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Do you think that's a reliable process to suss out credible information, insofar as what you 'hear and read' from others is internet prattle which itself is probably less actionable* than whatever maybe round written on the stall door in a gas station bathroom?
(Of course, I'm sure there really are those times when "for a good time call Kate" turns out well but usually, its not anything worth pursuing, even though someone wrote it)
There are many clean, nice and safe areas in Florida. What is your perception that scares you about much of the state?
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Originally Posted by folkguitarist555
Crime, poverty, crowds, hurricane's....and seediness, and other oddities,...seems I got that feeling when in FL, some years ago.
There is crime everywhere, not just in Florida and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional. Florida is nowhere near the top of the list in terms of poverty so that's a strike. Outside of the densely populated urban areas (like any other state) it's not crowded, strike two. In terms of hurricanes, we haven't had one hit the state in ten years so we're not talking a frequent occurrence...strike three. In terms of seediness and other oddities as you slink away, not anymore than anywhere else despite the media's attempt to paint that picture. Perhaps if we had fewer social misfits moving here from other states it wouldn't be something smirked about elsewhere, and think especially if birth origins were made public in these "Floriduh" stories we wouldn't be seeing a whole lot of that.
I am just researching at this point some. Can you recommend any affordable nice small cities, or large towns? Ocala?, Dunnellon?, Stuart? Inverness? Sebring?....looking for a little acreage with a house...has to have at least 1 acre of land....prefer rural, and not too backwoods. I like backwoods in the northwest, but backwoods in the south, may be a different animal altogether I am assuming. I can easily reside in the backwoods of northern Idaho, cause it is still very conservative libertarian, and folks accept you easily. I would not want to live near any crime zones, and run down ghettos. Just being honest.
I think you would love the St Augustine area. With only around 13,000 people in the city, it's really like a small town, so I'm sure that it would be very welcoming to new people as well.
We live in an area called Pine Ridge, which is in Citrus County. It's technically in Beverly Hills but less than 10 minutes from Crystal River. It's a beautiful area, and the minimum lot size is 1 acre so you have breathing room. We love it! We are a 30 minute drive to Ocala & Dunnellon and 20 minutes from Inverness. I'm a Florida native that was in CT for many years. We are happy to be back and appreciate the small town, old Florida feel of Citrus County. We love the springs & rivers and all that there is to do in the area. Is there seediness? Absolutely, but only in certain areas. Which I believe is the case in most places. Good luck to you!
seems like FL is now a part of Cuba, on one half, then then the rest of the state belongs to the Northeast and the Midwest....looks like it aint southern anymore imo.
I'm not sure theres any place in Florida thats going to fit your somewhat demanding criteria, Why are you considering a move to Fla as it sounds to me like you are going to move to Fla then never stop telling every one how much better the PNW is,
that said give St Augustine, Ocala and Destin a look.
My wife and I moved to Crystal River in 2005 from Pennsylvania. We stayed in many different parts of the State before settling here. Once we convinced ourselves that this area was right for us, we rented a condo for three months and took time to explore the area and its communities. We were not in a hurry to make a quick purchase and took our time selecting a waterfront property. We chose to purchase in the condominium community where we rented.
The Islands Condominiums is a few miles from town. Not very far, but it is a world apart, located in the midst of the Crystal River Buffer Preserve which is directly adjacent is the St. Martins Aquatic Preserve which then abuts the Chassahowitka National Wildlife Preserve. This area of the "Nature Coast" is aptly named. My backyard is more that 80,000 acres of forever protected landscape. Dolphins and Manatees swim past the seawall with regularity and bald eagles and osprey often fly overhead. It's heaven if you are into boating, kayaking or fishing and less than a 15 minute travel time to the open Gulf of Mexico by boat. Our visitors remark at the quiet, peaceful, stillness of our home.
I like the fact that all the outside maintenance is taken care of by the Association. Except for taking out the trash, my free time is my own and does not have to be consumed by home or yard maintenance.
The Islands community has a large, heated, private and gated swimming pool with a large deck and plenty of recliners to work that tan.
In 2009, Crystal River was rated by Coastal Living Magazine as one of the Top 10 Snorkeling spots in the World, sharing the distinction with the likes of Belize, the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Grand Cayman. Crystal River is one of the only rivers in Florida where people can interact and swim with the gentle, endangered West Indian Manatee that seek out the constant 72 degree temperature of its natural springs.
The Islands Community is adjacent to The St. Martins Aquatic Preserve, a vast 23,000-acre area of coastal marshes, mangrove islands, oyster bars and shallow water flats along the coastline with sparkling clear waters, sponge and coral communities and sargassum meadows. For bird watchers, the St. Martin Keys is the southern terminus for migratory waterfowl of the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways.
Crystal River has three long established, PADI certified dive shops if that tells you anything about the popularity this area has with scuba enthusiasts. We are located in the seven rivers area with large first magnitude springs welling up hundreds of millions of gallons of fresh water per day from deep underground caverns. Cave diving, open-ocean, river or lake diving is available.
Much of the backwater is not accessible to boat traffic, making the Islands an ideal place for undisturbed kayaking and canoeing. The twenty-mile long Nature Coast Canoe and Kayak trail passes right by the Islands Community. Beginning on the Crystal River traveling south to Mason Creek and beyond into the 31,000 acre Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.
Trout, Redfish and Snook are present year-round, and at certain times fishing can be phenomenal as pelagic species such as drag peeling Spanish Mackerel migrate though Crystal Bay. Citrus County also has an artificial reef system approximately twenty miles offshore that holds Shark, Grouper, Cobia, Snapper, Kingfish and Sea Bass. Resident Tarpon are found in the Crystal River and migrants make there way through the area in numbers in May. In 2001 a 202-pound behemoth was reeled in from area waters; the largest Tarpon ever caught on a fly rod. There are also three freshwater borrow lakes within walking distance of the Islands that have a good population of the famed Florida largemouth bass.
The Islands is rural living within a day-trip distance to big city amenities. It is proximate to an immense variety of activities yet removed from the noise, hassle, hustle, bustle, and traffic jams prevalent in urban centers.
Two international airports (Orlando and Tampa) serve the area along with several smaller regional airports (St. Petersburg, Orlando Sanford, and Gainesville). Crystal River’s own airport runway is long enough to accommodate small private jets, has a flight school and offers rentals to private pilots interested to take short jaunts across the State or to simply to keep up hours.
Tampa, a straight shot down the Suncoast Parkway and Orlando, a straight shot across the Florida Turnpike are both approximately ninety minutes from Crystal River. One will find the culture of a performing arts center, Broadway style theaters, fine restaurants, a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, botanical gardens, and eclectic museums such as the Salvador Dali. Not to mention the major theme park attractions such as Disney World, Epcot, Sea World, Universal Orlando, Wet & Wild, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Lego Land and Dinosaur World.
Baseball’s Spring Training draws visitors and locals alike to watch the World famous New York Yankees play in Tampa, Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota.
Also in spring, the streets of St. Petersburg are turned into a Formula One racetrack for the Firestone Grand Prix. If you prefer NASCAR, the Daytona International Speedway is just 120 miles across the State, home of the biggest richest and most prestigious race on the NASCAR schedule, the Daytona 500. The track also is host to the Sprint Cup Series, Coke Zero 400, and North America’s premier sports car event, the Rolex 24, a demanding 24-hour race that serves as the kickoff to the 2016 ISMA TUDOR United Sports Car Champion season. Up to 500,000 people make their way to Daytona in spring for Bike Week, a ten- day event of motorcycle racing, concerts, parties and street festivals.
Spring Break is near, but not here. The Nature Coast is defined as a zero impact coastline. The shallow waters and low tide swings are such that sand is not created and deposited on the shoreline. Rather, our shorelines are comprised of oyster bars, mangrove islands and saw grass. While Crystal River has a small man-made beach, the white sugar sand beaches are a few hours South, or in the Panhandle to the North or across the State along the Atlantic coast. If you’re into crowds and wild, out-of-control parties you will have to seek it out. The Islands is the antithesis of Spring Break… quiet, tranquil and peaceful.
There are plenty of golf courses in Florida. The closest course is three miles from the Islands. Green fees are reasonable and the course is not crowded. In all there are two courses within the incorporated area of Crystal River, there are six courses within a half hour, and seventeen courses to choose from within 45 minutes.
The Islands is removed from the light pollution of the city and the nighttime skies offer stargazers clear views of constellations and the occasional meteor showers that occur throughout the year. Although the Kennedy Space Center is due East and 136 miles across the State, rocket launches are easily viewed from the Islands. Nighttime launches are especially exciting as they rise off the horizon and soar into orbit. Although the shuttle program has ended Cape Canaveral remains an active launch facility with SpaceX, The Department of Defense and NASA having a regular schedule of blastoffs of satellite and resupply missions to the International Space Station.
Unlike many, the Islands Condominium Association is financially well managed with over $1.2 Million Dollars in reserves. The monthly assessment is $530 per month. Approximately one-third of this amount relates to flood and hazard insurance, understandably higher than inland properties, yet it is the price you pay to live on the water. Another 25% of the monthly fee is set aside in reserves for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance that includes such things as painting of the buildings, road maintenance, roofs and replacement of depreciable assets. The remainder of the assessment covers regularly occurring monthly and annual expenses such as employee salaries, grounds maintenance, sewer, cable television, trash collection, pool maintenance and chemicals, office expenses, the Association’s electric and water usage, property management and taxes. The reserves are so well funded there has been no need for special assessments.
Lawn care and grounds maintenance is performed by a staff of four, nothing for you to do except enjoy your time.
The Islands has a private tennis court and clubhouse. You can be as socially active as you wish in social activities that include a kayak club, fishing and boating club, golf league, craft club, book club and investment club.
Property taxes are low, just $1,424 for non-homesteaded, 1600 square foot unit and there is no State income tax in Florida.
The Islands is accessed from Ft. Island Trail, two miles from the main highway U.S. 19. A mile long, paved road from Ft. Island Trail leads into the community. There are no through streets and the community’s private roads dead end. Neighbors know and watch out for one another. It is a safe community.
I sat in a coffee shop one block from the beach last night drinking wine and listening to a killer live band with about 40 other people and talking to a friend about how lucky we are. We live in a little beach town of less than 12,000 people where the live music is good, free and varied, kids skateboard to our safe, highly rated schools, we get to surf and fish pretty much whenever we want, golf is cheap and most everybody knows each other and is friendly and bikes are the preferred mode of transportation. The sometimes negative public perception of my town is way different than the reality experienced by the residents. The places the OP asked about do exist.
seems like FL is now a part of Cuba, on one half, then then the rest of the state belongs to the Northeast and the Midwest....looks like it aint southern anymore imo.
Ybor City was founded in 1885. Cubans have been a part of Florida culture (more specifically, Tampa culture) for well over a hundred years now. This isn't a recent development. And, as a lifelong Tampanian, New Yorkers claiming to be Floridians isn't new either. I'm a bit curious if you've ever been here before.
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