The list of great things you will hear about moving to Sarasota is endless. Truly, it is a wonderful location for you and your family to move to. I could write upwards of a thousand words and link multiple other articles to back me up on why you will fall in love with Sarasota. What you do not often hear are the cons. No place is perfect. Everywhere you go has its downfalls.
So here, I am going to provide a brief list of why Sarasota is an amazing place to live, followed by my top three cons – including a brief explanation as to why they are cons. While I hope this deters no one from moving here, it certainly would not deter me, it is important to me that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.
Pros (a short list!)
1. Beautiful Beaches
2. No more freezing cold weather
3. Friendly community
4. Walking accessibility in down-town areas.
5. Great schools
Cons
1. I’ll Say it… Snowbird Season
The term, “snowbirds,” refers to those who only live in sunny-Sarasota part time. They migrate down south to escape harsh Northern winters, and then go back up north to escape Florida summers. Snowbirds are wonderful for the local economy and if you are a snowbird reading this – we love you. But man, traffic really does change in the winter months! Length of time to get to your destination can more than double, so be prepared for this and plan accordingly.
2. Florida Summers
I understand why some people want to escape Florida during the summer months, I really do. My family lived in Texas for a year, and I still think Florida is just a whole other level of hot. I had to get used to wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts, two things I honestly do not enjoy, really quick. Along with this, summer in Florida is not just three months along. It starts getting hot as early as March, and stays hot well into August.
3. A Quiet Town
Keep in mind, this point is a pro for some and a con for others. As an individual with a family, I find Sarasota is plenty busy for me. There is an ample supply of restaurants, shopping, and activities such as movie theaters, mini golf, etc. Essentially, if you are over the age of 40, this probably does not apply to you. That being said, my 22-year-old daughter would never want to move to Sarasota. Her exact words are, “I find it to be a bit too boring for me,” but she is at an age where things life night and more “exciting” activities are important to her. For me, a quiet town is a blessing.