Tampa vs Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach (Miami, Orlando: hotel, house)

[craig10x]

HI: I have been to southeast florida many times over the years...and was considering relocating to Florida (young retiree)....Never been to the west coast of florida though....

I was curious how Tampa compares to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach as far as: things to do, entertainment, nightlife, more young people around, etc.....

How about downtown Tampa itself (for stuff to do) is it lively? I am coming from NYC...and though i realize that you won't find Manhattan there (lol) it would be nice to live near a lively "urban type" area.....

Appreciate any feedback...i realize i would have to check it out my first...but thought perhaps some of you might be able to give me a "feel" about the area....

Also, what about weather wise...is it much more humid that southeast fla? colder in winter?

Thanks

[algia]

HI, the closest you'll find a down town that is Lively would be Fort Lauderdale (Las Olas Blvd) and Miami Beach. Tampa's down town doesn't come anywhere close to those 2 areas I mentioned.In Tampa you will find less humidity comparing directly to Miami, and you will find a much more scenic shore line than in SFla...and MUCH cleaner generally than the east coast. People wise...hate to say it, but you will have to dig deep in SFLa for nice decent people...most moved to either Orlando or Tampa or purely out of state all together....LOL it's sad but true...It really depends on what you are MOST interested in...lots of nightlife or less night life and nicer scenery and people....other than that, if you have money you'll be having a lot of fun here on either coast.

[PepeSilvia]

Tampa is better. Yankees have spring training in Tampa, many if not most live there, including Steinbrenner. It's not as humid, not as expensive, no where near as dangerous as South Florida.
Ybor, Channelside, Harbor Island and Hyde park will serve as your nightlife and keep you busy. Orlando is just over an hour away as well. West coast has better beaches.
Me being from NJ originally, I find Tampa to be better. The people in S Fl suck. Tampa is a city with a sense of community.

[craig10x]

Sounds very encouraging....i guess i will need to check out the tampa bay area, since i have never been to the west coast of florida...closest i ever got was Orlando, when visiting Disney World (lol)....my cousin lives in Clearwater (he moved from NY) and loves it....

though i'd probably be more into the Tampa area if i liked it....coming from NY, though i don't expect it to be like manhattan...i would appreciate a liveliness and lots of interesting things to do....

appreciate your encouragement....will have to check it out

[StilltheSame]

Exhausting Tampa's nightlife will take a week. Maybe two.

[goofykid]

Exhausting nightlife?! Are you kiding me? The nightlife sucks in Tampa point blank period! You'll run out of things to do in a week too. Nightlife in Ft. Lauderdale is much better than Tampa anyday of the week. You got Riverwalk, Las Olas, Biggest Hard Rock Hotel in Florida. Also South Beach, Coconut Grove, Midtown Miami and what else Miami has to offer just 20 min away.

The only thing to do in Tampa is Busch Gradens and thats only their cause their feeding off the tourist belt from Orlando. I spent the whole summer at my uncles house in Temple Terrace trying to find something to do. I just ended up buying the year pass for Busch Gardens and going a bunch of times. Name something else to do that you can't do in South Florida.

So who say's he likes the Yankees? What if he likes the Mets should he move to West Palm cause it's 30 min from Port St. Lucie their Spring training site?

Craig I've met many people moving from NY being from West Palm myself many of them hated it at first probally because their expecting a manhattan. But eventually they've admitted to liking Florida better. You've got the right mentality not expecting a Manhattan because truth is you won't find that anywhere in the U.S.

But you will find many things SoFlo has to offer are similiar to NY and what you are used to. First off you have much more NYers living there than anywhere else in Florida. All the three major cities have many Broadway theatres and countless entertainment venues. The diversity of the people are not only in the cities but in the suburbs aswell.

Your looking at Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm. Might I make a recommendations to look at Boca. It's easily the most concentrated of NYers in SoFlo and in between the two cities. I hope my post has helped you let me know if you have questions.

[craig10x]

Thanks goofykid....i kind of thought that either West Palm Beach or Ft Lauderdale would be best for me, in terms of finding all kinds of interesting stuff to do....even if not in a "manhattan-like" setting......
And i have heard that downtown Tampa is pretty dead most of the time (after working hours)...though you wouldn't think that would be the case, considering it's rather urban look....

My dad lives in deerfield beach...which i like....but thought it be best to be near one of the two major urban centers of the area....in order to minimize driving to get to the fun stuff...

I was just having a hard time deciding between West Palm and Ft Lauderdale.....

Actually, i should be going down to visit in a month or two....guess i will need to spend some time in both areas....

I saw downtown West Palm for the first time last trip..thought it was rather cute, actually...and in nice setting (near the lake, i believe)....and was nice that you had Clematis St, Cityplace...Improv....big library.....Kravitz.... Art Museum and that other playhouse...all in close proximity...and i believe there is an outdoor area that has live music concerts too....

Then down in Ft Lauderdale, great beach, Las Olas, Riverwalk, Art museum, Performing Art Center, etc..... nearby....Hollywood Beach with cute downtown...Hard Rock Casino with gambling nearby....

Just kind of tough deciding which one to move close to.....I know downtown Ft Lauderdale is larger...do you think it has more potential in the long run?

I'd live near my dad...but West Palm is about 25 miles away...and i think Ft Lauderdale is about 18 miles or so...and though i'd get a car, it would be neat to be able to get to most of the fun stuff with a radius of about 6 to 8 miles or so....
That is why i wanted to be closer to one of those centers...

decisions...decisions....

any feedback and thoughts would be appreciated....i take it you live in West Palm Beach yourself?

i wonder which one i would be happiest being in...it is a tough call

[StilltheSame]

Both WPB and Ft. Lauderdale have positives. If an active social/nightlife is what you're looking for I would recommend FTL. Its close enough to both WPB and MIA to enjoy both but has enough to keep you happy. There are a lot of sub-areas that make up FTL so its hard to describe - a search and discover visit is your best bet.

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by goofykid

Exhausting nightlife?! Are you kiding me? The nightlife sucks in Tampa point blank period! You'll run out of things to do in a week too. Nightlife in Ft. Lauderdale is much better than Tampa anyday of the week. You got Riverwalk, Las Olas, Biggest Hard Rock Hotel in Florida. Also South Beach, Coconut Grove, Midtown Miami and what else Miami has to offer just 20 min away.

The only thing to do in Tampa is Busch Gradens and thats only their cause their feeding off the tourist belt from Orlando. I spent the whole summer at my uncles house in Temple Terrace trying to find something to do. I just ended up buying the year pass for Busch Gardens and going a bunch of times. Name something else to do that you can't do in South Florida.

Hey goofy, I guess if you actually 'stayed' in Tampa, instead of Temple Terrace, you would no more about what there is to do in Tampa then generalize as you do in your post above.

Nightlife in Tampa includes Ybor City, Channelside, Hyde Park/SOHO, Westshore, and then you have downtown St. Pete across the Bay. All major sports both college and professional, a world class international airport, amazing beaches and waterfront, every major concert comes through the Tampa Bay area. What also makes Tampa more unique is the history of the area(once the Cigar Capitol of the World and a haven for Italians, Spanish, Cubans immigrants in the late 1800's). Tampa has more of a 'working class' blue collar feel mixed in with white collar professionals. Its a living/working city more than a tourist city. Browse through publications like creativeloafing.com for all there is to do and see in the Tampa Bay area.

Ive lived in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, orginally from Long Island, NY. Been in Florida over 20 years. The east coast is definteily to me more "new Yorkish' with alot more people from the northeast residing on the east coast of Florida. Much busier, faster paced, more international from the numerous european tourists that visit that area. Although I really liked Fort Lauderdale while there, I found myself migrating back to the Tampa area to actually settle down. Its a small city, but has every thing any major city would have, just on a smaller scale which personally I like, as you dont have to travel far when most everything is within a 20 mile radius of downtown Tampa.(Museums, theaters, art, sports, airport, beaches, recreation, nightlife, dining, retail/shoppes, etc.)

Just my thoughts...

[craig10x]

very interesting feedback, Tampa Guy..which i do appreciate....Well, i guess i will have to also check it out (probably on a separate trip from visiting my dad in deerfield)......
I am rather surprised to hear that, aside from the Channelside district, that there doesn't seem to be much happening in downtown tampa after business hours and on weekends...It is so URBAN looking, you would think it would be a 24 hr area!.....

The Tampa Theatre is something i'd definately be into...because i am a big movie lover and into old classic films which i know they show....though there is a theatre in downtown Ft Lauderdale that also has that as well....

Hmmm..west coast/east coast...Tampa...Ft Lauderdale or West Palm......
Any other feedback on the three areas will be most welcome.....