Thinking about moving.

LizziebeeUT

Hi Florida Knotties!

My FI and I are considering moving to Clearwater. (He got offered a job and has until Monday to decide) We are just trying to figure out if its will be worth it to move.

Is it a nice area? What kinds of things are there to do there?

Mrs.B6302007

The Clearwater area is beautiful! We have some friends who live in that general area and they are happy where they are.  I don't know any specifics about the cost of living or anything.  As far as things to do, it's really close to Tampa so there are several pro sports teams for hockey, baseball, and football.  You would be close to an international airport and the Hard Rock Casino.  Tampa also has a really nice performing arts center so lots of fine arts opportunities. Ybor City is a Cuban
influenced touristy city.   Busch Gardens is nearby and I-4 can get you to Orlando in an hour and a half or so if you enjoy more theme parks.   And of course, the beaches are gorgeous. The Gulf Coast waters are much nicer than the East Coast IMO.

IDK how much help that is, but there you go.  ;-)   Only having a few days to decide a major move like that must be difficult.  GL with your decision!

ETA: Hurricane season last 6 months of the year, June-December.  Might be something to keep in mind.  ;-)

murphanzo

I'm from Tampa, FI is from Palm Harbor and I can say it's a pretty good place to live.  Are you moving to Clearwater, or the surrounding area?  Clearwater itself isn't anything special, if you're moving to the beachy area I would suggest St. Pete.  Here are is the ugly about the area:  traffic is a nightmare here, we have an area called Malfunction Junction, and the snowbirds slow the roads.  It rains everyday for an hour for the summer, usually 4-5.  People freak the h#ll out about hurricanes, but they aren't bad, get some beer, propane, water, and ride it out.  It's humid, like REALLY REALLY humid, 110% humidity during the summer, and heat gets to the 90's+.  Clearwater beach isn't that good, except for Sheperds, it's where a lot of tourist and high schoolers go.  Pass-a-grille, Anna Maria, Siesta & Longboat key are the beaches to go to.

The good: There's ton of stuff to do here!  Beaches, Channelside, there's always a concert/sports game to go to, Ybor is DISGUSTING!!  only go there with the intentions to buy crack or get shot/stabbed, Hyde park is awesome, downtown Tampa has Fly Bar, Taps, and the Performing Arts Center that's really fun.  Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Orlando is about an hour away and you have tons of stuff there.  If you go the other way you have Bradenton and Sarasota, which has Dali Museum and Ringling Museum.

And the BEST:  It's January 21st, and the high is 77 low is 55!!!!!! 

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-central-florida_thinking-moving?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:66Discussion:e03d8270-38f7-4c61-a8ce-62a46f47bdbcPost:3c784370-215d-42ce-8115-c5e6e759c9af">Re: Thinking about moving.</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm from Tampa, FI is from Palm Harbor and I can say it's a pretty good place to live.  Are you moving to Clearwater, or the surrounding area?  Clearwater itself isn't anything special, if you're moving to the beachy area I would suggest St. Pete.  Here are is the ugly about the area:  traffic is a nightmare here, we have an area called Malfunction Junction, and the snowbirds slow the roads.  It rains everyday for an hour for the summer, usually 4-5.  People freak the h#ll out about hurricanes, but they aren't bad, <strong>get some beer,</strong> propane, water, <strong>and ride it out.</strong>  It's humid, like REALLY REALLY humid, 110% humidity during the summer, and heat gets to the 90's+.  Clearwater beach isn't that good, except for Sheperds, it's where a lot of tourist and high schoolers go.  Pass-a-grille, Anna Maria, Siesta & Longboat key are the beaches to go to. The good: There's ton of stuff to do here!  Beaches, Channelside, there's always a concert/sports game to go to, Ybor is DISGUSTING!!  only go there with the intentions to buy crack or get shot/stabbed, Hyde park is awesome, downtown Tampa has Fly Bar, Taps, and the Performing Arts Center that's really fun.  Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, Orlando is about an hour away and you have tons of stuff there.  If you go the other way you have Bradenton and Sarasota, which has Dali Museum and Ringling Museum. And the BEST:  It's January 21st, and the high is 77 low is 55!!!!!! 
Posted by murphanzo[/QUOTE]

<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

Is Ybor that bad?  I thought that I had read recently how they had cleaned it up? Or maybe they're in the process of it.  Now I don't remember which and it's been years since I've been there.

murphanzo

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-central-florida_thinking-moving?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:66Discussion:e03d8270-38f7-4c61-a8ce-62a46f47bdbcPost:d20f6d39-685e-4875-a353-2b465452275e">Re: Thinking about moving.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Thinking about moving. : Is Ybor that bad?  I thought that I had read recently how they had cleaned it up? Or maybe they're in the process of it.  Now I don't remember which and it's been years since I've been there.
Posted by Mrs.B6302007[/QUOTE]

<div>it's still as disgusting as ever.  My friends husband is a firefighter for that area and they had a string of arsons.  They closed club Empire last month or the month before after 2 people were shot on the same weekend, I think 1 was killed, but don't quote me on that.  And a girl was raped in the parking garage.  There is a firm that was looking into buying Ybor and turning it around, but I think they walked away.  Oh, and don't forget the Gasparilla Knight parade!  What a night of debauchery and bad news!!</div>