to us. We'll keep going, but as tourists...
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