Tampa FL.
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12/31/2013
I know some love it here, but it is hot & humid. It is NOT as sunny as the advertisements would have you believe. Climate change has definitely affected this area. I grew up in this town, so I do know it has changed. So many overcast/cloudy days, sometimes I think it is London with heat! However, Tampa does not have the "Old South" feel that Fred of Orange Park talked about. I have lived in Jax, so I do know what he mean. Traffic is terrible here. If you want to enjoy "city like" activities, then stick to the south Tampa area. Golfers, go north Tampa. The nicer restaurants are in South Tampa, north Tampa is almost all chains (Chili's, etc.). Get a job before moving here! Pay rates in Florida are about half of what they are in the Northeast. You will use your AC from April thru October, continuously (you will be trading your northern heating bills for southern AC bills.) Tampa is a very sports oriented town, so if you like that, this is your place. There are no practical public transportation options. It is not a good town for biking, this is due to weather and drivers running over bicyclists. So just be aware of that. Plenty of doctors & hospitals here. Tampa is not a beach town, so you will have to drive a while to get to the beach. Generally that is about a 30 to 45 minute drive, not including time to look for parking. The beaches are very nice.
Jean | Carrollwood, FL