Tampa Area

Helping your dog settle into your new location is just as important as getting yourself and your family settled. Taking a dog for a walk is also a great way to meet new people and potentially form a social circle. Tampa has numerous dog parks scattered throughout the city.

Here are a few for you to check out to get you started walking your dog in your new home of Tampa, FL.

1. Logan Gate Dog Park

Logan Gate offers two fenced play areas so that dogs can enjoy being off the leash in a safe environment. This spacious five-acre dog park also has a separate small dog area.

There are additional facilities such as water for both dogs and humans, as well as a handy cleaning station so that your furry companion won’t bring unwanted dirt into your new home.

2. West Park Dog Park

Officially the first dog park in the Hillsborough counties it is worth noting that there is a child play area nearby. This site is a favorite for families playing with their dogs. In the summer months, your pet will be grateful for the cooling tubs and buckets of water readily available under the shade of the trees.

3. Gadsden Dog Park

This dog park features three separate fenced areas for various sized dogs. Also, there is a resting zone which works on rotation, so dogs feel comfortable enjoying the shade and water. There are water pools, kiddie pools,  lots of picnic tables and plenty of room for your pooch to run and roam. The park also provides a great watering and rinsing area.

4. Al Lopez Dog Park

Another excellent dog park is the Al Lopez Dog Park offering plenty of shade and human areas too. There is ample seating for humans to relax and the park is split into a small and a larger dog zone. The large dog area is 1.5 acres while the small dog zone is 0.1 acres.

5. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Dog Park

If your dog could tell you its favorite park to visit, this just might be the one! The Curtis Hixon Dog Park has artificial turf as well as agility equipment for your four-legged friend to play on. It is located on the waterfront and has a water fountain designed especially for dogs.

6. Deputy Kotfila Memorial Dog Park

Another great park offering agility equipment alongside separate off-leash areas for both large and small dogs is the Kotfila Dog Park. Nestled under the Selmon Expressway this park is open from dawn until dusk. With top of the range artificial turf easy on your pup’s paws, you can also avoid mud during the rains. You will also find lots of fun obstacles like platforms and tunnels your dog will love.

Fun for all in Tampa

Your pooch deserves to enjoy your new area as much as you. Take him out to one of these Tampa area dog parks to enjoy the weather and beauty of the surroundings.

If you are still planning your move in the Tampa area, contact us today. We can help you make the transition easy!

Sitting on the West coast of the sunshine state, Tampa offers some of the best beaches in Florida. With fine white sand and warm Gulf waters, Tampa beaches draw in vacationers from all over.

With so many beaches in Tampa to choose from, which one should you visit? Use this guide to help you know where to go.

5 Great Beaches Near Tampa

Whether you’re vacationing or moving to the area, you should know which spots to hit. Grab your sunscreen and visit one of the best beaches in and around Tampa, FL.

Keep reading to learn about the five top beaches in the area.

1. Clearwater Beach

Under an hour drive from Tampa, this spot lives up to its name, with two and a half miles of pristine sand running along crystal clear water.

This is one of the top public beaches in Tampa to visit for a day of fun. The promenade offers a perfect stretch for walking, roller skating, and bicycling to take in the beauty from sunrise to sunset.

In the day, you will find year-round watersports like jet-skiing, parasailing, and stand-up paddleboarding. When the sun goes down, you can enjoy a festival with performers and street vendors at Pier 60.

2. “Mad” Beach

If you enjoy fresh seafood, good music, and a day at the beach, you won’t be mad at all for visiting John’s Pass Seafood & Music Festival on Madeira Beach. Every October, this beach hosts the second largest seafood festival on the East coast that you don’t want to miss.

During the rest of the year, you can enjoy a super relaxing beach experience. Less than an hour outside of the big city of Tampa, but very quiet and relaxed.

3. Honeymoon Island State Park

Boasting four miles of gorgeous beach, this park offers a short distance escape from the fast-paced city life. This beach offers the perfect getaway for the nature lover.

Sea turtles nest in the sand at Honeymoon Island. Large birds, like eagles and horned owls, fly through the sky above the shoreline. People typically visit this beach to hike through the slash pine forest, nature watch and collect seashells.

4. Sunset Beach

Located in Treasure Island, FL, Sunset Beach has what its name implies – phenomenal views of the sunset. A tranquil, low-key beach ideal for a beach picnic, you can look for wild dolphins with little noise and commotion. Featuring a boardwalk over its dunes, Sunset Beach is a gem of a beach to visit.

5. Sand Key Park

This is one of the best public beaches in Tampa for family fun. This beach provides a park for the pups to play as well.

Sand Key Park offers something for everybody with concessions, cabana and kayak rentals, bathhouses, lifeguards, and grills. One side of the park puts you into a natural salt marsh, where you can explore the wildlife. The other side of the park allows for a day of typical beach fun on a stretch of white sand.

Enjoy Life in Tampa

Moving to Tampa allows you to work and function in big city life and still enjoy the little nearby beach escapes. Visit the best beaches in Tampa to disconnect from time to time.

If you’re moving to Tampa, FL we can help. Contact us to help make your move easier!

Tampa is home to more than 350,000 people and is a hot-spot tourist destination year-round. With that many people, you know there are fantastic events and festivals happening throughout the year.

These festivals are the perfect way to celebrate and have a fresh kind of fun for locals and tourists alike. Here is a brief overview of a few of the popular festivals in Tampa so you can prepare for the fun to come in 2019.

Gasparilla

The biggest Tampa festival of the year is Gasparilla, which takes place the last weekend of January. Gasparilla celebrates a Spanish pirate named Jose Gaspar who terrorized the coastal waters of Florida in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The festival has everything you could ever want in a celebration: a parade full of floats and bead-throwing, music, and even a mock pirate invasion! It’s the biggest celebration in Tampa every year so expect to see locals go all out.

Florida State Fair

Each year, for two weeks in February, the Florida State Fairgrounds is host to the Florida State Fair.

Florida residents create exhibits to showcase their skills in horticulture, agriculture, crafts and more.

Featuring every carnival ride you can think of, fried foods, fun houses, and tons of stuff in the expo center the state fair is a perfect date night activity or family outing.

Strawberry Festival

In February (it’s a busy month), it’s strawberry season which means it’s time for Tampa’s own Strawberry Festival!

Drawing visitors from all over the state, the strawberry festival is almost like a mini state fair. Complete with a youth livestock show, headliner entertainment, tons of rides, an art show and more. And of course, all the strawberries and strawberry shortcakes you can enjoy.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival

The Bay Area Renaissance festival at the Museum of Science and Industry is held during February and March. If you have an interest in the Renaissance period, this is the festival for you.

Stroll through a replicated 16th Century European village featuring stages with live entertainment. Interact with hundreds of memorable characters roaming the village streets as well as view live armored jousting throughout the day.

Find more that 100 artisans in the Festival marketplace displaying and selling their handcrafted wares for a unique shopping experience.

Hyde Park Village Art Fair

Wander among life-sized sculptures, dramatic paintings, handcrafted jewelry, photography, ceramics, from more than 100 exhibitors at the Hyde Park Village Art Fair.

The 29th annual edition of the fair will be held in the historic Hyde Park Village in late March 2019.

Set among brick courtyards, fountains, and beautiful tree-lined streets the fair has a unique old-world setting, perfect for a fine arts fair.

There Are More Than Just Festivals in Tampa

Whether you’re an out-of-towner or a local, you already know there’s more than just awesome festivals in Tampa. You also have easy access to the most beautiful beaches in the country, excellent nightlife, and great food.

If you’re contemplating a move to the Tampa Bay area, contact us today so we can help make your move effortless and smooth.