Flordia Move - East or West coast, which would you prefer?

[funhouse8]

If you had a chance to buy a condo in flordia would you pick the beaches on the east coast or the beaches on the west? Please explain why. Do you know of any nice communities? Sorry Orlando is not an option. LOL

 

[okeydokey]

I like the gulf coast much better. It is just beautiful and the water seems nicer and greener. The Destin area is just beautiful.

 

[MizTink]

the gulf coast is beautiful. i much prefer it over any of the east coast beaches i've been to. i live in sarasota and it's perfect!

 

[Rora]

I guess I'm biased being from the East Coast but I would pick East. There's much more to do (besides the beach)!

 

[ford family]

The Gulf Coast.
Somewhere close to great beaches, a vast choice of restaurants, museums and art galleries, state parks, sporting events, city attractions, rural attractions and no more than 90 minutes from the happiest placeon earth for dropping in for a couple of days several times a year.
Somewhere like Bradenton perhaps? Not that I'm biased!!

ford family

 

[DawnCt1]

We loved Captiva and when we drove down to Naples we thought it was lovely.

 

[vanillamickey]

I live close to the Gulf Coast, and I love it. Though the waves on the East Coast are bigger

 

[goofinoff]

the gulf coast is beautiful. i much prefer it over any of the east coast beaches i've been to. i live in sarasota and it's perfect!

 

[11290]

Gulf coast almost any place from Siesta Key north to Clearwater and Ft. Myers to Naples south

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Although the Gulf coast beaches are prettier IMO (sugar-white sand and clear water), I prefer the East Coast beaches (my favorite is St Augustine and I would buy a condo or actually, preferably, a cottage there in a heartbeat if Obama would let me empty out my 403b ).

Gulf beaches have a problem with red tide, they are much hotter and less breezy in the summer than Atlantic side beaches, and they have a lot more sting rays than Atlantic beaches.

Atlantic beaches don't have as clear water as the Gulf beaches but that's because there's more water movement and the water gets churned up more. Based on the red tide issues, I think Atlantic beaches are cleaner/safer than the Gulf beaches.

 

[lillygator]

the atlantic side is more dirty than the Gulf side. Def the west coast of FL.

 

[Disney Doll]

DSIL lives in Barefoot Bay...a little town on the east coast between Melbourne and Sebastian, on the Indian River. She likes it there. She moved into a development where she already knew people...some of her friends form up here had moved down there in previous years, she had visited them frequently and became comfortable in the area.

My observations, having been on both coasts, is that it really depends on the area. I am sure that both coats have their seedy and their nice areas. I think it is a move that requires a lot of research.

It's been a long time since I've been there, but I recall the Naples area as being quite lovely.

 

[GeorgeG]

I'd choose the gulf coast over the east coast.

However, there are other places in between besides Orlando that you might look at. You can day-trip to either coast and save a lot of money on property and insurance.

 

[Golf4food]

The area least likely to be hit directly by a hurricane is the St. Augustine to Jacksonville/Georgia border area, in case you want to take that into consideration.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

The area least likely to be hit directly by a hurricane is the St. Augustine to Jacksonville/Georgia border area, in case you want to take that into consideration.

That's a really good point. I have relatives in Pensacola who have been hit hard by hurricanes over and over.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My dream is to one day retire in St. Augustine (although I've never once visited, only drove through).
However, the Gulf is MUCH more beautiful, and to me..a little more lowkey.

 

[schmitty]

East coast. Much better beaches. People on the west coast always talk about beaches but people on the east coast enjoy the beaches ;-)

 

[SamRoc]

I prefer the Gulf coast. We have a place at Fort Myers Beach and we love it there. The beaches are great and we love the shells that wash up on them. Also enjoy seeing the dolphins and manatees every morning. Love being so close to Sanibel and Captiva also.

 

[minkydog]

Gulf Coast, hands down.

The Gulf beaches are sooooo much cleaner and prettier than the Atlantic beaches. Beautiful sunsets. Good fishing in the Gulf. Gentler waves, clear turquoise water. White sand. Great seafood. Ahhhh....

My DH is from the Gulf Coast and I grew up on the East Coast, near the Outer Banks. Much as I love the wildness of the OBX, nothing can soothe me like a week on the Gulf. We have family along the northwest coast of Florida and south Alabama, so we go there a lot. But our favorite area is between Panama City and Destin. I believe the area might be Santa Rosa Beach. Grayton Beach SP is in that area. We take our camper to Topsail Hill SP in that same area for a week in July. I like that area because it isn't as busy and commercial, but you're close enough to Destin to take advantage of outlet shopping, beautiful golf courses, good restaurants, deep sea fishing, water activities,etc. Destin itself is a busy place, very touristy, but we love it.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Gulf coast. Check out Pensacola Beach - nice quiet area or there's Grayton Beach, Destin, Panama City (though tons of tourists) there's Seaside ummm that's all I can think of at the moment...don't forget there's some beautiful beaches in AL - Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.