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Old 11-25-2009, 08:48 AM
 
Location: New York City
238 posts, read 576,586 times
Reputation: 157

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but then again, other then the Riverwalk section of downtown Fort Lauderdale, that downtown isn't exactly a vibrant 24 hr area either is it (i mean at night of course)...

i would have considered Miami when it had a more diversified population (which is what i prefer)...though i haven't been back there in more recent years, from what i understand, most of the jewish population left it and moved to Broward County and other areas, and it has sort of become a "suburb of Cuba" (with some rich europeans in the "mix")...where speaking spanish has almost become a necessity.....doesn't sound very appealing to me....

You've certainly given me a lot of "insight" Tampaguy...and i will definately need to check out the area.....
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Old 11-25-2009, 06:01 PM
 
Location: New York City
238 posts, read 576,586 times
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oh...and thanks for those neat "links' i checked out both websites..very interesting stuff...and very nice....

how far (in miles) is the Hard Rock Casino from the South Tampa area? and are there also other gambling casinos close by?
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Old 11-27-2009, 07:57 AM
 
Location: New York City
238 posts, read 576,586 times
Reputation: 157
I guess you have been busy with the holiday, TampaGuy and didn't have a chance to answer my posts...but thanks anyway...you have been extremely helpful in my getting a better "picture" of the tampa bay area....now, i will just have to check it out for myself....
Thanks again....and also to the others that contributed to my thread here and i hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving....
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Old 11-27-2009, 09:02 AM
 
Location: South Tampa - Bayside West Neighborhood
1,824 posts, read 8,381,194 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by craig10x View Post
oh...and thanks for those neat "links' i checked out both websites..very interesting stuff...and very nice....

how far (in miles) is the Hard Rock Casino from the South Tampa area? and are there also other gambling casinos close by?
The Hard Rock Casino is about 7-8 miles from South Tampa area...only other gambling is the gambling cruises that go out from the Gulf beaches. The are other types of gambling though at Derby Lanes(dogs) on Gandy Blvd in St. Pete, and Tampa Bay Downs(horses) in the Town n Country area.
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Old 01-10-2010, 01:36 AM
 
Location: Seattle
9 posts, read 60,528 times
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Craig,

I've read through your thread/forum - whatever you would like to call it (smile), and was curious, have you decided what place you would like to move to yet? Have you visited the cities recently? I am thinking of transferring to a university in South Florida in the next fall because I love the warm weather and a lot more about it, but I just don't know what cities would be best for me since I haven't really been all over S.Fl... I am thinking about the same three cities as you are...Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and WPB. I am down to earth, and down for anything. I would just like to hear what your thoughts about it are so far. I don't know very many people in South Fl.

Let me know what your thoughts are! Please & thank you!
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Old 01-10-2010, 02:04 PM
 
Location: New York City
238 posts, read 576,586 times
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Hi There SwtSeattleGrl07
Really nice to hear i have a "fan" out there (lol)

Well, actually not as of yet....I am fairly familiar with Fort Lauderdale...and on my last trip down, i took my first look at downtown West Palm Beach.....But i haven't been to Tampa yet...

I'm hoping to "swing by" there on my next trip down to visit my dad in Deerfield Beach (which is in Broward County..north end..Ft lauderdale is in the South end of the county)....

What i may do is take the Amtrak railroad from Deerfield to Tampa for a few days while i visit...stay at a motel...and have a cousin who moved to Clearwater (which is about 15 miles from there) hopefully show me around a bit....Hope to do this within the next few months..

It's gonna be tough deciding.....I did like downtown West Palm..thought it was rather cute and in a nice setting..with some nice things to do there....downtown Fort Lauderdale is larger...but also has some good stuff too....

Tampa does sound kind of nice..with it's "bay setting" and i hear the south Tampa area is really cool and the downtown is starting to develop slowly into a 24 hr area...and they have Ybor City and Channelside..and other interesting areas...
Though at this point...it's not a Seattle...(lol) though neither are the other two cities we have discussed here...

Many have pointed out the pluses and minuses of each of the downtowns and their surrounding communities here...which also makes it tough to make a decision..i am trying to figure out which is the best "fit" for me....

Do keep in mind that outside the very walkable downtown areas, the surrounding neighborhoods are suburban in nature and you do need a car here because public transit isn't what you are use to in Seattle (or like what i have here in NYC)....

Last edited by craig10x; 01-10-2010 at 02:55 PM..
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Old 01-10-2010, 06:00 PM
 
Location: Seattle
9 posts, read 60,528 times
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Thanks Craig. I will keep all of that in mind. I was planning on going to either South Florida or NYC to go check out schools over my spring break, I just can't decide which one as I have never been to NYC before. And after all that reading and doing research, I am gearing towards Ft. Lauderdale just because it seems like there is more of a younger crowd there, I just hope they aren't too rude! I went there only for a day. Tell me how you like Tampa when you do go, I might want to go check it out one of these days too! Thanks!

Your "fan"! (lol)
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Old 01-10-2010, 06:13 PM
 
Location: New York City
238 posts, read 576,586 times
Reputation: 157
you're very welcome. Fort Lauderdale does have a pretty young crowd i'd say....i will be taking a closer look at it and West Palm Beach when i go down to visit, which should be around spring also. Probably March i think...

Fort Lauderdale or possibly Tampa might be a good fit for you...

I wasn't going to bother with Tampa this trip and was going to go separately to it, but then i realized how easy it would be to get there by Amtrak from where my dad is. And it's only about 4 hrs away...

I'll certainly give you my impressions...and also more about the other two places as well....
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Old 01-10-2010, 08:14 PM
 
Location: Seattle
9 posts, read 60,528 times
Reputation: 13
Gosh Craig! If only I knew you! I would totally join you on this adventure! Lol. Sounds fun!
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Old 04-30-2010, 09:05 PM
 
5 posts, read 14,817 times
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Alright, I was born and bred in Ft. Laud (Coral Sprgs) to be exact. Lived in Tampa for 6 yrs 2003-2009 where I attended USF. Just moved back to Laud to do my MBA at FAU. When I first moved to Tampa I hated it. It seemed sooo much uglier and barren with much less amenities and leisurely things to do. However after the real estate boom in late 04 and until end of 09 when I moved I noticed that the city was growing and that goes for things to do. For example the SoHo area (South Tampa) was pretty much non existent or dull when I first was living there. In the past couple of years the quality and amount of clubs/bars/ hangouts has grown. Now S. FLA in my opinion will always be a much prettier city because its located in a TROPICAL region whereas Tampa is SUBTROPICAL. I hated not being able to see so many diverse tropical plants line the streets. The notable beautiful Royal Palms that line S. FLA are pretty much absent in Tampa. Instead all you see is ugly (in my opinion) bushy Oak trees! You'll see some palms but not as many as S. FLA hence the sub tropicality. Also what sucks depending on how much u like the cold is that it gets into the occasional 20's in Tampa. In the winter the nights get to be 20 degrees colder than in Ft Laud. Ft. Laud is more commercialized where as Tampa has many industrial parts. S.FLA is more cosmopolitan and retro where as Tampa is more laid back. Depends what you like. One thing with S. FLA is that it is more ethnic than Tampa. More cultures i.e. way more influx of haitians, Jamaicans, west-indians, and a bit more hispanics (tampa has a high hispanic population too). However, in Tampa (the more east you go) you will find alot of country folk (hicks) who in my opinion count as being ethnic because some can't speak proper english so it kind of balances out you dont find many hicks (maybe in davie) in S. FLA. Note: I know a high influx of many ethnicities can be bothersome to some folks, but when I moved to Tampa the way higher percentage of country folk (hicks) took a while to get used to and was bothersome at first. If you're from up North , you know what I'm talking about. I love the Kennedy (#1 nightclub in my opinion) haven't found a nightclub in Ft. Laud to equal up, the W in Ft Laud is good but its more like a standing lounge where as the Kennedy is more fun (dancing). One thing with the nightclubs is that you see the same people every weekend!! I kid you not. its like going to highschool and walking through the halls and seeing faces you know. In Ft. Laud way more variety for nightlife although in my opinion quality is better in Tampa. I like South Tampa better than Las Olas or Hard Rock in Ft Laud.

There are headquaters/big comps in Both areas i.e. Tampa- Raymond James, Citi, MetLife, Coca-Cola

S. FLA- Motorola, Office Depot, Microsoft (Latin Amer HeadQ), Siemens, list goes on

Tampa built alot of ammenities for 2009 superbowl. Downtown has the new History museum, the riverwalk. Also Channelside is near downtown=restaurants and bars.

Ft. Laud has Las Olas and Hard Rock. Las Olas is right next to the beach and you see so many beautiful yachts. You have to go all the way to clearwater to get the beachy feel in Tampa. Downtown and beach are close in Ft. Laud, different case in Tampa.

Verdict- Ft. Laud more wealth, more beautiful city, beautiful intracoastal, beach more accessible
however high influx of ethnicities

Tampa- More laid back, in my opinion better quality nightlife. (gets boring after a while though) however Not as beautiful, some really ugly industrial areas you will drive through pockets in Tampa, some very ugly areas, some very old, and some nice. South Tampa is beautiful.

If you want to live in a bigger, wealthier, more cosmopolitan but diverse city then consider Ft. Laud. If you want a more quiet, laid back, family town that has decent amenities then consider Tampa. Both have beaches and sunny weather although Tampa winters reach freezing temps frequently.

Hope this Helps!!

Last edited by FLgal23; 04-30-2010 at 09:20 PM..
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