Wilton Manors, Florida, USA

[Denise]

My therapist recommended that I check out Wilton Manors, FL as it is an extremely Trans* friendly community.  I'm going to be in Florida in December and I'm considering stopping in.  However I looked on line and I don't see any touristy type places.  Besides it's two hours in the wrong direction from where I'll be.

So my question to the community is - have you been there, is there anything for a tourist to do or is it just houses with typical strip malls with fast-food, Walgreens/CVS, ... ?

Maybe a T friendly shopping center/mall with outside dining etc...

[AngieT]

I saw an article that describes it it as the the second gayest city in the US, but I've never heard of it. If its near Ft Lauderdale, though, there's probably a lot of fun going on, but prices are going to be a little higher than other FL cities. 

I'd caution you on choosing a new home based on internet articles, though.  Make your choice based on the factors that are most important to YOU.  Personally speaking, Orlando is considered a really "friendly" town, but I've never found people here to be nearly as accepting as I consistently enjoy in places like Seattle or Denver.

[JessicaSondelli]

Take a look at the official website of the city: http://www.wiltonmanors.com/index.aspx?nid=290# - it sounds like your therapist is right...

I know the ft Lauderdale area a bit and it's probably the most lgbt friendly area I've experienced in all over FL. I live in SWFL and while it's deeply conservative, I've never had an issue here.


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[JessicaSondelli]

Btw: Sawgrass Mills Mall is quite close to Milton Manors and I love shopping there. It's the second largest mall in Florida.


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[Denise]

I'd caution you on choosing a new home based on internet articles, though.  Make your choice based on the factors that are most important to YOU.  Personally speaking, Orlando is considered a really "friendly" town, but I've never found people here to be nearly as accepting as I consistently enjoy in places like Seattle or Denver.

I agree, but I'm only going for an hour or two on my out-of-the-way from Ft Myers to Orlando.  If you look at a map it's many hours out of my way.  The question is, is it worth stopping by, maybe for dinner - any recommendations?  It would be a table for 1.

[JessicaSondelli]

St. Pete will be much more convenient  if you drive from ft Myers to Orlando. You might wanna stop by here for the night:

http://www.flamingofla.com


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[PrincessCrystal]

OMG.  That's where I'm from.

I grew up in Ft Lauderdale, I hung around Wilton Manors and Sawgrass Mills, I live in Lee County, I go to St Petersburg all the time, and I hate Orlando!

We should meet up some time!

Edit: Wilton Manors is the gay capital of Ft Lauderdale, and is a very nice place in general.  There are gay shops, gay clubs, and clothing stores pretty much lining the well kept streets there, and it's not far from Ft Lauderdale's beaches and the Galt Mile.  You should probably rent a house instead of a hotel room: it is not built for tourism.  Ft Lauderdale in general is the Gay Capital of Florida, and probably the nicest city in the state in general.  If you're looking for somewhere to move to in Florida, it's one of the two cities I'd recommend.

Tampa is the other one.  Tampa is just north of St Petersburg.  It's very nice, very liberal, and I might even move there next year.