Wifey and I are considering moving back to Florida to be close to family, and Jacksonville is getting tossed around as an option (South Florida is the current #1 on the list).

My last exposure to Jax was back in 1998-1999...and (although my exposure was limited) I wasn't very impressed. Given that the city is geographically HUGE, however, I realize there may be some "nice" areas I've never visited.

Are there any areas in Jax where a couple of "Yankees" wouldn't feel out of place? My wife is a big city girl from NYC and is quite concerned about sticking out like a sore thumb. As I recall, the city had a distinct Southern feel when I spent any time there.

Also, we'd love to live in an area that is "walkable" and bike-friendly. We both hate driving and would love to be able to walk from home to shopping, dining, etc. (why we love Chicago). I'm an avid cyclist, so bike paths are a huge plus in my book.

Any input from current or prior Jax residents would be greatly appreciated!!

Based on what you're saying, Id recommend San Marco as far as walking, shops, restaurants, tc. Not great for biking that I know of though. Others may know better. I believe GatorGirl is a Jaxperson from around the Ortega area. She may have some thoughts.

Also, the beaches have built up a lot since I lived there. Don't know what the current state of play as far as meeting your reqs would be out there.

If you move back to Florida, bring your guns.

quote:

Originally posted by SaltLakeGator:
If you move back to Florida, bring your guns.

Yeah, that New York Mafia stuff won't play either.

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:
Based on what you're saying, Id recommend San Marco as far as walking, shops, restaurants, tc. Not great for biking that I know of though. Others may know better. I believe GatorGirl is a Jaxperson from around the Ortega area. She may have some thoughts.

Also, the beaches have built up a lot since I lived there. Don't know what the current state of play as far as meeting your reqs would be out there.

I just did a quick search about San Marco Square and that sounds pretty nice. Is there affordable housing nearby or is it all old estates and riverfront mansions? I may be in the family, but I ain't made of money, ya know!

quote:

Originally posted by SaltLakeGator:
If you move back to Florida, bring your guns.

I had to disarm when I moved to Chicago...

I think there's a pretty good mix. Try realtor.com...

It is an older area though, but well kept.

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:
I think there's a pretty good mix. Try realtor.com...

It is an older area though, but well kept.

Will do. What about the "yankee" business? Would my wife be shunned by all the Jacksonville southern belles?

quote:

Originally posted by NatureBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:
I think there's a pretty good mix. Try realtor.com...

It is an older area though, but well kept.

Will do. What about the "yankee" business? Would my wife be shunned by all the Jacksonville southern belles?

Not if she's a nice person. Peeps are peeps.

Used to be an old joke though:
"What's a Floridian's worst nightmare?"

"A yankee with a U-Haul."

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:

quote:

Originally posted by NatureBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:
I think there's a pretty good mix. Try realtor.com...

It is an older area though, but well kept.

Will do. What about the "yankee" business? Would my wife be shunned by all the Jacksonville southern belles?

Not if she's a nice person. Peeps are peeps.

Used to be an old joke though:
"What's a Floridian's worst nightmare?"

"A yankee with a U-Haul."

That's what I'm afraid of. You'd never hear that joke in South Florida. I wish it was as simple as "peeps are peeps." Unfortunately, New York "nice" is different than Southern "nice." It's really a clash of cultures. Sometimes what is considered "rude" by a Southerner is considered "normal" by a New Yorker, and what is considered "polite" by a Southerner is considered "phoney" by a New Yorker.

My wife is a very nice gal, but when we lived in the Carolinas my wife had a rough time fitting in with the ladies there. I'm afraid the same would happen in Jax. It was a non-issue in South Florida.

Nature have you looked at anywhere in the Panhandle? There are a lot of great places.

quote:

Originally posted by jereed16:

quote:

Originally posted by SaltLakeGator:
If you move back to Florida, bring your guns.

Yeah, that New York Mafia stuff won't play either.

Watch your step, and just go pour another cerveza, ahora!!!

San Marco and San Jose is nice, but they are very southern and people who know each other.

I like the southside or St Johns County. The schools in Duval suck. Everyone has migrated south to St Johns County (St Augustine) without driving all the way to the city of St Augustine. Just over the line of Duval is a housing explosion of middle class to upper middle class neighborhoods and gold courses. A plus schools, low crime, shopping and easy access to downtown with I95.

quote:

Originally posted by derswampmeister:
Nature have you looked at anywhere in the Panhandle? There are a lot of great places.

Where would you suggest in the Panhandle? I thought it was kinda Southern out there...

quote:

Originally posted by NatureBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by derswampmeister:
Nature have you looked at anywhere in the Panhandle? There are a lot of great places.

Where would you suggest in the Panhandle? I thought it was kinda Southern out there...

You can come run the tourists off the road with me in Orlando.

quote:

Originally posted by SaltLakeGator:
If you move back to Florida, bring your guns.

he said informed opinions. That should have screamed SaltLakegator is disqualified from this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by NatureBoy:

quote:

Originally posted by derswampmeister:
Nature have you looked at anywhere in the Panhandle? There are a lot of great places.

Where would you suggest in the Panhandle? I thought it was kinda Southern out there...

Pretty much anywhere in North Florida (north of Orlando) is going to be very "southern". Generally folks from the north will stick out. That deosn't mean that the folks there aren't great people, it's just that most of them only know what they grew up with, and see no need for change in their lives.

The possible exceptions to that are Jax, Gainesville, and Tally, just beacuse of their size and college populations. But even in those places, you will still find some folks who aren't super-fond of "stuck up high-falootin' yakees".