Eh, not terrible - 9/26/2019
I lived here during college and while it was kinda dirty and run down in the Fowler/Fletcher area, there's certainly a lot to Read More

If you're unhappy here, it's probably you. - 12/30/2018
I was born in Tampa, and while I've traveled extensively I've always come back to my hometown. One of the first things you get used to as a kid growing up in Florida are the new people. You can usually tell who you're dealing with after meeting a transplant, most falling into one of three categories.

1, miserable people. These people try unsuccessfully to move away from their misery, never knowing they're it's source. These are the people who hate everything they see here, we're stupid, never is done right here, etc, etc. Just ignore them, there's nothing anyone can do for them.

2, assimilators. These people get it and are here to enjoy Florida. They seek out locals and live the lifestyle. They'll go fishing with you, eat the food, never complain about the heat, and genuinely seem grateful to be here.

3, the colonizers. These people are truly destructive and arrogant on a scale that hard to sum up. Even though Europeans landed in Florida Read More

I should have done my homework... - 8/25/2018
Where to start. I haven't noticed a groundswell of anti-outsider sentiment because everyone is from somewhere else. Anecdotally (based on license plates I've seen) it does seem like the bulk of transplants are climate refugees fleeing from the frigid NE and Ohio. The irony of climate refugees fleeing to coastal Florida is not lost on me.

I mention the number of transplants you'll find here because how you feel about Tampa (and Florida in general) depends on where you're moving from. I suppose if you shoveled snow in 28-degree weather for 4-5 months of each year, then Tampa may look like Valhalla. I relocated from a beautiful and temperate part of the country to Tampa for work. Generally, I find Tampa charmless and in many ways, I feel like I stepped back into 1986. Here's why:

1. Florida has some of the most aggressive drivers I have ever encountered. Weaving in an out of traffic at 30 mph over the speed limit, each time within 18 inches of your Read More

Tampa is My Nirvana - 8/19/2018
Nirvana ... Shangri-La ... My heaven on Earth ... but beware the sinkholes!

Must-See: Honeymoon Island State Park, Fort De Soto Park, Madeira Beach, Salvador Dali Museum, & St. Petersburg Metropolitan Community Read More

I don’t know what we were thinking. - 4/26/2018
Median salary here is $55K but average rent prices for a one bedroom start at $1200 for maybe 600 square feet. Forget about living in a house. The only affordable ones are in the hood surrounded by crime. (Drugs, burglary, grand theft, etc. check the crime stats through the sheriff’s department.) The traffic is awful. It takes 40 minutes to drive 6 miles and car insurance continues to skyrocket because there are so many bad drivers causing accidents. Avoid I4/275 if you value your life. There’s weed everywhere and it stinks. Gentrification is the city’s number one priority. Rent prices have increased twenty percent in two years and the housing market is garbage. Everything is overpriced for what it is. The demographic is predominantly white people who try to act like they’re classy but really just enjoy white privledge and white people activities like Hockey and trashy bars in Ybor. There is a ton of racism in the area. A TON! It doesn’t matter what shade of off white you are, there’s Read More

One of the best places to raise a family - 3/14/2018
Tampa offers year round opportunity for family fun! Beaches, Sports venues, outdoor concerts, Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, close proximity to the Orlando attractions. Transplanted here 13 years ago from NJ and would never go back.
Sure the summers can get hot and humid, but it's a far cry better than the ice and snow of the Northeast . Traffic can be hectic at times, but for the most part it is far less travel time here then any other major metropolis! Sunshine, palms and beach... nothing better... Read More

Pass if you are single, married, young, old,...... - 12/28/2017
Lived in Tampa for 10 years. Trying to save you from making the same mistake we made. As you drive North out of the airport, you hit I275 and I-4 and you'll see the biggest Confederate flag ever above it all. You'll look at your kids in the car and think "dear God, what have I done? From there it does not get better. Tampa is hard to love, hard to hate, it is simply lame. No arts, no culture, non educated population, full of rednecks, terrible salaries, lame downtown, non existent public transportation, no walkable areas, below par schools, dangerous to cycle anywhere, no green spaces, super aggressive drivers, rude customer service. Hot, humid, rainy summers; yeah, that season when kids want to be out. My kids could not last 10 minutes. If you've never experienced humidity; it's hell. And being able to wear flip-flops on January does not make up for that. You live perpetually under air conditioner. One plus, affordable housing. You can go to the beach so many times before it Read More

Tampa is no Silicon Valley or Research Triangle - 6/27/2017
If you are a well-educated professional and are looking for exciting job opportunities, Tampa is not for you! Companies and organizations are stuck in the 1990's way of doing things. HR units are the worst! Commuting to work in the Tampa area is a driving nightmare.  Read More

The best of suburban, city, and beach living - 1/27/2017
I lived in Tampa for about a year and frequented the University of South Florida area during college because my boyfriend lived in the area. I love Tampa because the area is huge, and offers a great mix of city, suburbia, and beach terrain.

The downtown area is fun to explore with unique areas like Channelside and Ybor City. There are also some gorgeous views from the downtown city streets because the whole area is bordered by Tampa Bay. If you're in the area during hockey season, my favorite thing to do is see the Tampa Bay Lightening play. Tampa really loves this team, and getting plugged in with their games and fans is a great way to get involved with the Tampa community.

On the weekends, my boyfriend and I greatly enjoyed day trips to the beach, and our favorite spot to visit was John's pass because it was fun to visit the shops in the area, see the boats pass under the huge drawbridge, and the strip of beach always had entertaining people watching Read More

Need lots of Opinions and Feedback......Considerin - 11/6/2016
Hello Everyone!!

I am 35 years old African American college educated professional single man that is considering a job transfer to Tampa. I have a few concerns and would like some honest respectful feedback. I have lived in Dallas for 5 years and it's just no longer my cup of tea. I have been to Tampa on vacation and liked the city but would like feedback on issues surrounding diversity, quality of life and possibly dating (women) in the Tampa area.

Here are few questions you can answer for me and of course feel free to add anything else you feel would be of value.

1. Cost of Living?
2. Of course everywhere has it's dash of racism but in regards Tampa do most people get along or is there racial outburst among blacks, white, latinos and etc.
3. Would you call Tampa a singles town?
4. Low or High Crime Rate?
5. Weather and Air Quality? Good or Bad?
6. Lot's of bugs or not too many?
7. City Corruption Read More