Jacksonville or Tampa?? (Sarasota, Siesta Key: private school, live, restaurants)

[Jfrdfireman]

Ooo I believe I heard 295 to 21 to 301 to 75
is faster and avoided Waldo starke lawtey

[Tigger2112]

We are looking to move from Wilmington, NC to either Jacksonville, FL are OR Tampa, FL area....wondering which is better...we are in 30's and love the ocean, but NC taxes are TOO HIGH. Want to live with NO state income tax. Anyone out there lived in both cities and can help???

[Island_Guy]

I was down this road and did significant research/visits on/to both cities based on my lifestyle and job market. Although Jacksonville FL is nice, Tampa has WAY more to offer as far as recreation and entertainment, job opportunities, more cool quaint towns and most of all for me anyway, the big three professional sports teams NFL,MLB and NHL. I also like the fact they have a casino or two and Tampa Downs race track. So in those areas, Tampa no doubt about it. It's funny people here kill downtown Tampa, they should check out downtown Jacksonville, what a joke !

[jondoe297]

Originally Posted by Jfrdfireman

Ooo I believe I heard 295 to 21 to 301 to 75
is faster and avoided Waldo starke lawtey

The straight shot of I95 to I4 is the fastest route to Tampa. You can easily pull that off in just over 3 hours. The 301 to I75 route is going to take you closer to 4 hours.

[jondoe297]

The biggest cultural difference between Tampa and Jacksonville, that I've noticed, is that Tampa knows what it is. Jacksonville is a small town that's grown into a big city (it is technically the largest city in Florida), but lacks an identity. The city leaders have pushed hard throughout the last 20 years to put Jacksonville on the national map, but have been nearly incapable of dealing with the issues that come with a large population increase (upgrading infrastructure, dealing with crime increases, etc).
In the end I would say it comes down to what the original poster wants in a city. Tampa is definitely more "happening" than Jacksonville is, and feels much more like Florida. I enjoy it every time I go down there, but I don't know if I'd want to live there. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

I've long said that what most people think of as "Florida" doesn't really begin until I4. Everything north of there is still in The South.
Since they changed the Jacksonville city motto to "Where Florida Begins", I've joked that it should be "Where Georgia Ends".

[airboat5]

Originally Posted by jondoe297

The biggest cultural difference between Tampa and Jacksonville, that I've noticed, is that Tampa knows what it is. Jacksonville is a small town that's grown into a big city (it is technically the largest city in Florida), but lacks an identity. The city leaders have pushed hard throughout the last 20 years to put Jacksonville on the national map, but have been nearly incapable of dealing with the issues that come with a large population increase (upgrading infrastructure, dealing with crime increases, etc).
In the end I would say it comes down to what the original poster wants in a city. Tampa is definitely more "happening" than Jacksonville is, and feels much more like Florida. I enjoy it every time I go down there, but I don't know if I'd want to live there. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

I've long said that what most people think of as "Florida" doesn't really begin until I4. Everything north of there is still in The South.
Since they changed the Jacksonville city motto to "Where Florida Begins", I've joked that it should be "Where Georgia Ends".

I lived in jacksonville and tampa and I have to agree with everything you have said here. I love tampa and jacksonville not so much.but jacksonville does have some nice beachs.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by jondoe297

The biggest cultural difference between Tampa and Jacksonville, that I've noticed, is that Tampa knows what it is. Jacksonville is a small town that's grown into a big city (it is technically the largest city in Florida), but lacks an identity. The city leaders have pushed hard throughout the last 20 years to put Jacksonville on the national map, but have been nearly incapable of dealing with the issues that come with a large population increase (upgrading infrastructure, dealing with crime increases, etc).
In the end I would say it comes down to what the original poster wants in a city. Tampa is definitely more "happening" than Jacksonville is, and feels much more like Florida. I enjoy it every time I go down there, but I don't know if I'd want to live there. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

I've long said that what most people think of as "Florida" doesn't really begin until I4. Everything north of there is still in The South.
Since they changed the Jacksonville city motto to "Where Florida Begins", I've joked that it should be "Where Georgia Ends".

Great post. I totally agree.

[newguy101]

Originally Posted by craigm1841

Did anyone notice that guy from almost 3 years ago said he had a two kids, one with with 3 ears and one with 12?

three mile island or kentucky,dont judge him! joking here.

[Hawaii4evr]

I'd choose Tampa. Though both have the same climate, Tampa is a bit warmer. Both still get chilly weather occasionally, though. The beaches on the Gulf are nicer than what Jacksonville offers, as well, unless you like the "waves" that Atlantic has. I put waves in quotations because I live in San Diego lol.

[Hawaii4evr]

Originally Posted by scylla

I grew up in Brooksville, FL (hour from Tampa) and moved to Tampa when I turned 18. I lived there for about 5 years. I lost my job and the economy wasn't so good, so I was forced to move to Orlando recently. It's easier to get jobs in this area for IT people. I really miss Tampa, specifically the art, music, and cultural aspects (which surprisingly or not surprisingly there isn't much of in Orlando). Right now, I am at a point where I can choose to move back there or out of the state, and I'm choosing out of the state. One reason is humidity as well as the general climate. Also, Florida isn't the most polluted state to live in, but it's one (see Scorecard Home) (broken link). I would love to find a Tampa in another state. I don't have much experience with Jacksonville as I've only driven through, but it never caught my interest.

If you want to find a Tampa in another state, come to San Diego! It might be a little less diverse and slightly cooler, but you don't have that humidity! Plus, a lot of people say the two are so similar.