Tampa, FL

Tampa is my “home base” I return to, and I love it! Only drawback - like most other American cities the cost of living is high. Clearwater Beach was rated #1 beach in the US multiple years in a row by TripAdvisor, and for good reason. The sunsets are spectacular, water warm as bath water the majority of the year, and sand so soft and fine it’s like corn starch. Great sports town if you like sports, with pro teams in the NHL. MLB, and NFL that consistently perform well. Skyline is beautiful and there are many great restaurants. Temperatures are comfortable year-round, and Tampa Bay is the “sweet spot” in Florida for avoiding hurricanes because of the jet stream and avoiding heat discomfort in the summer because of the wonderful cross-breezes that blow the humidity away. I highly recommend the Tampa Bay Area if you can afford it!

I have grown up in Tampa Bay and can give some quick insight.

If you want to genuinely experience the overall area or its history you'll want to visit both Ybor City and St Petersburg (First two areas that were initially settled). Clearwater is a tourist trap but has a beautiful manufactured beach (the sand as imported to make this beach what it is today).

Saint Petersburg, FL:
St Petersburg offers a few co-working spaces and at one time boasted the largest number of Kava Bars in a given city in the US (which are often used as cowork space by locals). The Brewery scene in St Petersburg is unmatched, with over 50 different breweries located in Pinellas County alone.

Nightlife:
EDM/Dance Music is primarily seen in Tampa/Ybor City especially for harder genres like Dubstep/Riddim and Drum & Bass, as well as Tech House. However, St Petersburg has a reputation for being the more artistic side of the Tampa Bay area and thus has a strong community for Techno and House music.

Daytime Fun:
- Kayaking through the mangroves in Lido Key (Day trip)
- 'Hiking' in Weedon Island Preserve
- Daytime in Ybor City (great restaurants, bars, and a bit of history)
- Busch Gardens Theme Park (Excellent rollercoasters)
- Art walk in St Pete
- Dali Museum (St Pete)
- Fort Desoto

Cons:
-5 years ago Tampa Bay was extremely affordable by all accounts, but is currently pacing to become much more expensive with a 25% increase in housing costs in the last year alone and one of the highest overall inflation rates in the country.
-Traveling around Tampa Bay can become expensive due to the physical size of the city and how scattered things can be. Public transit is not worth the money saved, but if you're remaining in one area, Uber is very reasonably priced.
-There are a lot of people from other cities in the US moving into Tampa Bay, so there are many people that are not a reflection of the locals here.

Lively city with excellent internet and other infrastructure. Beaches are everywhere - both gulf beaches and bay beaches. Head for the gulf side if you want spectacular sunsets and surf, and the bay beaches if you want calm waters. Clearwater Beach was rated #1 on TripAdvisor 2 years in a row, and for good reason. The water is beautifully clear and the sand as soft as baby powder. Public transportation options could be better. Awesome restaurants. This is the "sweet spot" in Florida in the summer - because of the cross-breezes between the gulf and bay the humidity doesn't stagnate in the air and it feels much cooler than places like Orlando and Miami. It also hasn't had a direct hit from a hurricane in decades. I loved it so much the first time I came here I bought a condo here, and it's now my "home base."

Tampa and St. Pete neighbors, with St. Pete being the much better choice. Summers are hot and humid in Florida, with October through May being the sweet spot. St. Pete, 25 minutes from Tampa, is the hidden gem. Friendly, food, night light, vibrant arts and Entrepreneurial communities, LGBT+ friendly, laid back vibe yet everything you could want for. World-class beaches, fantastic dining options, plenty of party options, and endless parks and sidewalks/lanes for biking, jogging, strolling. Out of the 91 countries visited, it's my favorite city to stay in! Enjoy!

Tampa/The Tampa Bay area is okay. Clearwater beach feels a like an tourist trap but the beach is high quality (they ship in white sand from Bahamas, lol). Downtown Tampa is gentrifying from a business district to a tourist focused. The international plaza shopping mall is cool.. Tampa’s Cuban district is fun! Nearby St. Pete is like a mini-Tampa, but much calmer imho. Hopefully Tom Brady brings the city luck.

Gorgeous city, but very hot. But if you've been in Florida before, you'll know this is the norm. I explored towns in the bay area as well, which are quaint but still have much to offer. Clearwater beach has a lot going for it as well.