Tampa V Orlando

[pianogal]

As a discussion not to create an argument, I would like to disagree with two comments I've read so far. First is the comment regarding Florida's schools.

Florida's school are better than most people think. I am a school teacher so this is important to me. In fact, today's Orlando Sentinel printed an article I hope will enlighten some who are always harping on how badly our schools are doing. Unfortunately, the way the FCAT is scored has helped to create that image. Fortunately, that is being changed.

The Stanford 10 is a test created to compare across state lines. The facts are that Florida students in EVERY grade rate a full 60 points higher on the Stanford 10 test in Reading and Math than the average of students from other states.

Not only that, but Florida's schools are IMPROVING. An example - the average reading scores of 10th graders on the Stanford 10 has INCREASED 22 points since 2001.

The second point I have to disagree is the comment that only the bad people stay in Florida, the good people move away. Gee, after having typed it in...I don't think I need to say anything. It speaks for itself.

[Wilshire81182]

Some statements on this forum are definitely extreme and do not really deserve a lot of attention or response as they are purely ludicrous such as only bad people move to Florida. I like your support of the public schools and your expertise. It is good to see some support in that category.

[pianogal]

Having lived in both cities, I can contribute my experiences.

The best thing about Tampa IMHO is not Tampa but it's proximity to the Clearwater Beaches and my favorite state park....Fort DeSoto in St. Petersburg. In fact, Caladesi Island off Clearwater Beach was recently named the most beautiful beach in the USA.

I can compare USF in Tampa to UCF in Orlando, as DH and I went to grad school at USF and my son just graduated from UCF with a degree in CS and will enter grad school there in the fall. USF has the advantage of the medical school and much better fine arts program. UCF has one of the premier engineering and computer science departments in the southeast. In fact UCF's graduate programs (in particularly the PHD program) in computer science are rated in the top ten in the country.

I can't say one is better than the other - it depends on your field.

I find Orlando to be much cleaner, fresher, greener than most of Tampa. Tampa struck me as more industrial (I think due to the area around the port).

Tampa traffic has always been much worse than Orlando in my experience.

Orlando seems to be more of a family town. When we lived in Tampa and visited Orlando, I just had a better feeling. Something I couldn't explain - I just felt more at home in Orlando.

Orlando, being in the center of the state, provides an easier travel time to most other places in Florida and to the southeast in general.

In Orlando, we can sit in our yard and watch the launches from the Cape if you live on the east side of town or watch the nightly fireworks shows from Disney or Universal (if you live within a few miles of each).

The entertainment opportunities abound here in Orlando. There are many great state parks within a hour's drive. Alot of my friends have season passes to Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, etc. Although Disney passes are expensive, passes to Seaworld and Universal can be found for not much more than a single day's admission.

The science center in both cities are great. For awhile MOSI in Tampa had it all over the Orlando Science Center but OSC has come a long way. With it's new construction, the exhibit Our Body - the Universe Within and others, it has proven itself ready to compete with the best.

I am not a sports fan so I can't really compare those, but Tampa has far more to offer in the arts field. People in Orlando just don't seem to support the arts like those in Tampa. Perhaps it's because Orlando is a newer city. Orlando is slowly getting better...but it's like two steps forward and one step back. From classical (ballet, opera) to rock - it's hard to find world class entertainment here in Orlando. However, Chicago AND the Moody Blues are at the Hard Rock in June!! YEAH!! Guess I'm showing my age....LOL

At one time, Tampa's real estate prices were lower than Orlando. I have not checked recently so I can't speak to that. Tampa does have far more "OLD" areas than Orlando for obvious reasons.

Overall, given the choice, I would always choose Orlando over Tampa - not to say that Tampa is undesirable, Orlando is just more appealing to me. I love the newness, the freshness, the woods, the clean wide spaces - the bike paths that connect our neighborhoods to our community stores and schools.

I never found that in Tampa - it was much more urban.

[Wilshire81182]

That is a very detailed and accurate post. I agree with almost everything. I have been to Tampa a lot but never actually lived there, so there were some things I think you touched on that a visitor would not notice. I definitely do agree that the biggest advantage to Tampa is the adjacency to absolutely beautiful beaches.

[gypsychic]

Hehehe - I wouldn't choose either one (I'm a Tampa native) - instead we chose LAKELAND - it's right in between!

That said, if one wants the "big" city, I think both have unique qualities and it is all really subjective to each individual. Tampa does feel "grittier" and more industrial, because of the port, it always was that type town. However, it has a much deeper and richer history than Orlando, and a deep ethnic heritage. It's also closer to Gulf beaches, and is on Tampa Bay.

Orlando is newer and cleaner, and has a lot of cool-looking new buildings. I think it's more family oriented in this city. Also, it's in the middle of the state, with easy access to either coast.

So to me, it's a tossup depending on age, profession, marital/famiy status and personal taste.

[cfIfan]

Orlando is centrall located so we are not far from beaches, but i have to say i prefer the west coast beaches. I found that out of the beaches i visited on the west coast Naples won hands down.

[FrozenShores]

Originally Posted by Wilshire81182

Some statements on this forum are definitely extreme and do not really deserve a lot of attention or response as they are purely ludicrous such as only bad people move to Florida. I like your support of the public schools and your expertise. It is good to see some support in that category.

Moderator cut: .. If you had, you would have noticed that I said ALL people are attracted to move here but many of the good ones leave. Of course we still have many good people in Central Florida, but you really have to pick and choose what neighborhoods you can live safely in. In similar sized cities like Portland, Seattle, Denver, and Vancouver, you live and play almost anywhere. I've been to the bad neighborhoods in these cities and I feel safer there than in Metrowest, much less Richmond Heights, Parramore, Tangelo, etc, etc, etc. So don't be discounting valid points as ludicrous until you actually READ what they have to say.

[Keeper]

Please.. this is a comparison of Tampa vs Orlando only.

No name calling, personal attacks just because you don't agree with a member's opinion. You are entitled to your opinion, good or bad