Devil’s Den

When is the best time to buy a home in Florida? Easy – it’s the summertime. In a few weeks the spring and summer market will end. Every so often we have a good summer market, and this one has the possibility to be stronger than most notwithstanding mortgage rates being higher than they were in early spring. Plus mid 6’s might be as good as it gets!

One of the reasons the South Florida market has started so strongly is because the amount of sales activity was historically low for several years after the pandemic. And despite inflation & the overall economy, home prices have not risen with inflation making it perhaps the best buy out there.

Closed sales and pending sales are up. Inventory is going the other way. Check out the latest real estate statistics by county. It’s very possible that this summer may break some norms. Part of the reason summer is such a good time to buy is because there is less competition. The seasonal renter, snowbird, and family buyer have already made their purchases. That leaves a Buyer to stick their pitchfork out to test whether there are good buys in the market.

Speaking of pitchforks, summer is the time where it’s also fun to travel. If you are new to Florida or looking for some weekend getaways, here are 21 ideas…

1. Devil’s Den and The Springs
Devil’s Den has been on my bucket list and I finally completed it last month. Not too far from Gainesville. We stopped by on the way back from my daughter’s graduation in Tallahassee. There are springs all over central Florida. Before Disney World, it was our biggest attraction. Ginnie Spring, Manatee Spring, and Silver Spring are a few of them. Devil’s Den is a prehistoric underground spring. It’s a 120-foot-wide cave. You walk downstairs 50 feet and can go snorkeling or diving. The water in all of the Springs in Florida is 72 degrees. You can’t swim in Silver Spring, but you can kayak in the crystal blue waters and see the wild monkeys (with herpes!). The monkeys were leftovers that were supposed to be separate tourist attractions. Some guy named Colonel Tooey brought them to an island after a Tarzan movie in the late 1930’s. Monkeys can’t swim except these Macaques ones can! They swam away and have been a wild tribe for nearly a hundred years. Lots of other springs are great for swimming or seeing manatees.

2. Key West
You can visit each one of the Keys or make a longer stay out of it. The weekend vacation is going to Key West. Educational things to do like Visit Harry Truman’s getaway or the Hemingway’s house. Take a puddle jumper to one of the least visited national parks, “the Dry Tortuga”. This is an old fort that they kept John Wilkes Booth at. It’s the most southern spot in the United States. Big party place and lots of margaritas. It can be a family trip or adults trip.

3. Key Largo
A separate trip and good for snorkeling, boating and fishing with lots of good places for stone crab in season.

4. South Beach
I love the people watching, restaurants, beach, and shopping.

5. Wynwood
Very artsy area. We take the Brightline train down from West Palm Beach. Stay nearby in downtown near Bayside. The Frost Museum of Science and the aquarium are must-see. Amazing food and nightlife. The Kaseya Center where the Miami Heat plays is walking distance. We wait for a big concert venue to combine for this getaway.

6. The Everglades
Camping trip or a long daytrip. If you want to see lots of exotic birds, alligators, and beautiful florals, it’s an amazing national park. Even crocodiles in parts (only spot in the world where both live together). If camping, don’t leave your tent at night. A million mosquitoes will blanket the tent!

7. Naples
White Sands, lively downtown, and lots of nature parks

8 & 9. Sarasota – Tampa Bay
A fantastic aquarium. Beautiful white sand beaches and different vibes. Tampa is more action city life. St. Armands Key in Sarasota is historic, has good eats and beautiful architecture. Good long weekend.

10. Panhandle to New Orleans.
We explored the trip through the Panhandle and then to New Orleans for a week. From our place in Jupiter, it’s over ten hours just to get out of the state. The time changes within Florida. On the way there, we also stopped in Tallahassee which is the state capital. Half hour away, stop in historic Thomasville Georgia.

11-12-13. Saint Augustine – Charleston – Savannah.
I’ve done these three in separate trips, but you can also do them together. All are significant United States towns. St. Augustine, has a quaint downtown as the oldest city in the United States along with the Fountain of Youth. Plus another Fort built to shoot all those pirates. Charleston and Savannah are a few hours from there and are as charming as it gets. Some of the best restaurants in the country. Shrimp and grits galore. The farther north you go in and out of Florida, the more South it gets.

14. The Bahamas.
Fishing, snorkeling, and boating. It’s doable by boat (a friend with a boat is the cheapest way) or it’s less than an hour plane trip.

15. Cancun
Just a few hours away from Miami. Total “get out of the country and relax”.

16. Costa Rica
Another short trip but more adventure with volcanos, native wild monkeys, and a complete change of wildlife. Lots go there for surfing as well.

17-18. Orlando.
Disney is one trip and Universal another. I’m actually just coming back from Epcot. I do BBBS and we took my Little there as his first time. Each is really a 3-day trip.

19. NASA
Kennedy Space Center is a day trip for adventure. Watch a rocket launch. We’ve done that and it’s unforgettable.

20. The Palm Beaches.
Treat yourself. The Breakers is unforgettable if you want to be pampered, Worth Avenue is a little weekend vacation by itself. On the opposite end of luxury, rent a kayak and row over to Peanut Island. JFK had a secret bunker there and the snorkeling is amazing.

21. The Guitar Hotel – Hollywood
It has all the sins including gambling, shows, and booze. Just make sure to roll lucky 777 and not 666.