Living in Florida from Jan 27-Feb 25: recommendations? | FerrariChat
Buy

Living in Florida from Jan 27-Feb 25: recommendations?

Discussion in 'Florida' started by rynoshark, Dec 13, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2004
    1,034
    Pacific Northwest
    #1 rynoshark, Dec 13, 2009
    My wife and I plan on escaping rainy (and cold) Seattle for a month w/ our newly born daughter and heading to sunny Florida. We are visiting one set of grandparents in St. Pete Beach and a sibling in Fort Meyers...however we have roughly 3 weeks free.

    Looking for any suggestions! We're thinking of renting a place w/ a pool in some fun beach town where we can walk around every day, enjoy the beach/parks, and a diversity of great food to tantalize our foodie hearts (both cheap places as well as high end).

    Some suggestions we've received so far:

    * Naples
    * Amelia Island (too far North)
    * Gasparilla / Marco Island / Cedar Key / Vero Beach

    Also is there any particular area that tends to have plenty of car events (Cars & Coffee, FCA events, etc)? Unfortunately we won't be bringing the F-car down (not to mention it only seats 2 ;).
     
  2. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2004
    1,034
    Pacific Northwest
    #2 rynoshark, Dec 13, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2009
    Looks like the FCA Florida (http://www.fcafloridaregion.com/html/events.html) might have a drive through Everglades sometime in January, if it is the last weekend perhaps I could find a suitable car and tail along! The Pacific NW FCA region usually has garage tours during winter to provide a chance to hang out w/ fellow FCA members without being out in the rain. ;) Anything like this happening in Feb?

    Events I plan to attend (depending where we are living):

    * Feb 6: Car's on 5th (Naples)
    * Feb 13: Ferraris on St Armonds (Sarasota)
    * Feb 19-21: Palm Beach Supercar Weekend
     
  3. SCantera

    SCantera F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 4, 2004
    5,835
    Living Falls NC
    #3 SCantera, Dec 17, 2009
    For events it depends on where you are based. If you are in SW FL both the Naples Cars on 5th Show and the Sarasota Ferraris on St Armands are easily accessible being about an easy 2 hour drive. They are a week apart.

    The Cars on 5th Show in Naples is a great show with over 450 cars in a beautiful setting. I am partial to the show because I am one of the organizers. Our club here in Naples organizes alot of activities.....usually 3 per month "in season".

    And certainly I lean toward recommending Naples as a place to be. It's a walking town with good restaurants, shops, beaches and friendly people [mostly Midwest origins].

    But again it depends on where you are planning to stay to determine the car stuff you might want to attend.
     
  4. paulie_b

    paulie_b F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 13, 2003
    6,842
    Jupiter, FL
    Full Name:
    Paul Bianco
    #4 paulie_b, Dec 17, 2009
    if you get here between 1/19 - 1/24, you can go to the Cavallino event in Palm Beach from wherever you are staying. just a thought.
     
  5. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
    Full Name:
    Tone Def
    #5 RP, Dec 17, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2009
    I suggest Sanibel Island, which is off of Ft Meyers. And I suggest a place called the Waterside Inn.

    They have cabins right on the beach. All named after a fruit, like Blueberry. Not Marriott, but clean. Full kitchens, living room, separate bedroom. Floors are terrazo because they assume people will walk in with sand on their shoes. Great for shelling, beach is really private.

    I was just there in late October, you stock up at the grocery, and just never leave. A negative might be that the wireless internet does not work well near the beach, I had to go to the office to get a connection. But then, the idea is to escape. Lots of restaurants, boat rentals, etc.

    Waterside also has condo units available. I suggest unit 102 (cabin on the beach) or unit 128 (second floor condo right on the beach!!)

    www.watersideinn.net

    Naples for the Feb 6 event would take an hour, and Sarasota for Feb 13 would take about two hours.
     
  6. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2004
    1,034
    Pacific Northwest
    #6 rynoshark, Dec 20, 2009
    Thanks for the recommendations...off to do some research!
     
  7. buckminster

    buckminster Formula Junior

    Aug 18, 2005
    989
    On the water, SWFL
    Full Name:
    Nicholas Raftis
    #7 buckminster, Dec 21, 2009
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2009
    Just was in Sanibel the last two days, walking on the beach, hanging out with friends. Quiet, but some decent restaurants. Lots of nature and biking. Because of how this island is situated east to west (like Santa Barbara), lots of shelling (sea shells are everywhere - just came home with a pocket full.)

    Consider the Sanibel Arms, quick access to the causeway and shopping, right on the beach at the south end of the island.

    You can rent a boat and captain at the marina and go fishing in the nature preserve, very nice. You have got to get on the water if you want to enjoy this part of southern Florida.
    I live in a marina nearby (Tarpon Point) and you can rent a boat here (pontoon, open bow, or fishing type) for $275 a day. Not bad.

    PS: mid to high 70's this week!
     
  8. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2004
    1,034
    Pacific Northwest
    #8 rynoshark, Dec 31, 2009
    We are visiting family in St. Pete for 5 days, Fort Meyers for 5 days, renting a house in Coconut Grove for 11 days, and still TBD on another 8-9 days of the stay. Either flying down to one of the Caribbean islands; finding a place on the beach (South Beach or Naples); or finding something else fun ;)

    Picked the above since they all sound like places I wouldn't mind living for a year or two.
     

Share This Page