I like in Fort Lauderdale. Lived here since 1995,
And I HATE it down here, Sure, the weather is nice (most of the time). And when the beaches aren't sinking (Miami Beach is flooding all the time now) they'll fun. But they get old fast.
Miami is a party town. Period. If you're into it then you're gold.
Traffic is a nightmare. It takes 90 mins to get from the center of Miami to Fort Lauderdale (about 30 miles) in the middle of the week day.
The food.. Fort Lauderdale does have a bit more variety, bit it's basically Cuban, Haitian, and other Latin cuisine. Lucky for me I love it. But I tell ya,. I have yet found a decent Chinese restaurant. I have found decent Thai - and that search took me through 15 different restaurants and over a year.
There is some great American cuisine here. And of course, we have every single fast-food place you know off on EVERY corner.
South Florida is car culture. I mean even in Whole Foods (the closest we can get to decent food shopping) - it's all "nameste" inside but folk will cut your heart out in the parking lot. I've seen fights break out in the Whole Food parking lot. Usually between two perfectly groomed women; their babies sitting in harness hanging off their shoulders.
There a HUGE amount of stress living in Florida. Between the driving, the walled up homes, beaches sinking, the right wing government not giving a shit - which reminds me - if you have kids you best plan on private school. There are REALLY good ones down here (depending on location). Add the school cost into your budget. I'd never send my kid to public school - the state has ripped public schools to shreds.
Oh and one other thing - this is a Stand Your Ground State. So carry a gun. Many do. Most are concealed.
Now about the tech. It's here. It's small. It really depends on which tech. Microsoft is everywhere. Easy to find Meetups and Technets. Also Ruby is well represented here with 3 groups (Boca, Broward (Lauderdale) and Miami) - I know of one small Python group that barely meets - the rest are hit and miss.
Outside of medical, real estate, tourism, and banking there just isn't much else going on. Sure there are a few start-ups. And people are trying. But they are few and far between. And I'm in Telcom (by the way).
Now all this sour news there are some pluses - the Arts. The formal arts (Opera, Theater, Symphonies - are small. But they are jugging along). But We do have a thriving arts festival (Art Basel - https://www.artbasel.com/) which has really transformed the arts scene in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Palm Beaches.
Also Orchids - West Beach is one of the centers for orchid trade in the world (bet you didn't know that). Orchid people are CRAYZ. I love them myself - cause they bring a much need "oddness" to South Florida.