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Dan Turner REALTOR® |
Welcome to Tampa Bay, an area that encompasses three counties and is "home" to over
2 million residents. It's a home filled with sunny beaches and bright futures. business It's where Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans cheered their winning team on to Super Bowl glory in 2002 and their favorite hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on to the 2004 Stanley Cup victory. It's also home to the "Number 1 Zoo in the United States for Kids."
It has the largest performing arts center in the southeast, and the largest science museum in the south. And the cultural arts district in downtown Tampa is expanding every day, with the recent addition of the Patel Conservatory which helps both young and mature actors, artists, musicians, perfect their craft.
If you're looking for a great way of life, it doesn't get better than Tampa Bay. There's no state income tax, and low property taxes. Tampa offers a lower cost of living than other major southern cities, including Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte and Charleston.
As a region, the commitment to excellence in education is impressive, and is essential for providing an educated, talented workforce for area businesses. Tampa is also one of the most Literate Cities in America, ranking 16th in the country among cities with more than 250,000 residents.
It's a region that attracts millions of tourists each year, who appreciate its mild winter climates, tropical summers, spectacular sunsets and beautiful beaches. These are every day pleasures, not just vacation moments. Go fishing before heading into the office, walk on the beach at sunset, enjoy wearing shorts in January. Does it get any better?
Tampa has a healthy economy, as well as some of the best healthcare facilities in the United States, including H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, two trauma centers, a medical school (which works in conjunction with two major hospitals) and three hospitals ranked as "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News and World Report.
Like most Americans, the residents of Tampa Bay are proud of the men and women who serve in the military. And we're honored that MacDill Air Force Base is located here in Tampa. It's the headquarters for two major commands; special U.S. Operations Command and U.S. Central Command. And it's also where Coalition Village is located, comprised of representatives from 65 nations who are working together to combat terrorism
If you're looking for a place to start or grow your business, Tampa Bay is right for you. In 2004, Florida was ranked #2 as one of the best places in America for start-ups. And more and more companies are relocating their headquarters to Tampa, as well. Tampa´s the west coast anchor of Florida's High Tech Corridor. And you'll find all the logistical resources needed for import/export through Florida's largest deep-water port, conveniently located in downtown Tampa. And you can take advantage of the five major cruise lines that also sail out of the Port of Tampa. The Tampa Bay MSA is also known as a top growth market for manufacturing, especially for the medical industry.
You can choose to live in a historic bungalow - or a high rise by the Bay. You might live in a country club community - or a lakeside villa might be right for you. Tampa Bay has a wide range of residential choices to fit every budget and lifestyle. As your real estate professional, Dan Turner can match you up with just what your looking for. Just remember, the sunshine, sunsets and gulf breezes are free!
Use this website to explore all the treasures of Tampa Bay. You´ll find the answers to all of your questions, help you choose the right house, school, health care resources and more. The more you find out about Tampa Bay, the more we're certain you'll decide to make this special region your home. Let Dan Turner find a House... for your Home, in Tampa Bay.
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Attractions and Points of Interest
- Big Red Balloon Sightseeing Adventures offers hot air balloon rides.
- Hyde Park is an upscale district in South Tampa. There are many fine shops and restaurants in the area as well as a movie theatre.
- Malibu Grand Prix is an entertainment complex with two 18-hole miniature golf courses, a gameroom, and two race tracks.
- Seminole Gaming Palace - Seminole reservation, casino, Hard Rock Cafe
- The Skatepark of Tampa is a world-famous skatepark, with many professional skateboarders flocking to it in January for the Tampa Am, and in March, for the Tampa Pro.
- Tampa Union Station is an historic train station between downtown and Ybor City.
- Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District near downtown. It is a hotspot at night (especially on the weekends due to the many nightclubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues in the area. Ybor City and Tampa in general were an integral part of the Florida death metal scene.
Cinemas
- Tampa Theatre is a historic movie palace that shows a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films in addition to an occassional live show. It also is the home of several film festivals that occur thoughout the year.
- Museum Of Science and Industry (MOSI) has an IMAX dome theater
- Fun-Lan Drive-In is the only drive-in theater left in Tampa. Fun-Lan has three screens each showing first-run movies. There is also a flea market in the morning five days per week.
Colleges and Universities
- Florida Metropolitan University (FMU)
- Hillsborough Community College has several campuses around the Tampa Bay area.
- University of South Florida (USF) is located in north Tampa, near the Busch Gardens amusement park, and the town of Temple Terrace.
- University of Tampa (UT) is located next to downtown Tampa, on the Hillsborough River, where is enters Tampa Bay. UT often is a preferred winter practice destination for northern rowing teams from Ivy League schools.
High Schools
- Alonso High School
- Armwood High School
- Blake High School
- Bloomingdale High School
- Brandon High School
- Chamberlain High School
- Durant High School
- East Bay High School
- Freedom High School
- Gaither High Schoo
- Hillsborough High School
- Jefferson High School
- King High School
- Leto High School
- Middleton High School
- Plant High School
- Plant City High School
- Riverview High School
- Robinson High School
- Sickles High School
- Tampa Bay Technical High School
- Wharton High School
Notable Middle Schools
Live Theatre
- Friday Morning Musicale 809 Horatio Street, Tampa, Florida (813) 251-1990. The building, originally built in 1926, now serves as a community center and theatre. It is located in Hyde Park area of South Tampa.
- Gorilla Theatre is an intimate venue in Drew park.
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is located in downtown on the Hillsborough river and hosts a variety of live shows and concerts
- Tampa Theatre shows classic and art house films. It occasionally hosts live performances.
Museums
- African Art Gallery
- American Victory Museum
- Cigar Museum And Visitor Center is in Ybor City.
- Henry B. Plant Museum is located at the University of Tampa across the river from downtown.
- Museum Of Science and Industry (MOSI)
- Salvador Dalí Museum is located across the bay in downtown Saint Petersburg, Florida. It boasts one of the largest collections of Salvador Dalí's art in the world.
- Saunders Planetarium is part of MOSI.
- Tampa Bay History Center is in downtown.
- Tampa Museum of Art is in downtown on the Hillsborough river.
- Tampa Police Museum is in downtown.
- Ybor City Museum State Park is near downtown Tampa in Ybor City.
Sports Teams
Tampa is home to three different professional sports teams.
- Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida
- National Football League: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
- National Hockey League: Tampa Bay Lightning: St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa
Zoological Gardens and Aquaria
- Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit sanctuary for large cats. The facility is in the Citrus Park area and is open to the public.
- Busch Gardens is a popular theme park with rides, shows and animals.
- Florida Aquarium is located in the Channel District near downtown.
- Lowry Park Zoo is rated one of the nation's top mid-sized zoos.
Publications
Local
- La Gaceta is the nation's only trilingual newspaper. It is written in English, Spanish and Italian.
- Saint Petersburg Times
- The Tampa Tribune
- Weekly Planet is the third largest newspaper in the Tampa Bay area.
Online
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is headquartered there.
Annual Events
- Bonk Festival of New Music is an annual event to promote public awareness of new music and to foster relationships between musicians. It takes place at a variety of venues around Tampa.
- Florida State Fair lasts about a week in February and features livestock, food, entertainment and midway rides. It takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
- Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a daytime parade that takes place one Saturday in February.
- Sant'Yago Knight Parade is an illuminated nighttime parade that takes place one Saturday in February in Ybor City.
- Guavaween offers daytime events and nighttime parade one Saturday in October in Ybor City.
- Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival lasts a little over a week during October. The movies are primarily shown at the Tampa Theatre although other local venues are occasionally used as well.
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base, located in south Tampa, is home to CENTCOM, the Central Command of the United States military; and SOCOM, the Special Operations Command. The base is run by the 6 Air Mobility Wing, and includes both the 310th Airlift Squadron, flying the C-37, and the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, flying the KC-135.
The base flightline was closed in the 1991 round of base closings under the Base Realignment and Closure committee discussions; at the time, the base was used for F-16 training and the air traffic in the Tampa area was considered detrimental to training; the noise produced was also considered inappropriate in a densely settled area. However, despite committee reccomendations, the base remained open to house and support CENTCOM and SOCOM. The flightline was reopened in 1993 for NOAA operations, and in 1996 the air refueling squadron moved to the base from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
Approximately 14,000 people work at MacDill Air Force Base. It is a significant contributor to Tampa's economy, and the city is very supportive of the military community. In 2003 and 2004, the Tampa Bay area was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which annually honors the most supportive Air Force city in the country.
Public Transportation
Airports
Tampa International Airport is the city's main airport. In March 2003, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine ranked the airport #1 in the US and #3 in the world. There is also a smaller general aviation terminal called Peter O. Knight Airport which is located on Davis Island near downtown. Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is across the bay and offers another option for air travelers.
Train Stations
Amtrak services Tampa via the Tampa Union Station which is near downtown.
Sea Ports
Several cruise ships make use of the Port of Tampa, located in the Channel District.
Mass Transit
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HARTline) operates the streetcars as well as the bus system.
Streetcars
The TECO Line Streetcar System, which links Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa, began operating on Saturday, 19 October 2002. Although quite limited in the scope of areas that it services, the air-conditioned cars do offer a comfortable and nostalgic method of getting around.
Buses
HARTline has signed transit deals with both the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa, allowing HARTline buses to transfer students and faculty from the two campuses to other areas of Tampa free of charge as long as proof of affiliation with the school is presented.
External Links
- Tampa, Florida municipal government (http://www.tampagov.net/)
- History of Tampa (http://www.tampachamber.com/pdfs/sba-br_historyoftampa.pdf) (PDF) from the Tampa Chamber of Commerce
- Open Directory Project: Tampa (http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Florida/Localities/T/Tampa/)
- Tampa Museum of Art (http://www.tampamuseum.com)
- Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (http://www.tbpac.org)
- Tampa Bay History Center (http://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org)
- Tampa Tribune (http://www.tampatrib.com/)
- MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) (http://www.MOSI.org)
- The Florida Aquarium (http://www.flaquarium.org)
- Lowry Park Zoo (http://www.lowryparkzoo.com)
- Henry B. Plant Museum (http://www.plantmuseum.com)
- MacDill Air Force Base (https://www.macdill.af.mil/)
- CENTCOM (http://www.centcom.gov)
- Busch Gardens (http://www.buschgardens.com/)
- The Castle (http://www.castle-ybor.com/)
- La Gaceta (http://www.lagacetanewspaper.com/)
- Alessi Bakery (http://www.alessibakeries.com/)
- Tampa Palms Country Club (http://www.tampa-palmscc.com/)
- Mons Venus (http://www.monsvenus.com)
- Skatepark Of Tampa (http://www.skateparkoftampa.com)
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