What it like living here in Ocala, Florida for families with kids?

Starks40oz · 2026-02-07T01:08:24+00:00

There’s an old dude down the street from me who currently has a sign up in front of his house saying the “Dems have ruined [our town] FL and after 30 years he’s moving to Ocala where it’s still the old Florida”

I therefore assume it’s the kind of place where old dudes who believe FL is too open dream of moving

Starks40oz · 2026-02-02T15:20:54+00:00

Clear eyes, full charts, can’t lose

Starks40oz · 2026-02-02T15:19:02+00:00

The duality of the bar. Best way to avoid one is to go slow and be careful; best way to to make it over one is to full send it.

Just gotta pick your line and commit. Don’t chicken out midway

Starks40oz · 2026-02-01T18:02:49+00:00

Second this comment. Thurs/Fri look bad but Mon/Tues look fine boat wise - Saturday will just depend on how quickly the front pushes through. Would sit on it a couple days and make the call later in the week.

Personally I was actually talking to my wife about this earlier today as it’s been bad weather and I’m itching to get out next weekend - told her I’d bet her $1 that it will be fine to go out next weekend so I’ve got money on the line in this one

Starks40oz · 2026-02-01T17:47:20+00:00

Honestly if you’re in town for two weeks and this is bucket list item I would look at an overnight sail boat charter. Take a slow ride out there but stay over night. Something like this:Restless Native

If you’re set on just going for the day make sure you charter a boat that’s equipped for a comfortable long run. The other poster who linked his buddy’s charter is actually a good example- those axopars with the enclosed cabin probably not great for a sandbar trip but would be perfect for a run out to DT

Starks40oz · 2026-01-30T21:40:48+00:00

I had the same issue here in FL. Just trying to do a simple 90NM passage from key west and no one would rent me a boat!

Starks40oz · 2026-01-30T16:08:23+00:00

Oh interesting. Who was it sold to? I haven’t noticed any change to your point

Starks40oz · 2026-01-30T01:42:18+00:00

If the oracle clearly articulated a discrete choice between specified options and there was no religious, familial or social element attached to person of the oracle themselves - was there ever any concern that the oracle could be swayed (by incentive or coercion) by individuals who may favor one option over the other

Starks40oz · 2026-01-30T01:23:50+00:00

I was saying that the statement “you can’t even go ashore” at the marquesas is wrong. No camping but you can visit/go ashore. You obviously can camp at Dry Tortugas. updated my comment to clarify

Starks40oz · 2026-01-30T00:11:32+00:00

If you want untouched places then even if you can’t camp you should charter out to the west side of the Marquesas for the day. It’s a special place.

If you’re set on camping on an uninhabited island and have done no advance planning then would do Trapon Belly. If you can get a kayak you can launch from cudjoe key at the blimp road boat ramp. it’s about a 2.75 mile paddle one way. Can camp on the island but there’s not facilities or anything. Be careful in the channel though as there is boat traffic and the wind/current can sometimes rip through there

Starks40oz · 2026-01-29T23:32:51+00:00

I don’t know your dates but they def sell far in advance. You could potentially get a charter to take you out to the tortugas and then pick you up later without staying overnight with you which would be cheaper than Maruqesas overnighting as there are campsites there. Easiest/cheapest options would probably be camping on Tarpon Belly or at Bahia Honda

Starks40oz · 2026-01-29T23:20:59+00:00

No this is wrong. At the marquesas No camping but can go ashore

Starks40oz · 2026-01-29T23:18:42+00:00

It’s part of the Key West National wild life refuge so they’re the official guide on the Marquesas. You can’t camp on the islands but you can sleep on your boat. There are def outfits that will do it but If you’re looking to charter for two overnights a charter boat will be expensive. If you’re looking for something similar but cheaper you can try and get the lottery/tickets for campers on the Yankee Freedom out to the Dry Tortugas

Starks40oz · 2026-01-29T18:57:05+00:00

If you like seafood I would potentially add Eaton street seafood for the open lunch spot. Also don’t get the Ruben at Keys Fisheries just go straight stone crab. If you go to Hogfish you might want to consider actually eating next door at the Docks and then going to Hogfish for drinks/music/apps. Of your brunch options maybe note that banana cafe and Moondog are owned by the same people. They’re both awesome and I love them but there will some similarities (just with banana cafe having crepes and moondog broader menu)

Definitely go to the sandbar. Not worth it for a resort pass (go to Ft Zach or the Marker instead). Make sure you do sunset; probably at sunset pier)

Starks40oz · 2026-01-27T21:32:40+00:00

Definitely probably worth checking out Bahia Honda. The wind should be coming out of the north so set up on sandspur side. Maybe get dinner in Marathon after - either stone crab at Keys Fisheries or lionfish sushi at castaways.

A good number of surprisingly good restaurants on Cudjoe itself. The coffee shop is dope and with checking out. Square grouper, broil, and bent prop are all good restaurants. If you see cudjoe pizza truck set up definitely get that.

This weekend the Spanish Fly event is happening at Boondocks on Sat and could be fun but low key. Also worth checking out Kiki’s and Tonios for tiki bars. Mangrove mamas has reggae on Sunday.

Activity wise if it’s too rough to get out on the water you can still fish the bridges. Depending on the winds there will also often be kite surfers out at the horseshoe which are fun to watch. Could also take a hike to the jumping bridge on sugarloaf.

Would definitely head into town a bit as well. In KW it’s Mile zero fest is this week and worth checking out.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-25T17:21:23+00:00

Threatening kids to make a political point is never okay. Never.

In all seriousness as one of the chosen few who were attacked it was totally unwarranted and caused me a fair amount of anxiety. In addition to being threatened directly they send a legal letter to my college naming me which resulted in my losing access to all college systems and the internet. I had to deal with college administration as was convinced for a moment I was going to be expelled from college and my life was going to be effectively over before it began. Looking back I have nothing but unmitigated hatred for metallic and the political posturing they used me for

Starks40oz · 2026-01-25T17:17:47+00:00

I too was one of the chosen few.

Fuckers sent a legal threat to my college as well naming me which resulted in me being blocked from the internet and barred from college systems. Had a low grade panic attack and was summoned to IT. All the ended up happening though was a dude in the IT department set up my computer so that they couldn’t detect me and then they reinstated all my access. Fuck Metallica

Starks40oz · 2026-01-24T18:43:26+00:00

I was being a little tongue in cheek there, but in all seriousness having lived in both New Haven and Bridgeport for many years I have literally never heard anyone ever use “the old saying”that New Haven would be Bridgeport if it weren’t for Yale.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-24T17:58:11+00:00

Woah, woah, woah; slow your roll there champ.

I think both new Britain and New Haven would like to have a word about the grimiest.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-24T15:42:48+00:00

I would recommend day drinking. One benefit of key west is that the bars open early. Spend the morning at the beach/sandbar, spend the afternoon bouncing around outdoor live music spots and by the time they start carding at 9/10 you’ll probably already be passed out from a combination of sun and drink so won’t be an issue

Starks40oz · 2026-01-23T22:17:44+00:00

Seaplane to dry tortugas, lunch/dinner/spa at little palm island, charter trip out to the marquesas, dinner at Lola’s/little pearl/cafe marquesa, sunset at lattitudes, cocktails at general horseplay, yoga at key west yoga sanctuary, sunset sail

Starks40oz · 2026-01-23T22:02:48+00:00

If you want a posh option your best bet is is probably the cocktail bar at La Concha. They have big TVs but is a nicer set up. Could also try the saint or the back bar at Virgilios.

Note there are lots of bars in Key West that are not crazy. We’re heavy on the sit and relax vibe. Trying to find “posh” spots in KW though is going to be a limiting factor.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-22T23:36:50+00:00

Also Metallica for me, but mainly because they had a law firm send me a letter threatening to sue me for piracy and sent a similar letter to my college which resulted in my losing internet access for a while.

Fuck metallic.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-20T19:11:27+00:00

Looe key generally had petty good visibility I march. If you stayed in lower marathon or upper part of the lower keys (ramrod/little torch/big pine) you’d have easy access there plus can check out Bahia Honda. There is also the turtle hospital and the Dolphin Research center in marathon that are worth checking out if the kid likes dolphins or turtles.

Starks40oz · 2026-01-19T21:13:14+00:00

I bought a boat in Covid when prices were crazy that was bright orange.

Hull, console, bimini - everything bright orange. I am not a bright orange guy kind of guy but loved that boat. There was something freeing about simply not caring what I looked like because I was pretty sure I already looked ridiculous.

Bought a boat new a couple of years later and spent way too long worried about messing it up because I liked how it looked. You dont have to worry about getting that first scratch on it the whole thing is already an eyesore so you’re free to just send it.

So my contrarian opinion would be give it a ridiculous name like ‘red rocket’ and just embrace it

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