Getting a feel for all the places to go and things to do in Tampa can be a challenge to say the least. This little southern town isn’t all that little any more. Finding your way around for the important things, however, does not have to be all that difficult. Thanks to the Tampa Bay area’s rather neighborhood-oriented design, you’re likely to discover that the most important things you’ll need on a daily basis are right in your backyard.
While the lay of the land varies a bit from neighborhood to neighborhood and especially from suburb to suburb, most of the major landmarks are relatively simple to find from a Tampa apartment. Here are the most likely destinations you’ll need to locate and how to find them:
Grocery Stores
Just like every other city, most major neighborhoods in Tampa have their own store or stores. To find the best in your area, just look on the main drags. Better yet, ask your neighbors where they shop to find the freshest foods at the best prices. Sometimes they will have excellent ideas that go beyond the chains to include local farmers markets, produce stands and specialty food shops. But, if you need to find a grocery store right away, the links below should help you locate one of the major grocery stores in your area:
The Post Office
The United States Postal Service makes it easy to find a post office in your area. On their “Find a Post Office” site, you can search by address or area code. This site not only provides addresses for post offices in your area but also gives you directions, a list of businesses located near specific post offices and a list of the times and days that each office is open for service.
Hillsborough County Schools
If you have kids, finding out where they are supposed to report for school is important. When moving to a new area your children will have to be registered at their new school and have their school records transferred. Learning where schools are located may also be a factor in apartment search if you have a preference of where you want your children to attend school. Below are some links with information to update you on Tampa school locations, registration and Adequate Yearly Progress data:
Tampa Hospitals
The Tampa area is home to several major hospitals. Most are located along main roads that feed off of Interstate 275. To find Some of the big names in this community include:
Tampa Bay Malls and Other shopping
Neighbors are a great source for finding specialty boutiques and shops that are familiar to locals but may be hard to find for a newcomer. However, if you’re looking for shopping on a giant scale, you want to go to mall or shopping center where your store selections and possibilities are endless. Tampa won’t disappoint you when it comes to shopping. Check out a few of the places to shop listed below:
- University Mall - Located on the Northeastern end of Tampa.
- Channelside Bay Plaza - East of Downtown along Channelside Drice.
- Hyde Park Village - Southwest of downtown between Lee Roy Selmon Expressway and Bayshore Blvd.
- West Shore Plaza - Located in southwest Tampa near Memorial Hwy and I-275.
Tampa Restaurants
It’s hard to know which restaurants to trust when moving to a new city. But, you want to get taste of the local cuisine to truly experience Tampa. Besides, after a long day of shopping, you need a good meal to recharge your batteries. Below are a few restaurants that we recommend checking out:
- Pane Rustica - $
- Bern’s Steakhouse - $$$
- Columbia Restaurant - $$
- Lee Roy Selmon’s - $$
Closest Beaches
You won’t really have experienced Florida living until you spend a day at the beach. Tampa is perfectly located near some of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Florida. Below are some of the best beaches in the Tampa area. Look for them on this map and head out for day of fun in the sun.
- Clearwater Beach
- St. Petersburg
- Bellair Beach
- Redington Beach
- Treasure Island
- Indian Rocks Beach
Getting a feel for a new city isn’t always easy. Hopefully this article has pointed you in the right direction, and you’re on your way to navigating the Tampa area like a pro. Don’t worry; before too much longer, you’ll find yourself recommending favorites to new neighbors of your own.
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