The central west coast of Florida is a popular retirement destination. The winters are warm, the beaches are beautiful, and the gulf is typically calm. But if enjoying the beach year-round is your primary reason for choosing Florida for your retirement, you may find yourself disappointed during parts of the year when this part of the state (as well as southwest Florida) experience red tides.  Unfortunately, these unpleasant algae blooms have become more frequent in Florida in the last 3 decades. The good news is that snowbirds aren’t likely to be inconvenienced by red tides because they don’t often occur in late winter and early spring.  

In terms of housing prices, you’ll find that the Tampa/St. Petersburg area is a little more affordable than Sarasota and Ft. Myers, and a lot more affordable than Naples.