we are relocating to florida, somewhere between tampa and fort myers, in your opinion what would be the best location and why?

"somewhere between Tampa and Ft. Myers, means Sarasota or possibly Bradenton as the best choice, I'd prefer Sarasota. Further south, other that Venice, which is really pretty small and isolated -- quite a drive to anything, the only other options are the huge areas of plat homes known as Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. My personal opinion of those areas is that they are a real "God's Waiting Room" -- total retirement heaven. Sure there are some families, but it is primarily a former swamp area that now provides space for thousands of retirement homes.

Sarasota is also an older crowd, but at least there is a lot to do there, the arts in particular.

What are you looking for? What's your life style? We too thought we wanted to move between Clearwater and Sarasota but quickly changed our minds when we went north to Pasco county. Pasco get a bad rap, but we wanted to live ON the water with direct Gulf access. Bought a beautiful home for 1/2 the price of our neighboring counties to the south.

Are you looking to retire? Do you have kids in school? Do you want a lot of arts and culture? Do you want be close to a university? You need to pinpoint a little more what your lifestyle will be.

Personally, every place in Florida is wonderful! Some place are just more wonderful than others.

Yes, we need more information to help you better. We moved to SW FL (Lehigh Acres)to be closer to our kids in S. Ft. Myers. We couldn't afford 'beach property', didn't want gated communities, nor strickly retirement communities. We found a lot on a small lake in the country & love it out here. We are in a very mixed area with a small town feel and affordable housing.

Yes, it's hotter more inland than closer to the Gulf, but we just work outside in the a.m & evening. It doesn't take us that long to get into Ft. Myers..30-45 min. depending on season and where we are heading.

So help us out more with price range, what activities etc.

Just a thought!!....Born and raised in Fla...now residing in Washington State..
"ole country boy"....take a look at Pine Island...just across Cape Coral,next to Ft.Myers.....It is sort of country, laid back, and off the beaten path, but yet close to everything
But do agree...need a bit more info to be of much help.

I lived in Punta Gorda for a while..I wan't really running on all cylinders at the time I think as I grew quickly to hate it. No cultural life at all ( this was important to me and I thought being halfway tween Naples and Sarasota would suffice, not so.) After 9 years and all the hype from Money Magazine, there is still not a decent restaurant in town or anywhere close-by. I'd probably pick Sarasota and Fort Myers is starting to make a move to being a more complete community.

I may be in my 50's but I have no interest in being in a retirement area. I want stimulation and great entertainment and restaurants. Fort Myers has more than you might think for such a small town. Fort Myers has plans in place for revitalization of its quaint old central business district that should make its great location a magnet for new residents. On any given weekend the downtown area has lots of jazz bars, live entertainment and theatre heralding the new Fort Myers. It would be less expensive to more here than Sarasota. We just need a few more years to catch up.

LMF

I have a home in the Sarasota area and we like it a lot. There's always something goin on and if you like the theater there's plenty of shows at the Asolo and Van Wezel. The city has a nice pace to it and we're pretty comfortable here but then again it could be because, like Miss Foodie, we had a place in Punta Gorda. I laughed when I read Patrick's and Miss Foodie's comments cause they are so true. There's very little in that area but canals and golf courses.

Fort Myers would probably be more reasonable and it is a great little city. You need to give some better ideas as to what you like to do, are you boaters, fishermen, golfers, what activities do you like? What age group are you in?