What is Your Midwest City's Florida Destination?

Marcu · #1 Posted: **Feb 2, 2007, 7:56 PM**

It seems like every cold weather city has it's own Florida retiree/second home/time share/tourism destination. For example, South Florida (Miami, Boca Raton, Palm Beach) is filled with New Yorkers. The Sarasota/Ft. Myers area seems to be big for Chicago residents.

Is there a particular part of Florida residents from your city are drawn to?

fredstrom · #2 Posted: **Feb 2, 2007, 7:58 PM**

Well, since Sioux Falls (my future home) is pretty small, we only have one direct flight to Florida, so most people just head to Orlando where the flight goes.

JivecitySTL · #3 Posted: **Feb 2, 2007, 8:10 PM**

St. Louis Jews love Miami-Ft. Lauderdale.

DeBaliviere · #4 Posted: **Feb 2, 2007, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JivecitySTL

St. Louis Jews love Miami-Ft. Lauderdale.

St. Louis gentiles like Destin and Naples.

Sulley · #5 Posted: **Feb 2, 2007, 10:29 PM**

Buffalonians love Tampa.

minneapolis03 · #6 Posted: **Feb 3, 2007, 12:07 AM**

In my experiences, Minneapolitans and Minnesotans in general are all over Miami, South Beach, and Key West.

rockyi · #7 Posted: **Feb 3, 2007, 12:53 AM**

I don't know where they go presently but Quad Citians (my family included) used to cluster around Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach in the 70's and 80's.

satsuchan · #8 Posted: **Feb 3, 2007, 2:19 AM**

I think Hoosiers tend to gravitate toward the Tampa-Sarasota area.

trvlr70 · #9 Posted: **Feb 3, 2007, 3:18 PM**

Chicago's North Shore tends to congregate in Florida's Southwest Coast, which includes Captiva, Sanibel, Naples, and Ft. Myers. But, Palm Springs,CA and Scottsdale, AZ are also a popular destinations.

Also, so many North Shore residents have a second home in Snowmass, CO that is often referred to as "Winnekta West"...silly, but true.

I was recently in Aspen and heard that reference yet again. But, it makes sense, a Chicago family owns the Aspen/Snowmass Ski Company(Lester Crown).

Urban Chicago residents like the Southest coast, from Palm Beach to South Beach.

Residents of Schaumburg head straight to Orlando!

Heatonator · #10 Posted: **Feb 3, 2007, 7:45 PM**

Arizona is fast becoming the new Florida.

Marcu · #11 Posted: **Feb 5, 2007, 4:04 PM**

It would be interesting to see a stat ranking % of transplants in Florida cities (limited, of course, to cities of a certain size). We'd probably see some bordering 60 or 70%.

Jeff_in_Dayton · #12 Posted: **Feb 5, 2007, 11:45 PM**

It seems for the Dayton area the Gulf Coast is popular (from just north of the Tampa Bay area down to Ft Meyers and mabe Naples), followed by inland areas around Orlando/Lakeland.

Not too much interest in the Altantic coast it seems, nor the beaches out along the panhandle.

Jeff_in_Dayton · #13 Posted: **Feb 5, 2007, 11:47 PM**

Quote:

Chicago's North Shore tends to congregate in Florida's Southwest Coast, which includes Captiva, Sanibel, Naples, and Ft. Myers. But, Palm Springs,CA and Scottsdale, AZ are also a popular destinations.

This goes back pretty far. Back in the 1960's Marco Island was heavily promoted in the Chicago press.

Wheelingman04 · #14 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 12:14 AM**

Wheeling area people usually go to Fort Myers, Naples, Siesta Key, Sarasota, and Sanibel Island in the winter..

Sulley · #15 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 12:38 AM**

I WISH I was in Florida NOW!!!

OhioGuy · #16 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 12:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DhallassTecksanne

I WISH I was in Florida NOW!!!

I was just in Florida last week and I wanna go back! At least until it warms up to normal temperatures for this time of year in Chicago (which is a high of 32). I can handle 30s and even 20s... but highs of 2 yesterday and 5 today is just pathetic!

Evergrey · #17 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 3:53 AM**

Tallahassee

DeBaliviere · #18 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DhallassTecksanne

I WISH I was in Florida NOW!!!

Me too! I'll be in Boca Raton in a few weeks, and I cannot wait to get a little sun on my pasty Irish self.

Avian001 · #19 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by minneapolis03

In my experiences, Minneapolitans and Minnesotans in general are all over Miami, South Beach, and Key West.

^Yes, I can't tell you how many times I've met people in Key West from the Cities. e.g., I was once at a restaurant off the beaten path and the people seated next to my group started talking about a cafe in my neighborhood. Another time I was shopping at the Publix there and started chatting with a woman who I later ran into in Minneapolis.

We could all probably relate similar stories. I think coincidences like this are far more common than we think.

Chef · #20 Posted: **Feb 6, 2007, 6:21 PM**

I don't know anybody who goes to Florida, usually it is Arizona, Mexico or the Carribean.