Tampa, Florida

Tampa sits on the Tampa Bay rather than directly on the Gulf Of Mexico like its sister city, St Petersburg. This makes it safer from storms than the southeast side of Florida or even the southwest side that sits south of the Tampa Metro area but it also means you aren’t directly on beaches here. You’re pretty much flat dab in the middle of the state along the coastline and so you’ve got a 6 ½ hour drive to hit Atlanta (Florida is a long state). Orlando though is only an hour or so away if you’ve hankering for some Disneyland. Miami is only four hours across the state so a weekend away in Magic City is perfectly reasonable.

Channel District is one of the hottest neighborhoods for young professionals. It’s a short walk to many of the downtown work spots and is filled with high-rise apartments and condos with stunning waterfront views. The nice thing about Channel District is it has the prerequisite bar/restaurant scene but also has the Maven Market, a farmers market that also hosts events like the Historical & Cultural Festival. It also has the Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf, a newer revitalized shopping and dining area. Historic Ybor is perhaps the most famous of the downtown neighborhoods for nightlife and as such pulls in plenty of young professionals who want to walk to and walk home when they go out. While it is known for the drinking it also has great restaurants so don’t sleep on the foodie scene here.

• Channel District
• Historic Ybor
• Downtown

North Hyde Park is a cool choice for those who want to be just a few minutes from downtown but who also crave a bit of a respite from the bar scenes and traffic. The neighborhood has very cool bungalows as well as upscale apartment buildings for those not ready to buy. It also has its own commercial district that while not matching the fervor of downtown can satisfy the desire for a quick burger and beer on a weekend or school night.

• North Hyde Park
• Courier City-Oscawana

Tampa earned some creds in the LGBTQ+ community when in 2019 Jane Castor became the first openly gay mayor in the city’s history. The GaYBOR District is considered the LGBTQ+ Main Street for the West Coast of Florida. A combination of gay and gay-friendly businesses serve the local community with a mix of shops, bars and restaurants. The Heights are also gay-friendly neighborhoods with beautiful historic bungalows, boutique shopping and interesting restaurant choices.

• Ybor/GaYbor
• The Heights (Seminole Heights/Riverside Heights/Tampa Heights)

Harbour Island is a very popular neighborhood in downtown Tampa. Safe, friendly, amazing public schools and easy to walk to the Aquarium, the Wharf, and Downtown. The island throws a big Halloween and Xmas/Holiday party every year and has all sorts of community events throughout the year. It also is filled with beautiful old suburban style housing but you’re right near all the action should the mood strike you.

• Harbour Island
• Palma Ceia / Palma Ciea West
• Hyde Park - Spanishtown Creek

Bayshore Beautiful is one of the most popular neighborhoods for 55+ in Tampa. Beautiful homes, treelined quiet streets and great views of Hillsborough Bay make it a destination for empty nesters and retirees. Several healthcare facilities in the area and extremely low crime rating make the locals feel very safe. Just north of Bayshore Beautiful is Bayshore Gardens. If you prefer high-rise condos to the upkeep of the big homes of its southern neighbor then this could be your spot. The Gardens is walkscore friendly for those looking to stay active in the local scene and locals are also served well by several healthcare sites within the neighborhood.

• Bayshore Beautiful
• Bayshore Gardens
• Beach Park