If you are thinking of moving to the city of Tampa, Florida in the glorious Sunshine State, there are a few tips that can be helpful in your move. Ranked as one of the top 5 best cities to live by Money Magazine, this city has several sports teams, delicious cuisine, beaches nearby and a bounty of job opportunities.
What You Must Have
Whether living in an apartment or a house, air conditioning should be at the top of your list. It gets very hot in the summer in Tampa; central air conditioning is the call if you’re looking at apartments.
Having a washer and dryer in your unit or nearby is very convenient, especially when it gets hot outside, and you need to do laundry.
Avoid Apartment Scams
Be careful of scams if browsing Craigslist for apartments. The following are some reputable sites for finding an apartment:
- Zumper
- Livelovely
- Apartmentlist
- Padmapper
Movebudda has some advice for avoiding being scammed on Craigslist, as there could be people trying to make a quick buck.
Neighborhoods
The more expensive neighborhoods in Tampa are close to downtown. Hyde Park or Bayshore make up some of the communities in Tampa. Areas include:
- South Tampa
- Downtown Tampa
- Ybor
- Channelside
- New Tampa
- North Tampa
South Tampa includes the neighborhoods of Davis Island, Bayshore, Hyde Park, SoHo, Culbreath Isles, Port Tampa and Palma Cela. There are many things happening here; you will be near the water as well as boutique shopping and a plethora of restaurants. Historic homes as well as condos townhomes, luxury lofts and more are part of this area.
Downtown Tampa is where you’ll find the Tampa Museum of Art, The Tampa Theatre, Glazer Children’s Museum and Curtis Hixon Park are all part of this neighborhood. Condos and highrises dot the landscape; you might have to travel a bit for shopping. It is urban in feeling and home to business.
Ybor is the area that contains historic cigar factories. Charming brick and a trolley give it an ambiance of the past. Renovated and modern condos as well as lofts and townhomes are part of Ybor City.
Channelside offers Condos, lofts, and high rises offer panoramic views of the city and water and is close to downtown. Walk to the Florida Aquarium and the Amalie Arena.
New Tampa and North Tampa offer a more residential ambiance and less of the feeling of city.
Things to Do
Tampa is filled with an abundance of things to do that include festivals and museums as well as three sports teams to follow. Spend a day at the Tampa Museum of Art or take the family to the Glazer Children’s Museum. Walk the long stretch of 4.5 miles of Bayshore Boulevard Linear Park, the longest continuous walk in the world. Visit Busch Gardens for an African-themed amusement park or Lowry Park Zoo Tampa. The Museum of Science and Industry has hands-on exhibits. Soar high at the Indoor Skydiving Experience.
Areas near Tampa
Instead of living right in the city, you may choose to live nearby. Access is easy with I-75, I-275 and I-4 nearby. Some other areas to consider include:
- Brandon
- South Shore- Apollo Beach, Ruskin-Little Harbor, Riverview
- Plant City
- St. Petersburg
If you’re seeking an area to live that is close to Tampa International Airport, then South Tampa, Rocky Point or Westshore may be a choice.
