Tampa Information Request

[ChristianDean]

After considering many possible transfers and looking at many different cities, I had my last interview last week in Tampa and fell in love with the area, and ultimately decided on a July 1st transfer. I am looking to find out some more information about Tampa from people who have been or live there. I will be relocationg to the Tampa Bay area from Columbus, Oh (originally from LA, and I see some slight similarities there that remind me of home which is neat for me). I just had a few questions.

1. What is the weather like in Tampa. Mainly I am wondering about the winters. I have read all different things that the average can be anywhere from in the 50's to 60's and then I have heard that you can alot of times go swimming around Christmas , so I was just curious what it was really like. Also, I know Floridians probably tire of hearing this question, but what is a hurricane like. Are they severely threatening and frequent or just really over dramaticized by people in other parts of the nation that really have no idea.

2. I like nightlife, I like to stay out late and have things to do. Are there areas of town where you can walk at night with shops open late, with clubs/restaurants etc. I went to Ybor City and was pretty impressed but there wasnt a good deal of people out...granted it was only around 10 pm. Are there boardwalks or oceanfront walks with shops, where you can basically make a day of it. Which beaches are nicer, but the least touristy or the ones that most of the locals go to. Oh yeah, AND I am only 20 so out of curiosity are most places 18 and up?

3. I am looking to move to an area that is convenient to Westshore and the beaches as well (within 30 minutes). I am going to be renting and would probably prefer to spend less than 1200 a month and be in a more decent area any thoughts on where that would be? I noticed an ABUNDANCE of porn stores and exotic dancing places throughout the 'Bay Area' whats up with that haha? It didnt seem as indicative of a bad area as I have seen in other places though.

Well, thats about it, I know very little about the Tampa area, but it looks fun and I love the way it looks so hopefully it will be the right choice for me, (and so do alot of other people apparently, it seems like everyone is moving or wanting to move to Tampa these days). Please add your own personal imput on whatever you can, I would like to learn more and get more oriented on the area, good pictures would be great as well.

Sorry for the lengthy post and Thanks in advance for all your help!

[mcruder]

After considering many possible transfers and looking at many different cities, I had my last interview last week in Tampa and fell in love with the area, and ultimately decided on a July 1st transfer. I am looking to find out some more information about Tampa from people who have been or live there. I will be relocationg to the Tampa Bay area from Columbus, Oh (originally from LA, and I see some slight similarities there that remind me of home which is neat for me). I just had a few questions.

1. What is the weather like in Tampa. Mainly I am wondering about the winters. I have read all different things that the average can be anywhere from in the 50's to 60's and then I have heard that you can alot of times go swimming around Christmas , so I was just curious what it was really like. Also, I know Floridians probably tire of hearing this question, but what is a hurricane like. Are they severely threatening and frequent or just really over dramaticized by people in other parts of the nation that really have no idea.

2. I like nightlife, I like to stay out late and have things to do. Are there areas of town where you can walk at night with shops open late, with clubs/restaurants etc. I went to

[I-275westcoastflorida]

After considering many possible transfers and looking at many different cities, I had my last interview last week in Tampa and fell in love with the area, and ultimately decided on a July 1st transfer. I am looking to find out some more information about Tampa from people who have been or live there. I will be relocationg to the Tampa Bay area from Columbus, Oh (originally from LA, and I see some slight similarities there that remind me of home which is neat for me). I just had a few questions.

1. What is the weather like in Tampa. Mainly I am wondering about the winters. I have read all different things that the average can be anywhere from in the 50's to 60's and then I have heard that you can alot of times go swimming around Christmas , so I was just curious what it was really like. Also, I know Floridians probably tire of hearing this question, but what is a hurricane like. Are they severely threatening and frequent or just really over dramaticized by people in other parts of the nation that really have no idea.

2. I like nightlife, I like to stay out late and have things to do. Are there areas of town where you can walk at night with shops open late, with clubs/restaurants etc. I went to  Ybor City and was pretty impressed but there wasnt a good deal of people out...granted it was only around 10 pm. Are there boardwalks or oceanfront walks with shops, where you can basically make a day of it. Which beaches are nicer, but the least touristy or the ones that most of the locals go to. Oh yeah, AND I am only 20 so out of curiosity are most places 18 and up?

3. I am looking to move to an area that is convenient to Westshore and the beaches as well (within 30 minutes). I am going to be renting and would probably prefer to spend less than 1200 a month and be in a more decent area any thoughts on where that would be? I noticed an ABUNDANCE of porn stores and exotic dancing places throughout the 'Bay Area' whats up with that haha? It didnt seem as indicative of a bad area as I have seen in other places though.

Well, thats about it, I know very little about the Tampa area, but it looks fun and I love the way it looks so hopefully it will be the right choice for me, (and so do alot of other people apparently, it seems like everyone is moving or wanting to move to Tampa these days).  Please add your own personal imput on whatever you can, I would like to learn more and get more oriented on the area, good pictures would be great as well.

Sorry for the lengthy post and Thanks in advance for all your help!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. The Tampa Bay area weather is great the summers are hot and rainy and perfect beach weather. In the winter the average low is in the 50's and thats just morning/evening most of the time, yet it does get into the low 30'/high 20's sometimes but not alot. As far as hurricanes go most arent worried at all about them its just a bigger thunderstorm, i used to go outside during them and went to the beach once. Most of the nation sees what the media gets which is mobile homes and poorly built buildings if u are in a block construction building u have nothing to worry about till a cat. 5 and just as an add on the Bay Area is mostly missed by the big ones mostly cat 1 ends up hitting the area.

2. Tampa Bay Area has tons of clubs/restraunts and i dont know what day you went to Ybor so i cant really say why u didnt see many people. Boardwalks and things like that u would have to go to St.Petersburg or Clearwater to have those. I think most clubs are 18 to get in but im not sure u would have to listen to radio stations like WILD98.7 or 93.3 or others to find out cause i do remember that they sometimes have 18 and up days i dunno though.

3.For rent listings u would probably have to check the St.Pete Times. The bad area is south of I-275 and I-4 interchange "malfunction junction". The porn and strip joints are most likely from the early 90's or below back when Tampa wasnt as nice as it is now.

Tampa Bay is great place to live and is still affordable compared to south florida and orlando. Thats great you have decided to move there you will enjoy it like many have and do. I moved from St.Petersburg almost a year ago and miss it a lot but i could also be moving back this summer depending on when my house is sold.