[CravingMountains]

Tampa isn't exactly close to the beach. St. Pete is, but not Tampa. You could live on the eastern side of Orlando and be as close to beaches as most people in Tampa are.

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by InsaneTraveler

Tampa isn't exactly close to the beach. St. Pete is, but not Tampa. You could live on the eastern side of Orlando and be as close to beaches as most people in Tampa are.

This is just general speaking for just about every beach area in Florida. I've lived in 2 coastal communities and now in Orlando. It takes me the same amount of time to get to the beach from all 3 areas primarily because I have never lived closed to the coast. If you really want access to the beach make sure you find a place close by, just as Insane pointed out being in Tampa is not really going to give you beach access as opposed to being in Clearwater or St. Pete. However if it's just water access your after, you can easily access the bay in Tampa.

[Kaleetan]

Orlando, the weather is better and the hurricane risk is less.

[tonyff67]

Originally Posted by Kaleetan

Orlando, the weather is better and the hurricane risk is less.

I have to disagree with this!
Tampa is cooler in the summer due to he gulf breezes and warmer in the winter, due to its proximity to the gulf and bay, not to mention being a little further south

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Kaleetan

Orlando, the weather is better and the hurricane risk is less.

Not too many people would agree to that statement after 2004.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by tonyff67

I have to disagree with this!
Tampa is cooler in the summer due to he gulf breezes and warmer in the winter, due to its proximity to the gulf and bay, not to mention being a little further south

I agree as well. St Pete/Clearwater in particular is noticeably milder.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by HeartofFlorida

Not too many people would agree to that statement after 2004.

There is a widespread false sense of security regarding perceived immunity from hurricanes here in Central Florida.

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

There is a widespread false sense of security regarding perceived immunity from hurricanes here in Central Florida.

Just to add on, there are parts of Orlando/Central Florida that are only 50 miles or so from the Atlantic coast, that's barely any distance to slow down an Atlantic Hurricane. To put that in perspective, there are basically suburbs of Orlando that are just as close to the coast as some suburbs of South Florida. Atlantic storms are typically stronger than Gulf hurricanes. So if you're on the east side of Orlando, you can be walloped pretty good by an Atlantic storm.

[lr5497]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

Just to add on, there are parts of Orlando/Central Florida that are only 50 miles or so from the Atlantic coast, that's barely any distance to slow down an Atlantic Hurricane. To put that in perspective, there are basically suburbs of Orlando that are just as close to the coast as some suburbs of South Florida. Atlantic storms are typically stronger than Gulf hurricanes. So if you're on the east side of Orlando, you can be walloped pretty good by an Atlantic storm.

Well, typically a gulf storm has more of a chance crossing the state through Central Florida than an Atlantic storm because of the warm Gulf Stream current. Of course, the 2004 hurricane season was an anomaly, but the warm current generally carries the storms up to the Carolinas, and out to the Atlantic.

[Crane's Rooster]

Originally Posted by lr5497

Well, typically a gulf storm has more of a chance crossing the state through Central Florida than an Atlantic storm because of the warm Gulf Stream current. Of course, the 2004 hurricane season was an anomaly, but the warm current generally carries the storms up to the Carolinas, and out to the Atlantic.

I agree, but when we do get hit by the Atlantic storms they tend to be stronger.