Best recommended walkable neighborhoods? (Tampa, St. Petersburg: home, theater, living)

[acrylic]

A few months back, I posted about car-free areas in the Tampa Bay area. (Thanks to everyone that chimed in on the thread. Lots of different perspectives!) Though this post could be considered similar to the last, my express intent was a completely car-free lifestyle. I've realized that's mostly impossible, so I'm a bit more lenient here.

I've decided to keep my car no matter where I'll be, because after reading through the thread, no place on my radar in the US is a place that has particularly great car-free lifestyles.

However, despite having a car, I don't want to have to rely on it for my day-to-day life. I would like to be within walking distance from a grocery store, restaurants, some bars, and, in general, "things to do"

So I'll be visiting in the next couple of months, and I wanted to be really intentional about the areas I spent time in.

So far, in St. Petersburg, based on the previous thread, looking at Google Maps, etc, I've identified:

• Downtown
• Edge District right next to downtown

And in Tampa:

• Downtown
• Channelside

One of the reasons I want to be close to things is that I work from home, so I don't want to work from home and have to drive anywhere fun. It'll give me a better opportunity to find fun things to do, be connected to a neighborhood more, and actually walk instead of being car-reliant all the time.

Looking at walk scores, they all tend to be pretty high, though downtown St. Petersburg knocks the other 3 out of the park, above and beyond the already high scores of the others. So I'd appreciate some anecdotal insight from locals.

[FL_Expert]

To reiterate from the last thread, living near a grocery store is key to walkability. I’d focus on these areas:

- Downtown St. Petersburg (Publix x2)
- Downtown Sarasota (Whole Foods)
- Channelside/Water Street (Greenwise Publix)
- Tampa Heights (Sprouts)

Downtown Tampa doesn’t really have a grocery story and isn’t great for walkability so I’d leave it off the list.

So, the above is your list to investigate and I wouldn’t expand out from it. Sarasota technically isn’t Tampa Bay, but it’s close enough and it’s a good fit so I think it’s worth exploring.

[mrviking]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

To reiterate from the last thread, living near a grocery store is key to walkability. I’d focus on these areas:

- Downtown St. Petersburg (Publix x2)
- Downtown Sarasota (Whole Foods)
- Channelside/Water Street (Greenwise Publix)
- Tampa Heights (Sprouts)

Downtown Tampa doesn’t really have a grocery story and isn’t great for walkability so I’d leave it off the list.

So, the above is your list to investigate and I wouldn’t expand out from it. Sarasota technically isn’t Tampa Bay, but it’s close enough and it’s a good fit so I think it’s worth exploring.

With that I will agree. We are lucky to have 5 grocery stores within 1.5 miles outside our front door.

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

To reiterate from the last thread, living near a grocery store is key to walkability. I’d focus on these areas:

- Downtown St. Petersburg (Publix x2)
- Downtown Sarasota (Whole Foods)
- Channelside/Water Street (Greenwise Publix)
- Tampa Heights (Sprouts)

Downtown Tampa doesn’t really have a grocery story and isn’t great for walkability so I’d leave it off the list.

So, the above is your list to investigate and I wouldn’t expand out from it. Sarasota technically isn’t Tampa Bay, but it’s close enough and it’s a good fit so I think it’s worth exploring.

Agreed, having a grocery store nearby would be a plus for me. Generally speaking, though, when I go grocery shopping it's more than I can carry with two hands, but it'll be nice if, say, I'm missing a couple of things for a recipe. Having to get into a car and drive for just a couple of things is annoying.

Great, so I'll keep those areas in mind. Looks like Downtown St. Petersburg tops the list in general. I'd prefer to stay closer to Tampa (direct flights to family, more accessible for me) so unfortunately Sarasota is a bit far out for me, but I appreciate the suggestion.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

To reiterate from the last thread, living near a grocery store is key to walkability. I’d focus on these areas:

- Downtown St. Petersburg (Publix x2)
- Downtown Sarasota (Whole Foods)
- Channelside/Water Street (Greenwise Publix)
- Tampa Heights (Sprouts)

Downtown Tampa doesn’t really have a grocery story and isn’t great for walkability so I’d leave it off the list.

So, the above is your list to investigate and I wouldn’t expand out from it. Sarasota technically isn’t Tampa Bay, but it’s close enough and it’s a good fit so I think it’s worth exploring.

Perhaps a dark horse but the OP might also consider Crescent Heights in St Pete. It is walking distance to Trader Joe's, Fresh Market and Rollin' Oats Market plus just minutes from downtown.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Perhaps a dark horse but the OP might also consider Crescent Heights in St Pete. It is walking distance to Trader Joe's, Fresh Market and Rollin' Oats Market plus just minutes from downtown.

I thought of that one and it’s not a terrible option. I don’t think the OP will move here for that level of walkability so I didn’t recommend it, but it could work. Kenwood too is close fit, just without the grocery store. The OP might as well check those areas out since they’re next to DTSP anyhow.

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Perhaps a dark horse but the OP might also consider Crescent Heights in St Pete. It is walking distance to Trader Joe's, Fresh Market and Rollin' Oats Market plus just minutes from downtown.

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

I thought of that one and it’s not a terrible option. I don’t think the OP will move here for that level of walkability so I didn’t recommend it, but it could work. Kenwood too is close fit, just without the grocery store. The OP might as well check those areas out since they’re next to DTSP anyhow.

Thank you both for the suggestions!

[blueskies2023]

Originally Posted by acrylic

Thank you both for the suggestions!

St Pete new Whole Foods opening up early 2024.

[lavender]

downtown st Pete has more than just the grocery stores, which is why it is such a huge draw now to out of state and local people. Leave the car and walk to any number of bars/restaurants/several galleries/museums/banks/independent boutiques and cafes, shops that sell 'things' (books/gifts/shoes/specialist foods/art etc) - events year round, sport amenities (tennis/swimming/pickleball etc), just walking places, the waterfront/pier/demens landing park/northshore park. Two 'beaches' one on the pier, one in north shore park, concert venues & theaters (several) gardens (arboretum in north shore) - I'm sure folks can add to this. We relocated from beach side on gulf to 33701 just before covid and we love it here, although with the influx it can be a bear with crowds at peak times, but its worth it for all the new venues they encourage to open.

[engineman]

Check the beaches, they have a lot to offer.