Possible move to Clearwater area

We kept our previous boat on the east side of FL, north side of Miami. Towards the end of our time on that boat we found ourselves taking the boat to the west coast all the time. That's when we decided we would relocate our boating. (we live in TX, stay on the boat when we are in FL).

I am not selling one side over the other, just what we prefer. Some people love the fast pace, non stop action of Miami area. We don't.

Someone else that might have some good perspectives around east coast vs west coast would be @Havana Shamrock. I think they spent quite a bit of time exploring both sides of FL before gravitating to the west coast.
 
FFB, your input is priceless to us. We just cracked open the Florida thing and have all kinds of questions about were to buy vs where to boat, etc. I'm probably 4 years from retirement so we'll enjoy what we have now but keep an eye open for any must have places in either Clearwater or Sarasota.

BTW, Texas is also our home. North of Dallas. What area are you from?
 
Not far from DFW airport. Sounds like we are almost neighbors.

We bought a boat on that was on Texoma several years ago, moved it down to Lake Lewisville.

Glad to provide any assistance I can.
 
We enjoyed football fans marina list! Our favorite local marina is Twin Dolphin on the Manatee River. Only an hour away for us. But the list has other great destinations.
 
As a native of Sarasota, and the son of a boat builder, I will look the list over, and add whatever additions I have experienced. But, I've been here long enough to know that what was once a great stop-over is probably a condo now.
I will say that I have been to a lot of places, and the easiest, calmest, cheapest places to (short) cruise reside on the "Sun Coast". Those adventures have taken us to many destinations, as close as 4 miles, and as far as 500+ miles. The Acklin's in Southern Exumas is the farthest I've been on my own keel. It also netted the largest lobsters I have ever seen, and the largest grouper we've ever wrestled from a ledge 30' down, free diving with a sling. Don't do that anymore..... Too many stores with good fresh catches here.
 
3 ways? Really? Didn't know that. Would be interested in what they are.
2 are:
Through the locks and across Okeechobee.
Around the tip of Key West and up.

I’m assuming there is another way to shorten the trip via Key West by going under the bridge at some point, but unfamiliar with that trip.
 
2 are:
Through the locks and across Okeechobee.
Around the tip of Key West and up.

I’m assuming there is another way to shorten the trip via Key West by going under the bridge at some point, but unfamiliar with that trip.

Go through the lake - that's 1.

Or go to the Keys. When you leave the west coast of Florida (Ft Meyers area) there are 3 routes: Key West, Marathon (around bullard bank), or Yacht Channel (further east than bullard bank, then drop south).
 

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