Main Street, Cedar Key

If it were not for the evacuation route signs everywhere; this is a place I could live quite happily. Fishermen, tourists, arty folk all mix quite happily in this pleasant community on the Gulf of Mexico. However, the average years between bad storms is 2.9, and between major hurricanes is about 13 years. In 1950, Hurricane Easy, a category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, looped around Cedar Key three times before finally making landfall, dumping 38 inches of rain and destroying two thirds of the homes. Luckily, the storm came ashore at low tide, so the surge was only 5 feet. Hurricane Elena followed a similar path in 1985, but did not make landfall. Packing 115 mph winds, the storm churned for two days in the Gulf, 50 miles to the west, battering the waterfront. All the businesses and restaurants on Dock Street were either damaged or destroyed and a section of the seawall collapsed. Statistically, the next hurricane is due before the end of this year, so I think I'll just keep visiting for the old Florida feel, and the acclaimed seafood.