Ft. Lauderdale or St. Petersburg, FL?

go ahead and slam me for what I'm about to say, but it is true. St. Petersburg is mostly older people, but settled by Midwesterners who have simpler tastes. restaurants and events are less upscale. Ft. Lauderdale is mainly populated with transplanted new yorkers, and has a big jewish population. that means that there is a more upscale quality and more discernment for finer things. pure and simple.

well, that's an interesting statement. I guess there must be some statistics to back up oversimplifications such as those. But then the Census of 1950 isn't available yet for public consumption.

I live in Tampa and we've always bashed St. Pete. It was an older population, there seemed to be no life in its downtown, there was no excitement there. But it's truly amazing the transformation that's taking place there now. Truthfully, I'm not sure how it compares to Ft. Lauderdale because I haven't been there in years but St. Pete is a completely different city now than it was one year ago. I think the downtown transformation happened when the huge old Vinoy Hotel was purchased and restored. It gave St. Pete something to rally around, a regal glory. Then they built Tropicana field and got the Devil Rays baseball team. Then they built Baywalk which is a really first-class act. An incredible number of condos are going up in downtown now and it's becoming a really gorgeous city with lots of class. Tampa is so jealous because its' downtown is dead and no one would think of putting high-rise condos there because no one wants to live there. It's an ugly downtown full of glass buildings, and it's drop-dead empty at night.

I live in St. Petersburg and can agree with most of what earl30 said, BUT it is slowly getting better. It has mostly been where people come to die, I mean retire. As far as lack of upscale tastes, it is changing. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping to choose from...you may have to drive up to an hour off the beach to get to it, especially shopping that isn't tacky, but it is there. I'd venture to say that the nightlife here has just as much to offer and to a variety of tastes as most places in Florida. I've never been to Ft. Lauderdale but I'm sure it has it's share of cheesy tourist shops that sell 10 TShirts for $5 and shells. To me that is the most annoying part of the Clearwater - St. Pete beaches is it is 90% tacky shops or condos/hotels. There are upscale hotels w/ spas in St. Pete but I would have to agree that, being in between Palm Beach and Miami, Ft. Lauderdale has more money and, since it is on the East Coast, possibly nicer beaches???

Well, Earl30, in some ways I can agree with you about Ft. Lauderdale, but I wonder if anyone other than people of the Jewish persuasion could command "upscale quality and more discernment for finer things"???? Oh yeah, and do they have to be from New York???

I am a native Floridian, born in Fort Lauderdale (yes, I'm taking the flag with me when I leave someday!) I still live in Fort Lauderdale. And by the way, I'm Christian!

I know many, many people in Fort Lauderdale who are very influential and while I don't go around asking them if they are from New York and/or Jewish, I don't think many of them are either. And lots of them are native Floridians, or from the midwest, south, north, east and west. Some are even from other countries. Go figure!

Yes, Fort Lauderdale is a nice, upscale area of the Country. We are proud to be such a wonderful community. Our beaches are beautiful, food is great, entertainment is fantastic, and we have loads of fun!

I haven't been to St. Pete, so I can't comment on that city.

Well, there is no doubt that there is some truth to what earl30 said. Few people would argue that the west coast of Florida was settled and inhabited primarily by mid Westerners. And few would deny that the bulk of New York and other east coasters who moved to Florida have stuck to the East Coast. That's pretty much a simple fact. As to the Jewish comment, well, there is no doubt also that there is a much higher population of Jewish people in Lauderdale than in St. Petersburg and other Florida West Coast cities. I have numerous Jewish friends in Naples, quite a few of them having moved over from Lauderdale or Miami, and they have mentioned the same thing. I have one friend who keeps saying, "well, we'll never get a really good bakery or deli in Naples till we get a lot more of us Jews!".

I also remember as a kid going to St. Petersburg and laughing because they actually had sidewalks with slopes at the curbs for wheelchairs. It was called "God's waiting room" then. But it seems they were just ahead of the times, today all cities have sloping curbs for wheel chairs. I'm not so sure there is a big age difference in the two cities any more. There are a whole lot of retirees in both, but they also have a lot of younger people.

Patrick, Tampa was started by Cuban and Spanish fishermen, not midwesterners. The cigarmakers in the 1880s (who were from Cuba and Key West) brought Italian, German, Jewish and African-American immigrants here through advertisements in publications mostly in the northeast to work in cigar factories.

I'm not so sure about this midwesterners "simple fact. I believe the real truth is that Southerners from continguous and neighboring states populated Florida in the 1800s.

Tandoori_Girl: I just realized that you are a lawyer/attorney!

Went to Ft. Lauderdale in November of last year and really enjoyed it. Beautiful weather and nice beaches. Stayed at the Marriott harbor beach resort. Located right on the ocean. Can't speak about St. Petersburg. Never been there.

wow, I'm totally insulted. And so is my attorney.

Well, I won't argue with you Tandoori Girl about the original settling of Tampa itself, but I do know that Ft. Myers and Naples areas were actually started by midwesterners. And I was really referring to the general wave of people moving in during the big booms -- the 1920's and the 1950's to 60's. I can assure you that there were a lot more midwesterners moving to the west coast of Florida than there were New Yorkers. And I can also assure you there were a lot more Easterners moving to the East Coast of Florida than midwesterners. To this day, it doesn't take a lot to look around at license plates in tourist season and see tons of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin plates all up and down the west coast. And a much higher proportion of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut plates on the east coast. Don't think the Interstates I-75 from Michigan and Ohio, and I-95 from New England going to the west coast and east coast respectively doesn't have something to do with it also.

I have spent mega amounts of time on the southeast coast of Florida and have never liked it. Then I got a home exchange north of Tampa and just loved the area around Tampa-St.Pete-Sarasota. Fortunately the West Coast has been protected from the overdevelopment that has destroyed much of the beauty that was on the Atlantic Coast.

As you may have gathered, I don't like Ft. Lauderdale much and would vote for the West Coast.

Judging solely by the quality of the great food I've been eating in the inner city, I'd say that Tampa is attracting Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, Columbians, Peruvians, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans -- all in numbers we've not seen before. Which is great because I was getting a little tired of black beans.

Patrick, we have a sign just north of Tampa at I-75 that says Midwesterners -- Go South to Naples. And it's working!

Wow, got a lot of interesting responses. We can't decide which spot to vacation in Florida. We are in our 30's not big party goers, but like entertainment, nice jazz clubs, shopping, and good dining. Just curious which part of Florida would best suit our interests.

We've vacationed on both sides of Florida (we're non-Jewish upstate New Yorkers) and we've reached the conclusion that we prefer the Fort Lauderdale area for vacations, but if we were moving to Fla., we'd choose the Gulf Coast.

We like the sand and water clarity better in SE Florida, but people are more laid-back and friendly on the west side.

We went to Fort Lauderdale last father's day weekend...first time to be in Florida....wow....very nice....beach was really nice....great breeze...watching the cruise ships sail in and out ...planes doing the same....younger crowd for sure...i said if i was in my 20's that would be it. I would definitely go back again...the Florida Keys were also awesome!

Okay, I live 45 min from Ft Lauderdale and previously lived in St Pete area. St Pete is more laid back and less crowded than Ft Lauderdale but both places have alot to offer as far as food, entertainment, etc. Check out the web site for Las Olas Riverfront in Lauderdale - nice place to eat, drink, walk around. Las Olas is jam packed with good shopping and dining. http://www.goriverwalk.com/default.asp

I think there would be a greater variety in Ft Lauderdale - and you would only be a short drive from Miami/South Beach if you wanted to venture there !

OK...I've got to weigh in. I live near St Pete and am there most weekends as we keep a boat there, but, I've visited Lauderdale and am very, very impressed. As a vacation spot, that's probably where I'd head.

The water is beautiful...a prettier color than it is here (north of the Skyway anyway, south of the Skyway it changes), and although I prefer our whiter sand, theirs was certainly a pretty golden color. Shopping around Las Olas was much nicer than anything we have around our beach communities or downtown St Pete, and there was generally a more upscale feeling to the entire area. I was surprised...had been sort of lukewarm about driving down to spend time there when I thought we had the same things here, but I was mistaken, and now look forward to getting back. It was beautiful--I especially loved the broad beach, unspoiled by condos, hotels, and rag tag motels lining the ocean side of the road as they do for much of the beach here. Wish I'd had my rollerblades along to join the skaters on the broad walk alongside the beach--what a great place to skate.

As to the Midwesterners/Easterners discussion, I too have heard that generally speaking, more Midwesterners visit the Gulf Coast and settle here, and Easterners migrate to the east coast, both to visit and settle. That certainly was the case in the 50's which is the time frame in question I believe, the real growth era, not original settlers.

My personal experience growing up in New England undoubtedly colors my thinking on this too. Most people I knew who went to FL went to Hollywood, Boca, Miami area. That was considered the prime area at least in our little town. I had one friend who came to Clearwater to visit grandparents (and she is Jewish ) but most everyone headed east and we sort of felt sorry for her going to Clearwater (second rate). It may have been because the drive down in that era wasn't an easy one. Interstates were just getting started and detours off the beaten track just added more time to an already long drive--and that's how most everyone came down, driving. Train routes took us from NYC right down the east coast of FL (and train was how I got here the first time, Boca, and how many others got here for vacation). When my parents eventually decided to get out of MA in the winter,(70's) I, with my predisposed prejudices, was shocked that they would even consider the west coast...until I saw it the first time and understood. That was Bonita Beach area...again, further south.

I would think a more difficult comparison might be Lauderdale and Naples. Same approximate latitude so both equally tropical appearing, both more upscale (dining as well as shopping), water color similar and overall prettier than the St Pete area.

It's so funny in a way for us all to be comparing cities in Florida -- which piece of paradise is the best? I moved to Florida from New Mexico (to Lakeland of all places) and I thought I was in the garden of Eden, it was that phenomenal to me. I had a lot of family in California and I remember feeling that there was a lot of difference between LA and San Francisco -- they looked so different and there was a different vibe to each. But I never felt that there was much difference between Florida cities, except that I thought south Florida was much more tropical. But when I went to college at UF, I met lots of people from Miami area. There were these princess girls who were a hoot. They had fingernails longer than anything I'd ever seen, and they had this lingering NY/Bronx thing going on. The people from Ft. Lauderdale that I met were very waspy actually (are we saying midwestern to mean wasp?). All nice people. It was only Jacksonville that seemed different, more like the South than the rest of Florida -- not in the way it looked but rather the way people acted, very biggoted, racist (based on people I knew from there). And the panhandle -- it always seemed just beachy and backwoods. I guess I like a lot of Florida's backwoods and unknowns. I like those unique Florida characters that aren't from NY or New Jersey or wherever -- they seem to be Floridians.

OO, have you ever roller-bladed at Ft. Desoto? Or Bayshore in Tampa.

Who is this cupcake anyway?

Good question about cupcake. I think I know what you're asking, but I "dunno".

I've rollerbladed Bayshore often and have thought about doing DeSoto too, but the beach is too much of a draw there for me. I usually park around Ballast Point and struggle my way over uneven pavement until the balustrade section of Bayshore, but once there, it's great. I run there too...but down Howard, then over to Davis Islands and back--a route I can't take on rollerblades as I'd end up in Tampa General, literally, after the bridge. It's pretty, no doubt about it! As you say, mirror mirror on the wall, which is the fairest of them all....

Tandoori Girl, I'm new to the forum and was thinking about vacationing this fall in a different area in Florida. Wasn't sure which part I enjoy more. Been to Orlando and wanted to check out another part of Florida. Just looking for some feedback.

Physically: Ft Laud seems more limited since it's mostly along a narrow coastal strip, and the river. The St Pete area is much more diverse with beaches facing all sorts of directions, inland lakes and parks, and wonderful islands to visit.

Transportation: St Pete area was once laid back but now is subject to a lot of exasperating chokepoints. Ft Laud has about the most pleasant transpo in the country in the form of a waterbus network where you can travel everywhere on a $5 daypass in the most pleasant environment imaginable - needn't even rent a car.

Culturally: St Pete is in early stages of gentrification in terms of food/shopping/culture from it's bland heritage, but this pioneering currently has a kind of arty/gay/bohemian flavor that's not for everyone. Ft Laud is very advanced stage of gentrification to almost the controlled environment of a very upscale theme park. No more scruffy spring break chaos; it's all manicured beachwalk, luxury shopping, and gourmet fashionable eateries.

Mmmmm-humh, cupcake. What did you think of Orlando? Did you visit the city or just the parks? And what will you be looking for in your travels to either St. Pete or Ft. Laud?

Like I mentioned in a previous post, we are looking for nice restaurants, good weather, shopping, entertainment like jazz clubs. We are in our 30's. Not big partygoers.

I loved Orlando. We went to the disney and universal parks. Just looking for a change of pace. Tandoori Girl, do I seem like I'm fishing for trouble? I don't get it?

I have never been to Ft.Laudrdale. My parents were there for just one day and did not care for it. Then again they are not 30. As far as St.Pete goes I have been there twice and loved it. The tradewinds resort is on the gulf. Thought it was great. It's about 45 minutes from tampa airport. First time I went there was three years ago with my wife on are anniversary. Then again last March with are two children ages 9 and 4 at the time. I found there was enough to do . The first time was end of febuary. Still hit 80s and was plenty warm to go swimming.

Cupcake: If you end up coming to Ft. lauderdale, I'd suggest staying at one of the hotels/motels near the Water Bus route. You'll be able to hop on and off at loads of great locations. Sounds like Las Olas Blvd would be the area for you to visit. Lots of entertainment, great food, shopping, etc. They have a really cool place where you can do various crafts (make your own jewelry, paint ceramics, etc.) and come back to see the finished product, it's also a little coffee house. I thought it was a cool idea.

We have an art museum near the Riverwalk area, as well as plenty of other things to do. If you happen to be here on the 1st Sunday of the month (every month) you can enjoy the free Jazz Brunch along Riverwalk.

You might not even need a car while visiting Lauderdale if you get a good hotel location. However, a car won't be wasted if you get one.

My only comment on this would be the time I took a flight from Tampa (not St. Pete) to either LGA or DTW in April or May and the line of wheelchairs was longer than the line of pedestrians for the plane. I even took a picture to commemorate this event, which I thought was amusing. The downside was I was in a window seat not in an evacuation row.

LMF

I am originally from Wisconsin and I live in St. Pete (also lived in Tampa) and also lived on the east coast of Florida for three years and visited Ft. Lauderdale a few times. The two cities are quite different. Ft. Lauderdale would be tough for a midwesterner to get used to because of the New York environment. All of the foods that you miss from Midwest won't be there (Chicago style pizza!, good Wisconsin cheese- not that tasteless Vermont cheese, all of the Miller beers won't be on tap, etc.) The traffic in Ft. Lauderdale is worse than St. Pete's. Rush hour seems to last all day in Ft. Lauderdale. People do drive very slow in the Bay Area (especially St. Pete) but Tampa's traffic is much more congested than St. Pete's. I would even say that Tampa's traffic is worse than Ft. Lauderdale's. It ranks up there with Miami's traffic in terms of congestion (not volume). Roads are poorly designed in Tampa. Lots of 4-5 minute stoplights without sensors there too. Culturally, there is alot to do in St. Pete. There are good museums (Dali), low key art shops, plenty of venues for all types of music, and alot of laid back come as you are bars. Good nightlife. It is more middle-class than Ft. Lauderdale. I would even go as far to say that St. Pete has a wider variety of people. I would say that the Midwesterner to Northeasterner ratio is pretty even. I meet many New Yorkers or people from Mass here. But Ft. Lauderdale seems to have mostly all Northeasterners. I also hear that you have to pay to go on some of the beaches on the east coast. That is something to consider too. So overall, I would pick St. Pete.

I've been to Treasure Island off St. Petes in the 1980s, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (highly recommend this beachtown) and definitely would pick Ft. Lauderdale area. St. Petersburg is quiet and the Gulf is warm and pleasant but I'm partial to oceans and the waves and Ft. Lauderdale has become so modern and enjoyable to stay at, lots to do and see and Miami is only about 26 miles south which is a bonus. I'd have to agree with the 2 or 3 post, lots of transplanted NE people but they aren't all Jewish nor are they from NYC.

Having spent a lot of time in both places, and having now lived in the St Petersburg area for 17 years, I can say that viking and ryanace are have given you the most accurate information. Parts of other posts are accurate, but other parts are quite misleading.

Let me give you a first-time visitor's viewpoint (which will be yours) on both places;
-Ft Lauderdale: Full of tourists. Doesn't seem to be a home town, just a tourist destination. Las Olas area is the focal point for most visitors. Traffic is a nightmare all day and night. Water bus is cute and useful if you are only traveling along the intracoastal areas. Full of high-rise condos and hotels. Good beach, not sugar white, wide and sandy. Atlantic is occasionally rough, but water is overall pretty nice.
-St. Petersburg: (In these observations I include St Pete Beach because otherwise the comparisons are meaningless -- they would be like comparing Monterey to Sacramento): It has more cultural features overall, but they are perhaps a bit more plebeian. More museums and art. The main art museum is always better than the main Tampa art museum. The downtown area is a combination of new and old, lots of variety. The city seems to be more like a place that people live in, not just visit. The average person in downtown St Petersburg is probably a resident, but the average person in St Pete Beach is probably a tourist -- which is what you would expect. Lovely bayfront area in St Petersburg, which has no equal in Lauderdale.

To conclude: Ft Lauderdale is to Gatlinburg as St Petersburg is to Fairhope. In other words, Ft Lauderdale seems to be a tourist destination where some people live full time; St Petersburg is a place where people live full time and it's also a tourist destination.

Interesting thread. I've spent time in both cities. I prefer Naples to any other Floridian city. Also like Captiva. I like St. Pete- especially the Don Cesar. I think it's easy to get around there- they have the shuttle bus that runs the length of St Pete/Tampa. I prefer the calmer Gulf water because I swim, but I've seen it rough many times. With all the cruisers, the FLL airport can be a total zoo and I've had trouble every time I've flown there.Tampa's airport is very efficient and I've always been on time. If you liked Orlando, I think you'd be happy with either place. (However, once you've been to some Carribean beaches with white sands and turquoise water, Florida looks pretty dull!)

I think Patrick is right. I also feel as a native Floridian who lived in N.Y. for 10 year's, that area's with higher Jewish populations tend to have much better shopping, restaurant's, deli's, bakeries, ethnic food's(ex.chinese) and more quality goods to choose from overall. Why??? They have a knack for knowing good stuff and they demand it. That doesn't mean that other area's and other groups don't have fabulous restaurant's,shop's and great quality and taste, but it seems more inconsistent. I hope this doesn't offend anyone.

Ft. Lauderdale is a larger city, that is why it is developed. If you like more of a less developed area with a more natural setting you would like Palm Beach County. It's on the east coast 45 min north of Ft. Lauderdale. There's much to do and theres great shop's and restaurants but it's not as much of tourist area. Look into area's such as Delray Beach, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Jupiter. I live in this area so I may be partial.

Tandori Girl? Are you O.K.??