Hi,

Has anyone any opinions on where to winter in FL? We have been thinking in terms of Sarasota or Naples. After renting this coming winter, we hope to buy some property, but we don't know the first thing about FL. Would like to be near the water. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Elsa

I prefer Naples to Sarasota, and as of this year, Sarasota has surpassed Naples in average housing costs.

Are you looking to live here year round? If so, I strongly suggest that you come for a month or so in the summer as well to see if you can tolerate it. It's Unbelievable!!

If you only plan on wintering in this area, why not split next winter between the two places when you rent? That way you'll have a better feel for which appeals to you.

Both have lovely beaches, but Naples will be just a little warmer. Still, most often the daytime temps in Sarasota will be in the 70's and low 80's with the occasional cold snap of 60's maybe even a 50 which is extrememly rare always short lived.

My parents used to come down from MA and winter in Bonita Beach, just a bit north of Naples. They loved it, but I find that living here year round, I honestly do miss just a little bit of seasonal change!!

Thanks for your reply. It was interesting to get your view.

We also are from the Boston area, and had given some thought to renting in both Sarasota and Naples. We are just planning to head south for the winter, so the summer heat would not be a problem for us.

Elsa

I like Anna Maria Island near Sarasota. You might want to check that out.

As a full time resident of Naples for the past 23 years, I had always thought of Naples as Florida's best kept secret. Unfortunately that is not the case any longer. Please don't come here, but if you do, please keep the secret to yourself. Our white sand beaches are terrible, our rapidly increasing restaurant scene is tacky, our famous five star resorts are just awful, and our frequent "warmest temperature in the US" during January and February is simply not true --we often have to shovel snow here!! Just kidding, of course. But frankly our biggest problem is our rapid growth and the winter traffic situation. I also spend a lot of time in Sarasota (primarily for the Asolo Theatre there), and Sarasota has always been a much more cultural city than Naples, but we are rapidly catching up, even though we don't have our own ballet or opera company. I'm particularly proud as a long time board member for The Naples Players, a local community theatre group that two years ago opened our new 5.3 million dollar theatre, debt free, and built as the "showpiece" in the center of our main shopping and restaurant street --Fifth Avenue South!