20 apartments for rent in Old West Tampa, Tampa, FL

Tampa Apartments For Rent

Imagine a gorgeous city on a tropical bay. Manatees sample grasses along the shoreline, while dolphins frolic on the horizon. Palm trees and white sand beaches provide the perfect background for comical seagulls and majestic pelicans. But this city is more than its landscape. This city has a long history that involves cigars, the military, and Buccaneers. The city, of course, is Tampa, Florida.

Located on the West Coast of Central Florida about an hour from Orlando, Tampa is one of the nation’s favorite cities. It is loved for its proximity to theme parks and attractions, gorgeous beaches, year-round temperate weather, beautiful architecture, and a variety of things to do. Enjoy the gorgeous weather at a sidewalk café in beautiful Ybor City, located in north Tampa. Visit Tampa’s famous attractions, such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Go shopping along the Riverwalk, explore local parks, or go beachcombing.

You’ll love your new apartment in Tampa and the fun and opportunity it will provide. Tampa is a diverse, busy city. It has a strong economy based in tourism, finance, shipping, national defense, and education. Tampa is home to the University of South Florida and MacDill Air Force Base. It is also home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

Things to Do in Tampa:

During the late 1800s, Tampa’s proximity to Cuba — and the start of the Cuban Revolution — gave rise to a profitable industry that started in Tampa’s famous Ybor City – cigar production. Soon, Tampa was known as the “Cigar Capital of the World.” Ybor City became home to a number of immigrants, many who came to work in the world-famous the cigar factories. Those immigrants came from Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

After WWII, the cigar industry suffered a major downturn. As a result, Ybor City was basically deserted – and remained that way for decades. In the 1980s, artists discovered Ybor City and began moving in. These artists discovered a neighborhood that was untouched for roughly 50 years … basically, it had been frozen in time. Due to the beautiful architecture and original brick streets, Ybor City was soon designated a National Historic District. Today, Ybor City is one of Tampa’s most-loved areas. The historic buildings have been converted into tea houses, cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. A streetcar rambles down the roads of Ybor City, and the wide sidewalks are ideal for an afternoon window-shopping and enjoying sidewalk cafes.

Of course, Ybor City will become a favorite spot once you’ve settled into your new Tampa apartment, but it won’t be the only one. Tampa is home to one of the country’s favorite theme parks, Busch Gardens. It is also home to one of the 10 best movie theaters in the world (a title it shares with just one other theater in the US), the Tampa Theatre. It is home to cruise ships, the Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo, Adventure Island, some of the best shopping you’ll ever experience along Bay Street and International Plaza, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the Tampa Bay History Center, the Tampa Museum of Art, and the Henry B. Plant Museum.

One of the nation’s best music festivals, the Gasparilla Music Festival, is held downtown along the waterfront every March. Can’t wait until March to hear live music? Visit the Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lighting, to enjoy great concerts. Living in Tampa, you’ll have all of this and more to explore, so find your Tampa apartment now and start enjoying this city by the bay.

What to Consider When Moving to Tampa:

Tampa is a semi-tropical city located on the Gulf of Mexico in Central Florida. Tampa is only about an hour from Disney World, Sea World, and other theme parks. In addition to popular tourist attractions, Tampa is home to gorgeous beaches, the Downtown Tampa Historical Trail, the Tampa Convention Center, and more.  Tampa is also home to several microbreweries and brew pubs. You can spend evenings at the Getaway Tampa Bay, a waterfront hotspot featuring two tiki bars. World-famous and award-winning beaches include Fort Desoto Park, Caladesi Island State Park, and Clearwater Beach.

In addition to the hotspot Ybor City, Tampa has several terrific neighborhoods to consider. Forest Hills is home to the historic Babe Zaharias Golf Course, a public golf course that dates back to 1926. Sulphur Springs is a neighborhood with unique landmarks – the Sulphur Springs Water Tower, built in 1927, and the Sulphur Springs Museum and Heritage Center, a museum that includes stone arrowheads and mastodon bones. The Ballast Point neighborhood borders the Hillsborough Bay and MacDill Air Force Base. Seminole Heights is a trendy, bohemian neighborhood filled with historic bungalows, brew pubs, and funky shops.

Ready to enjoy sailing, swimming, beachcombing, and windsurfing? Start searching apartments in Tampa now and soon you’ll be relaxing on a sugar-sand beach, watching an amazing sunset and enjoying the salty ocean breeze.

Why Tampa Apartments Are Hot:

Tampa is ranked as a Gamma+ world city – a city that plays an important role in the global economic system. The Port of Tampa is the largest port in Florida. It is an international shipping port and an economic hub for the entire area. The port is also used by cruise ships, freighters, charter boats, and sailboats. Because of its strong economy and wealth of things to do, Tampa is considered one of the best cities for “twenty-somethings” and is the fifth most popular city in America, based on a Pew Research Center study conducted in 2009. It is also ranked as one of the top cities for outdoor living.

MacDill Air Force Base is home to the 6th Air Mobility Wing and is headquarters for the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command. The University of South Florida (USF) enrolls more than 46,000 students per year and is considered one of the best public universities in the country. Tampa International Airport consistently ranks as one of the nation’s best airports, ranking high for overall quality. It is one of the busiest airports in North America.

With a strong and diverse economy, great neighborhoods, and spectacular beaches that are often included on “best beaches in America” lists, Tampa is a terrific city. Add in fantastic year-round weather, exciting events and nightlife, and exciting festivals and events, and it’s easy to see why apartments in Tampa are hot!