Exploring Tampa Florida... and Beyond

It’s been five years since Pam and I first moved to Tampa, Florida, so I asked her if she’d come on the show with me to talk about living here. We discuss both the pros and cons of living in Tampa, if Tampa is the best part of the state, and then we compare Florida with both California and Hawaii.   Then my “hater” friend John had to come on the show to share his hysterical point of view on why Florida blows California away.    And finally, my friend Kris comes on to share his story of being flooded out of his home during Hurricane Helene last year.

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today! We’re gonna expand on last month’s talk about observation towers in the Tampa area, and answer the question, “were they wrong about their stated heights”. We’re gonna share some absolutely incredible facts about alligators. We’re gonna have a conversation about population growth in the Tampa area with “everyone moving here”. Then, we are going to review three, popular biking and hiking trails: The Upper Tampa Bay Trail, The Ream Wilson Trail, and the Oldsmar Trail. Below are the Florida and New York handicapped plates we discussed in the show. Even the wheelchairs in New York drive crazy fast.

Many people may have heard of the Manatee Viewing Center, but today we are going to talk about The Florida Conservation and Technology Center, a new co-op between Tampa Electric, The Florida Aquarium, The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the University of Florida, which includes the Manatee Viewing Center.  They are doing a lot of awesome things there.  It’s fun! It’s educational. They’ve got some great hiking trails.  They’ve got an awesome observation tower… and it’s all free!  Also included… No winter in Tampa; Where’s the beef; Everyone needs a woman like this; Tampa Bay’s best observation towers; Parking HERE would be nice, and Am I trespassing again? As discussed in the podcast, bellow are the following links: Tampa Electric’s Conservation Center Page Florida Aquarium’s Conservation Center Page Video: Florida Man Catches Tarpon With His Arm Conservation Center Trail Map

Today we are going to have some fun in the St. Petersburg area.  We will go hiking and kayaking at Weedon Island Preserve.  We will visit Sunken Gardens and compare it with the Florida Botanical Garden.  We will investigate some St. Pete Beach history by visiting the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum and the  St. Petersburg Museum of History.  We will have an awesome pizza on the pier at Spa Beach Bistro.  We will be refused entry to both The Museum of Fine Arts and the Salvador Dali Museum, but we will  bounce back quickly and check out the many awesome amenities at Vinoy Park and Elva Rouse Park.   As discussed in the show, here is a link to an awesome video about the History of St. Petersburg.

 Today we are bringing Luke Rorech on the show to talk about St. Petersburg.  Luke is a realtor who was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, and whose office is located in St. Petersburg. We’re gonna talk about what makes it such a special place to live, and the best neighborhoods to buy in.  We’re gonna talk about some of the best places to stay on vacation, as well as some attractions you can’t miss.  We are even gonna talk about some of the best, little-known dives. Whether you are a vacationer, a local, or someone considering buying here, this episode will have something for you to love.

The title pretty much says it all.  Today we are going to briefly talk about some things going on in my life since the last episode. Then we will discuss adventures at the Brooker Creek Preserve, Florida Botanical Gardens, Heritage Village, and a glorious evening walking down Clearwater Beach. Also included: I think they REALLY mean “no dogs”, the impossible tour to follow, I need a destination, don’t eat the fruit, overdressed, “You’re sick? Get away from me! …400 miles away!”, and embrace the tourist in you. At discussed in the show, here are a couple links to topics discussed: History of Heritage Village History of James McMullen in Florida

I’ve lived in the Tampa Bay area for a year now and I think it’s an awesome place. I’m really happy that I moved here. However, just as anywhere does, it has it’s flaws. Although they may not be a deal breaker for me, they definitely could be for someone else. So, in the interest of giving anyone thinking about moving here a well rounded opinion, today we are going to cover my top eleven reasons why someone should NOT move to the Tampa Bay area.

The title pretty much says it all.  Today we are going to talk about tropical storm Elsa and how the news totally blew it out of proportion, for the most part.  We are going to talk about the Tampa Bay Lightning winning back to back Stanley Cups.  We are going to talk about Amalie Arena and my first ever trip to Tampa, and along with that we are going to discuss a whole slew of things near the arena…. The American Victory Museum Ship, Sparkman Wharf, the Tampa Bay History Center, and best places to park.  

In this episode we are going to talk about the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and the Florida Aquarium, two huge visitor attractions in the Tampa area. I’ve got some good news and some bad news related to them. One is a “can’t miss” and the other is a definite “skip it”.

Pam is joining me on the show today for a discussion about several things. We discuss our first trip to Busch Gardens, Tampa, an important disk golf update, her move to Florida, drum circles, and a lot of other really fun topics. Also included: Crying while stalking Steven King, Don’t molest the alligators, Don’t tangle with a hyena, Roller coasters that make you feel old, Woodstock in Tampa, Crazy drivers driving up insurance, and much more.

Today we are going to take a detailed look at several of the area’s zoos and animal sanctuaries.  We are going to review ZooTampa, the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, and the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary.  I’m going to talk about why I was not able to check out either Busch Gardens, or Big Cat Rescue.  I’m also going to share a near deadly experience with a water moccasin and a super fun experience mini-golfing with gators.  

Disc golf is  an awesome way to get out of the house and spend a fun day in the sun, either with friends or zenning out by yourself, and it’s practically free to play.  When I first moved here, I couldn’t help but notice that the Tampa area has A LOT of disc golf courses, so I set out a goal to play them all.  Some were really good, and some were really bad.  Today I will share that journey with you. We will discuss the worst three courses in the area, the top four, and some other ones which you should just have on your radar.

There are six locations for Disney parks around the world: Anaheim, Orlando (Not technically, but generally speaking… We cover that today.), Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Today, I am super excited to bring on Carol, a lifelong friend who has visited every Disneyland Park, and also every Disney theme park around the world.  We have an awesome conversation, not just about the parks and their differences, but about the locations the parks are in as well.  We also do a little Disney trivia, and just have an overall, really good time.

(The above image shows a massive sinkhole which continues to form after being filled in, alongside a major road in Pasco County last month.) In this second part of our series on purchasing real estate in Tampa, we tackle the depressing but very serious subjects of sinkholes, floods and hurricanes. We jump into how sinkholes are formed, why the area around Tampa has such a problem with them, and where some of the best and worst areas are located. We will then talk about insurance issues regarding sinkhole coverage, flood coverage, and “wind damage” coverage. The below links are to items discussed in the show: Sinkhole Report: The Favorability of Florida’s Geology to Sinkhole Formation FEMA Flood Map Information Official Site of the National Flood Insurance Program First Street Foundation Flood Factor Methodology My Other Podcast on Global Warming

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55, and the big game is happening right here in Tampa. In this episode we are going to discuss the run up to the Super Bowl, the incredible fan experiences downtown, and all the pre-game excitement that has been buzzing around town this week.  The bulk of the fan activities take place along the Tampa Riverwalk, so we are going to discuss that area as well. Even if you don’t care about football and hate sports, it’s an amazing place that everyone visiting here should check out, so there’s something for everyone in today’s show.

For anyone looking to purchase near Tampa or move into the area, this honest, non-selling conversation is a must listen. John and I bring two separate viewpoints to the table, one of a newcomer and one of a seasoned Tampa area vet, and we spend the show discussing the pros and cons of living in a multitude of different areas covering seven counties around the Tampa Bay area. Counties covered at least in part are Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Hernando, and Polk. Some of the concepts taken into consideration: Near the beaches or near the city center?Which beach areas are best?Best neighborhoods for commuting or central access?Most expensive and most affordable areas?What each area has to offer, and what they lack?

Today we will talk with previous “Kauai Podcast” guests Connie and Gerson, about their move from Indiana to the Sarasota area, and why they ended up here over Hawaii. We will then spend the bulk of the show discussing several of their favorite places around Sarasota. Also included: Best, little-known beaches in Sarasota, the WHITEST beach, or just the WIDEST, the Sarasota 20, searching for magical places, stalking celebrities, and amazing beachfront restaurants.

Today we are going to have some fun discussing several facts related to the Tampa area. We’ll also discuss some “facts” that aren’t true, and a few others that I wish weren’t. Don’t miss it! This show very possibly could be the best podcast episode in the world!Included in the show: Team names that fit, Possibly the worst team name ever, Pirates as in “aaarrrgh”, Why I drove 40 minutes to look at a sidewalk, Famous people and not-so-famous movies, Is this bad review even real, and…. Where we stand in the nation.

The title says five, but we are going to cover A LOT of parks today.  Today we are going to review a whole slew of parks in Pinellas County, and while we do that I will highlight five as “must see” parks for visitors new to the area.  Also included:  Drive to a tropical island, Is this elevator going down, Gators everywhere, If this is the honeymoon, I want an annulment, Beware of flying golf balls, Beware of flying disks, Turtles all around, and Magical places.

This episode will wrap up our initial series of “Moving to Florida” episodes.  Today I will briefly discuss my move to Florida, and how California tried to kill me to keep me there… like some kind of psycho, jilted lover.  Then I will get into my initial impressions of Florida compared with California.  Also included:  Does anybody know how to drive?  More license plates than people.  How talking about water flow can be insulting.  Too hot is too hot, anywhere.  Living in a vacation destination.  And, what the world is a “fifth third”? 

This episode concludes the cross country adventure for Sarah and I. We begin in San Antonio and travel to New Orleans where we spend some time exploring the French Quarter and taking a steamboat down the Mississippi River. We then continue on and complete our cross country journey, ending at Clearwater Beach, Florida. Also included: Houston sucks, REALLY long bridges, don’t swim in Lake Pontchartrain, staying alert in the French Quarter, kicking some British ass, don’t swim in the Mississippi either, be careful where you park in Tallahassee, and how all of that becomes an incredible time I will never forget. We also close the show with a call to Sarah, one month later, to talk about Florida living and how she feels about the move.

The title pretty much says it all. Also discussed, a true divine intervention that may have saved our lives, a torrential downpour in Albuquerque, aliens in Roswell, the UFO Museum, a 750 foot elevator into an amazing, underground world, I CAN drive 85, spirits of the Alamo, wait staff that are forced to wear ratings on their aprons, and the incredible San Antonio Riverwalk.

In Part Two of our cross-country adventure, Sarah and I travel along Route 66, into The Grand Canyon and onward towards Roswell, New Mexico. Also discussed, the man who should have bought a lottery ticket, how I got lost and couldn’t find the Grand Canyon even though I was only steps away, elusive deer, men who hate Chipotle, men who hate the Grand Canyon, and the beautiful mood music of Paul Simon.

In Part One of our cross country road trip to Tampa, as we begin our journey, Sarah and I discuss how difficult it can be to make life changing decisions when you are forced to leave those you love behind. We then travel into Las Vegas, share some history and interesting information about the area, visit “Ghost Adventures” creator Zak Bagans’s Haunted Museum, catch a Criss Angel show, then move on towards the Hoover Dam.

In this episode, I tell the story of taking my daughter to Florida for the first time, to see if it was a place she might want to live. We walked on heavenly beaches in Clearwater, failed a Forest Gump quiz miserably in Daytona, drove through some neighborhoods that were awesome, and some that were not. We had a surprise meetup in Orlando, went on an alligator hunt in Myakka, flew through Pandora on a banshee, watched the perfect sunset in Venice, and found ourselves amidst a surprise drag show during an amazing lunch on Tampa Bay. Today I’m going to take you along for a recap of sorts, and share some stories while giving you some good information about the state and areas within it.

I just moved from California to the Tampa area about 6 weeks ago, and I LOVE this area.  It’s absolutely beautiful.  There is so much to do here, and so much to learn.  So, I can’t wait to begin to explore it, and I’d like to invite you along on that journey with me.In this first episode, I am going to spend some time making some introductions to myself as well as my goals with this show. I’m also going to explain how I got here, why I chose Tampa over Hawaii, and what you can expect with the next shows going forward. A huge thank you to Ricky Sylvia for allowing the usage of “The Florida Song” as this show’s theme song. Please check out the following links for more info related to Ricky and the song:YouTube video for The Florida SongRicky Sylvia’s personal webpageiTunes page for The Florida Song