Tampa Bay has quickly become one of the most desirable locations to live and work. As the 21st largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States, it is not too big that you are overwhelmed by traffic and congestion, yet offers the hometown feel and diversity you would want in friendly city. Tampa Bay is home to the second largest university in the Southeast, The University of South Florida, with over 34,000 students and among the 20 largest schools in the nation. Seven other four-year universities also enrich the area.
You are never more than 45 minutes away from some of the best beaches in Florida. Biking, hiking, boating and fishing abound. If golf is your game, Tampa Bay boasts more than 60 courses and hosts two PGA Tour events.
For the sports enthusiast, you’re just minutes away from Raymond James Stadium, home of the Super Bowl XXXVII Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Or catch hockey fever with the Tampa Bay Lightening at the St. Pete Times Forum. If baseball is your pasttime, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays compete in the tough American League East. And the Tampa area is the hub for spring training, with 11 teams gearing up for the season.
Cultural events can be found in abundance with Broadway series, theatre, and Florida Orchestra concerts presented at the Mahaffey Theatre, Ruth Eckerd Hall and Tampa Performing Arts Center. Fine art galleries like the Dali Museum of Art feature both modern and classical styling. The Museum of Science and Industry and Florida Aquarium also call Tampa home.
If your taste runs toward the thrills of theme parks, Tampa hosts Busch Gardens, home of some of the best roller coasters in the U.S. and access to Disney, SeaWorld and Universal Studios is only an hour away.
You’ll also fall in love with the unique flair of Ybor City, Tampa’s latin quarter that features dozens of restaurants and clubs. And each February you’ll look forward to the Gasparilla Festival with parades, art festivals and food fairs.
