Vacation here but don't live here
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3/16/2008
The Tampa Bay area of Florida is a great place to vacation assuming you are going to the beach. The weather here in November, February and March is great. If you have to live and work here it is a different point of view. Sure there is no state income tax which sounds great but everything is so expensive you need every penny to get by. The "plentiful Jobs" in the area are very low paying. You can get by just fine if you want to live in an older trailer park. However, if you would like to buy a house be prepared for a very unpleasant awakening. The quality of construction is very poor, the styles are generally unattractive. The price per square foot is just plain ridiculous. Toss in property taxes and home owners insurance and you will likely decide to rent. Your taxes and home owners insurance are may easily be equal to or exceed your mortgage payment. Be prepared for pieced together shacks with kitchen cabinets you might otherwise find in a garage or laundry room. The prospects are a little better if you do not want to be by the water. But why would you be in Florida if not for the beach and ocean???
I have lived in the Tampa area for about 1 1/2 years and am currently packing to move up north. I have found that nothing in Florida is what it seems. There is always some hidden fee, undisclosed information or string attached to anything you want to do or see in Florida. For example, I researched ticket prices for Disney's Animal Kingdom. The website said one price but upon arriving at the park the price was $8 more/ person. When I explained this to the attendant she simply shrugged and offered to sell me a 4 day park hopper! The toll roads are very expensive, as is beach parking.
Given the climate in Tampa there tends to be a lot of squatters/homeless. For the most part they mind their own business. For a southern state the roadways are not in very good repair as would be expected. There is also a surprising amount of litter for a state that is all about saving the birds, turtles and manatees.
Another unfortunate trait of the Tampa area is the quailty of the work force. It is difficult to come across an employee that has pride in their job. This goes for wait staff, customer service, contractors, etc.
Beware! The summer is miserable hot, humid and sticky. You can literally watch the sweat drip from you elbow as you talk on your cell phone outdoors. You absolutely do not want to step outside of your A/C from May-October!! You can't imagine how uncomfortable it is until you experience it. It continues to be uncomfortable even after the sun goes down. Also, for being called the "sunshine" state there are lots of cloudy days.
As far as vacationing here-Clearwater beach is beautiful but crowded. Parking is paid by the hour and they do have bathrooms. St. Pete beach is the same. The best place to go in my opinion is Fort DeSoto. There is beach access (no swimming due to deep channel tides), a fishing pier, kayak rental or bring your own and 7 mile bike/walk/rollerblade trail. Best of all it is free to park and they have bathrooms!
I have lived in Mesa, AZ, Altanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, Midland, MI and Tampa, Florida. I would recommend any of those other places over Tampa.
Bp | St. Petersburg, FL