I myself like Miami and the Tampa Bay area's.

I love the WHOLE state for all different reasons.

Number one is Miami because well everything i guess!!! I love that city. Then is Jacksonvile

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orleando.

I prefer them all for completely different reasons, since none are alike. As far as the larger areas are concerned, I like the laid back cosmopolitan atmosphere of South Florida, the history of Jax, the growth and vibrancy of Orlando and family atmosphere of Tampa.

Does anyone have pics of Pensacola? It is hardly mentioned in this forum. Does the city have a skyline? Also what is the local economy based on, tourism, energy?

At the risk of being slammed for this, I'll state my opinion that I honestly don't care for many of the Florida cities I've visited. It seems like many cities in Florida have a fear that they will be left behind unless they build more hotels, more condos, more shopping, more of everything. All of this massive and quick growth has left a sterile quality in much of the urban landscape.

I suppose that's why I've always been drawn to St. Augustine. Although VERY old, it remains a small town while everything around it has exploded over the past 100 years. I know that's where I would want to live if I was in Florida.

At the risk of being slammed for this, I'll state my opinion that I honestly don't care for many of the Florida cities I've visited. It seems like many cities in Florida have a fear that they will be left behind unless they build more hotels, more condos, more shopping, more of everything. All of this massive and quick growth has left a sterile quality in much of the urban landscape.
Not slamming you, but I kind of like the feeling Florida cities give off. I definately like Miami, no matter how many condos or hotels it builds, it still has an urban feeling that can't be found anywhere esle in the U.S.

At the risk of being slammed for this, I'll state my opinion that I honestly don't care for many of the Florida cities I've visited. It seems like many cities in Florida have a fear that they will be left behind unless they build more hotels, more condos, more shopping, more of everything. All of this massive and quick growth has left a sterile quality in much of the urban landscape.

I suppose that's why I've always been drawn to St. Augustine. Although VERY old, it remains a small town while everything around it has exploded over the past 100 years. I know that's were I would want to live if I was in Florida.


wtf....you resent florida cities cause their building condos and retail?...dude you're making no sense....if there's a demand, there'll sure enough be a supply!...you must hate many cities then...cause most ARE building hotels, condos and retail downtown! what you call sterile quality may be an urban wonderland to others!



Miami for me baby :) :)

Not slamming you, but I kind of like the feeling Florida cities give off. I definately like Miami, no matter how many condos or hotels it builds, it still has an urban feeling that can't be found anywhere esle in the U.S.

I understand that opinion completely. I LOVE visiting Miami. I'm sure my opinion is based soley on what I'm used to. Heavily forested areas with losts of red brick homes. Much of Florida just seems so foreign to me.

A good friend of mine is from Hong Kong and when he was looking for a new home I took him through one of Louisville's most beautiful and expensive older neighborhoods thinking he would be very impressed. He HATED it.

Even though he had the money to afford a fine home, they were too 'old' and 'tarnished' and there were too many trees in the front yard. He ended up purchasing a brand new stucco home that could have been built anywhere in Kentucky, Texas, or Florida. He's happy and that's all that matters.

True True, simmer. I think he is just a fan of the old fashioned florida vacation. Though it is progressive I personally am not toooo big a fan of the hoards of condos and chains that have moved in, that is a little bit sterile, but one mans dislike is anothers like.

i like jax...key west was pretty good for a tourist trap...so was panama city. i haven't spent much time in miami or tampa.

my favorite part of florida though is little gaspirella (sp) island...my family used to vacation there a lot. no road access to it. lots of undeveloped beach front that's a park. hardly any cars on the island (some special people, construction stuff, golf carts,) lots of nice beach, fun bar.

it was remote and kind of anti-tourist. nice and secluded.

-

I understand that opinion completely. I LOVE visiting Miami. I'm sure my opinion is based soley on what I'm used to. Heavily forested areas with losts of red brick homes. Much of Florida just seems so foreign to me.

Its obvious that you haven't spent much time in Florida to make such a blanket statement. For example, a large portion of Jacksonville consist of historic heavily landscaped neighborhoods with brick homes on the same level, scale and architectural significance of what exists in Old Louisville. In fact, the two cities are nearly carbon copies of each other. The only big difference being that Jax is also located on the Atlantic Ocean.

Even Miami and Tampa, two cities known for their current condo booms have several areas within their city limits just as dense and urban as most cities in the South. I'd advice you to check out the downtown Miami thread in the Florida forum. You'll be shocked by the large amount of old school buildings hidden by the wall of condo towers lining the Bay.

If you don't like the big boys, places like Pensacola, Tallahassee, Sarasota, Fernandina Beach and St. Augustine offer a completely different lifestyle and atmosphere.

Without a doubt, Florida is the most diverse State in the south and offers something for every urbanite to enjoy. The key is to stay away from the theme parks and tourist oriented areas.

Miami all the way. I love it.

I don't really have a favorite.

I have to say, I have the best time in Miami. In particular - SoBe (shocker) but more so Coconut Grove.

I thoroughly enjoy West Palm. It is SO clean and though small quite fun. BUT for some reason I am generally most happy when I'm back home in downtown Orlando.

^agreed. Maybe its a bit of hometown bias but I love walking around Thornton Park/Lake Eola and recently around Lake Ivanhoe and the bars over there. A big community feel/atmosphere.

True True, simmer. I think he is just a fan of the old fashioned florida vacation. Though it is progressive I personally am not toooo big a fan of the hoards of condos and chains that have moved in, that is a little bit sterile, but one mans dislike is anothers like.

so wait, are you not a big fan of building hoards of condos (like chicago is doing) or are you just not a big fan of Miami's designs?

miami and tampa

Miami
T-Bay
Orlando

Sorry but Tampa Is a POS, the downtown is weak, the suburbs are trashy, and there nothing but strip clubs, bars, and seedy motels...

Seriously, How can Miami not be on the top of everyone's list. Tampa is nice though but better than Miami C'mon. :)

the suburbs are trashy, and there nothing but strip clubs, bars, and seedy motels...

Hmm.. I might drop by for a visit then :D

Mr. Man, there is only one big problem I hear alot about Tampa, its THE AIR, Tampa has got to control the Air Pollution, its a very serious thing around Downtown, I've been there 3 times last year at Busch Gardens, and to see downtown from Interstate 275 , it was hard to see the tall buildings with the smog.

Sorry but Tampa Is a POS, the downtown is weak, the suburbs are trashy, and there nothing but strip clubs, bars, and seedy motels...

That is ABSOLUTELY untrue. Hyde Park is a beautiful inner suburb on Tampa, perhaps the largest in the state. Bayshore Blvd is simply wonderful. Ybor City has tons of character, and tons of things to do, and is under a huge boom. Its a historic district that isn't sterile. Channelside is a great development, and really brings many areas together through the streetcar. Downtown needs help, but its getting it.

Mr. Man, there is only one big problem I hear alot about Tampa, its THE AIR, Tampa has got to control the Air Pollution, its a very serious thing around Downtown, I've been there 3 times last year at Busch Gardens, and to see downtown from Interstate 275 , it was hard to see the tall buildings with the smog.

What? I think you need to open the window and let the smoke from your crackpipe waft out the window . . .

Okay Smiley, I 'm smoking my Crackpipe on the New HIGH-SPEED RAIL From MIAMI one Stop at ORLANDO to TAMPA in 2014. ITS the THREE BEST VOTED Cities Here on this Forum, RIGHT on TARGET. The Reason Why I'm taking this train by then, is I BELIEVE TAMPA will have the SUPERBOWL by then in January 2014. Maybe Sooner ?

lol Tampa does not have an air pollution problem, please...if its got one thing going for it its the CLEAN air and nice beaches.

Yeah, Tampa has some nice suburbs... but 80% of it is a giant industrial ghetto, and the downtown is a ghost town. Ybor is dirty as hell too. I like the Tampa Bay area, but the actual CITY of Tampa is a hellhole.

A giant industrial ghetto? huh? Where the hell are you driving?

Yeah, Tampa has some nice suburbs... but 80% of it is a giant industrial ghetto, and the downtown is a ghost town. Ybor is dirty as hell too. I like the Tampa Bay area, but the actual CITY of Tampa is a hellhole.

Well, Tampa is one of the most industrial cities in Florida, so there is a very large industrial district east of downtown. To compare Tampa's industrial/port district to others that I've seen in this country, Tampa's looks like Park Avenue. But to say that 80% of the city is an industrial hell-hole, that's quite an uneducated assumption.

Now if you were to say that it was 80% of the city limits contained boring single family units from the 50's and 60's, I'd be more inclined to agree with you. To you and all of you who are making incorrect assumptions about Tampa, Kalamazoo or wherever, please provide facts for your statements. Sure, there is some smog like any large American city, and sometimes it can be visible from a distance, but it doesn't compare in the least to the huge, stinking brown cloud hovering over Dade County which I viewed while leaving the Port of Miami on a cruise this summer.

Yeah, Tampa has some nice suburbs... but 80% of it is a giant industrial ghetto, and the downtown is a ghost town. Ybor is dirty as hell too. I like the Tampa Bay area, but the actual CITY of Tampa is a hellhole.

Damn, that was harsh. Just to tell you that is not the image people from outside of Florida get.

ybor is not dirty from what I remember (from like two months ago) and there is actually tons of infill taking place...its going to be an even better neighborhood in a few years, probably one of the best in the state (urban wise).

A giant industrial ghetto? huh? Where the hell are you driving?
Smiley :) , He was Driving Probably on I-4 from Orlando Parellel to that Route 60 near the US 41 AREA where all The INDUSTRIAL is as you Enter from the EAST to Kennedy Bulvd. which also is Route 60 from where I usually come in to Tampa From Yeehaw Junction and the Turnpike From MIAMI. Its TRUE, what AGENT ORANGE says From A Distance you can see Smog over the CITY, which can be any BIG CITY, especially Driving in From the East and North of the city of TAMPA, where I can see the smoke clouds coming in From that BRANDON Area to the east of the City. Correct me ,if I'm wrong , But I do drive by there to Busch Gardens all the time four times now in just the past year, and I DO LOVE the City of TAMPA SKYLINE :) , I've watch it Every Year since the 60's when Downtown only had 1 Tall Building when I was Young at the TAMPA STATE FAIR, Downtown,lol. :cheers:

But to say that 80% of the city is an industrial hell-hole, that's quite an uneducated assumption.

Uneducated assumption? You make it sound as if I've never been there. I've only lived just over 100 miles away from Tampa my entire life. I was there for a couple of days just last month. I drove through most of Tampa, went to St. Pete, and even drove all the way to Bradenton and back to Tampa. I might have been exaggerating when I said 80% of the city was actually industrial, but about 80% of it looks pretty bad these days nonetheless. Let me put it this way. Most people who have been here in Orlando know that the ugly part of the city is OBT. The majority of Tampa looks like that. Not one part of it. The majority of it. It's like one never-ending OBT. Seriously. I'm not being harsh, I'm stating what's obvious. It's really sad the way the area around Busch Gardens looks in particular now. I certainly don't remember it looking that bad the last time I was down there, which was only 2 years ago. You'd think they'd at least attempt to make that area more attractive. But I guess BG isn't a big part of the economy like our parks, so they just don't care. And yes, I saw the 2 main roads in Ybor covered with trash. I also didn't like the fact that so many of the nightclubs were hard to find. To be honest I didn't even spend much time in downtown since it was so dead. There were hoards of traffic everywhere else (speaking of which, why do the traffic lights hold for so long over there?), but once I turned the corner.... not a single soul. Instead of feeling like I was in the heart of a large metro, I was expecting a ball of hay to fly by. You definitely wouldn't get that feeling over here on a Saturday night. And before you say everyone is in Ybor, nope. That wasn't busy either.

I'm not purposely bashing Tampa, I'm making the obvious observations that any visitor would make. I personally liked St. Pete a lot more.

The diverse landscape of Tampa makes it feel like a true big city, despite downtown being a ghost town. If you're really interested in getting the true feel of Tampa, you need to get off I-275 and head south. Harbor Island, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Bayshore, SoHo, Westshore, etc. are all large urban neighborhoods where homes probably cost more, on average, than any neighborhood in Orlando, including Thorton Park (a smaller version of Hyde Park). Land wise, those areas, with New Tampa, make up most of the city.

While many may associate "old" as a bad thing, imo, one of the best things about Tampa, is its industrial history and the diversfied and unique culture and architecture that, that era has brought to the city. My favorite neighborhoods in Tampa are West Tampa, Tampa Heights, the Channel District, & Ybor City, all which are littered with old brick warehouses and cigar factories. Many of these building types are being converted into "real lofts" leading to an urban landscape that most Florida cities, outside of Miami and Jacksonville lack.

The problem is that 275 and 4 are not like 4 in orlando - where it covers the eniter city and everything is built right near it. The nice parts of town are generally not immedaitely adjacent to the interstate. It would be much like saying everything you know about Miami comes from driving on 826, especially north of the airport.

I suggest next time you come to Tampa go from 4 to 75 to the Selmon/Crosstown - it is a more interesting drive - industrial - sure - there is a port there - but more interesting. And keep going south of downtown.

And, in point of fact, I like the industrial aspect of Tampa - it is actually a city with something going on, not just touristy Florida. Miami has the same thing, but it is more spread out. In tampa it is alsmot all on the east side - which happens to be where much of the interstate and Busch Gardens is - which leads to the question of why there is no exit onto Busch Blvd from 75, which would give you a much nicer approach to BG, but then we always get screwed on Highways around here.

Regarding how the place looks from the interstate, to be perefctly honest, they put the highways through the historically black and industrial areas of town, plain and simple. IF you look at a segregation map from 1950 and a map of the interstate plan in 1970 it is pretty much dead on, with a little extra for gettting the thing all the way through. In fact, near downtown 275 runs basically right over much of what was Central Ave., the historical black "Main Street", if you will. Not a nice tale, but it is the truth.

Smiley, :) I Really have to AGREE with you on that, SIMPLY PUT on that POST # 38 :cheers: !!

The diverse landscape of Tampa makes it feel like a true big city, despite downtown being a ghost town. If you're really interested in getting the true feel of Tampa, you need to get off I-275 and head south. Harbor Island, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Bayshore, SoHo, Westshore, etc. are all large urban neighborhoods where homes probably cost more, on average, than any neighborhood in Orlando, including Thorton Park (a smaller version of Hyde Park). Land wise, those areas, with New Tampa, make up most of the city.

While many may associate "old" as a bad thing, imo, one of the best things about Tampa, is its industrial history and the diversfied and unique culture and architecture that, that era has brought to the city. My favorite neighborhoods in Tampa are West Tampa, Tampa Heights, the Channel District, & Ybor City, all which are littered with old brick warehouses and cigar factories. Many of these building types are being converted into "real lofts" leading to an urban landscape that most Florida cities, outside of Miami and Jacksonville lack.

Thornton Park is not Orlando's most expensive neighborhood, though one of the nicest perhaps, character wise. Nearby College Park is more expensive, and "exclusive", and of course Winter Park and Windermere (where the largest house in the state is under construction, at nearly 90,000 sq ft). "Nicest" is of course purely subjective, especially since I favored Ybor City to any other neighborhood in Tampa and many people on this forum are describing it as a shithole.

Due to its location and character, I wouldn't be suprised if Hyde Park is a more expensive neighborhood than College Park too.

BTW, I didn't include Windermere and Winter Park, like I didn't include Clearwater or St. Petersburg, because those are all separate municipalities located outside of the Central cities. It was just a central city comparision only.

Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Beach Park - them's the locales . . . at least closer in to town

I love Tampa first, Miami second, and Fort Lauderdale third. Hey, where is the Ft. Lauderdale tally?? :?

lakelander,

Windermere is further, like Clearwater, but Winter Park is 2 miles from downtown Orlando North on Orange Ave. I would include it simply because from downtown Orlando, the neighborhoods of Thornton Park, then Lake Highland up along Mills flows seemlessly into Winter Park....I'd imagine that Winter Park, if not College Park, is equally or more expensive than Hyde Park.

It is a separate city, but very much connected to the city of Orlando, much like Brookline, MA to Boston.

1.) Tampa Bay -- besides it being home, I think it has a piece of everything. It has the beaches, but it also has the inland/landlocked areas with a less tropical feel to them. It's big, but it's still very laid back. It's about as economically balanced as you're going to get in Florida. Even though the area overall has a feel to it, each of the 3 big cities in the metro area have their own identities. More than ever, it's becoming a cohesive metro area, and each city is starting to understand it's role as opposed to competing with each other (especially Tampa and St. Pete). There are some drawbacks, such as it being such a spread out area. Also, those yuppy and black middle-class cultures that people like me desire still don't have as much of a presence as they should. (There's sizable population in both demographics, but they're not concentrated). Still, it's a nice area with so much potential. If I had to stay in Florida, this is where I would be

2.) Orlando -- I like the "busy" feel of the city. There's always something happenning. Everything is brand new, so everything looks pretty and shiney. The area has a lot of energy. It seems like it's the city that everyone wants to move to, as far as people my age (I'm 24, so that age + or - 3 years). Lots of young, anxious-to-impress people there. I was really impressed with Orange Avenue on a Saturday night in DT Orlando. Pretty soon, DT will have a skyline to match the size of the metro area. Drawbacks to Orlando is it's VERY spread out, traffic is horrible all the time, and the tourists still come first there. Still, if I had a choice besides Tampa Bay, I'd chose Orlando. My perception is that its young professional culture and network is more developed than that of Tampa Bay, but it just doesn't have the soul that other cities/metros have.

3.) South Florida -- I like to visit, but I couldn't really see myself living in either of the 3 counties that make up what most call South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach). Still, I think the urban development taking place down there is phenomenal. The architecture is simply amazing. I like the heavy Caribbean and Latin American cultural influences. I like how the Cubans, Jamaicans and Haitians have brought and maintained their cultural identities as opposed to being completely assimilated into American culture. It's truly an international, multi-cultural feel down there. I just can't get into living down there.

4.) Jacksonville -- Seems like it's developing nicely. However, it doesn't impress me as a city I would want to live it. It's just something odd about it. It looks like a city, with the skyline and all, but it doesn't feel like a city. Still, it would be the only other alternative as far as large metro areas are concerned, and it does have some things to offer. So I rank it 4.

I like big cities, so I can't really get with many of the other areas of Florida.

I love Tampa first, Miami second, and Fort Lauderdale third. Hey, where is the Ft. Lauderdale tally?? :?
TampaBound, :) Ft. Lauderdale is considered part of the MIAMI Area, Also is West Palm Beach. Just Like Naples is part of the Ft. Myers Area with Cape Coral in the same area. Each City Listed is a General Area of that City. Other Florida Cities would be like Key West, Daytona Beach, and St. Augustine and other great Florida areas. :cheers:

Welcome Miami1 :) , Make sure you Vote on this Poll and go ahead and POST your opinion, again Welcome to the Florida Forum !!! :cheers:

Interesting to hear everyones opinions.
I grew up in Orlando & I feel very connected to it so I will rank it #1 for me. #2 is Miami/South Florida. Booming more than almost any other city in the US, my wife's hometown, and bursting with culture, makes it my second choice. I just wish it wasn't so grimey, especially around downtown, and I wish the cubans would stop thinking their shit dont stink ;). #3 is Tampa, alot of promise and I looove Bayshore & SoHo, it just seems to sleepy & fragmented for a metro it's size.

WELCOME DISPLACED MIAMI MAN, :) Make sure you Vote on this Poll and POST your opinion, Again Welcome to the Florida Forum !!

Have lived in Florida for nearly 4 years now. I voted for the Miami area. I personally prefer South Florida because I get off on all the real estate and development going on down here, and I generally prefer a large metropolitan environment to live in anyway. In other areas of Florida they are also expanding, but at a much slower rate if you campare it to Miami. It seems in Tampa for example, (where I lived in a condo on Bayshore Boulevard and still visit friends there) they do an awful lot of artist renderings, press releases, etc., but when you go there now only a handful of construction is really going on. Maybe one day that will change. I'm also into history and enjoy Jacksonville, Ybor City, St. Augustine, etc.

YES, YES, and Welome to the Florida Forum CityBoiFlorida :) , Please make your Posts and Opinions ANYTIME !, I love MIAMI so much, I want to Marry THE CITY, LOL. Again WELOME !, ALSO Welcome DISPACED Miami MAN, Make sure you VOTE too, So many Newcomers Coming on LINE here in This FANTASTIC Florida Forum !!! :cheers:

I voted for Tally for sentimental reasons. A pretty, small-but-urban, tree-filled town with friendly people (ok ok, 'Southern Charm'). I also have lots of good memories of family reunions, and the like, associated with that town.

However, I love Florida's other, larger, metro areas as well. But for different reasons too many to go into right now.

Also, I was in South Florida (staying with a friend in Boca) this past weekend and visited downtown Ft. Lauderdale and its beaches for the first time and was very impressed. Visiting this thread, I wonder why FTL doesn't have more forerunners. Downtown is very lovely, with its clean, new, crisp buildings, and its lively Las Olas district. And those mansions and canals between downtown and the beaches! The beaches are booming. Lots of cranes, and pretty towers, and very urban! I had a load of fun, too. Spent much of Sat and Sun at Sebastian Beach, went to the Boardwalk bar, among other things. I wanted to go to the Coloseum, but didn't get to (maybe next time).

I voted for Tally for sentimental reasons. A pretty, small-but-urban, tree-filled town with friendly people (ok ok, 'Southern Charm'). I also have lots of good memories of family reunions, and the like, associated with that town.

However, I love Florida's other, larger, metro areas as well. But for different reasons too many to go into right now.

Also, I was in South Florida (staying with a friend in Boca) this past weekend and visited downtown Ft. Lauderdale and its beaches for the first time and was very impressed. Visiting this thread, I wonder why FTL doesn't have more forerunners. Downtown is very lovely, with its clean, new, crisp buildings, and its lively Las Olas district. And those mansions and canals between downtown and the beaches! The beaches are booming. Lots of cranes, and pretty towers, and very urban! I had a load of fun, too. Spent much of Sat and Sun at Sebastian Beach, went to the Boardwalk bar, among other things. I wanted to go to the Coloseum, but didn't get to (maybe next time).


Coliseum is hella fun...I go on Friday's when I'm back in Miami!

I SEE LOTS of new Members Out There :) , ITS TIME TO VOTE !!, and Also Include Your Opinions on the CITY you Voted For, WELCOME TO THE FLORIDA FORUM !!, We love to have you here as Our Newest Members And Future Ones as well, :) Welcome Again. :cheers:

as much as i luv tampa, tally (actually i hate tally, screw the 'noles, GO CANES!), orlando, and the rest, nothing compares to miami, the only true major city in florida, just look at the skylines, u cant compare, not even at the same level, miami actually can be compared to the great cities of north america (chicago, toronto, ny, la, san fran), i doubt u can do that with tampa, orlando, or pensacola

not to bash u guys, great towns, but miamis floridas only true city

ps... nuttin like south beach baby!

Homerism at it's worst. :runaway:

Miami, Orlando and Tampa

as much as i luv tampa, tally (actually i hate tally, screw the 'noles, GO CANES!), orlando, and the rest, nothing compares to miami, the only true major city in florida, just look at the skylines, u cant compare, not even at the same level, miami actually can be compared to the great cities of north america (chicago, toronto, ny, la, san fran), i doubt u can do that with tampa, orlando, or pensacola

not to bash u guys, great towns, but miamis floridas only true city

ps... nuttin like south beach baby!

You can't really be serious about such a statement can you? I realize a poll like this can be inflammatory to start with but to dismiss all the great cities in Florida other than Miami as insignificant "towns"...come on......really....open your mind a bit

:puke:

^^I agree, Florida has plenty of other great cities...just be glad that we have such a plethora of cities to choose from....Florida's great in general...nothing like it

Let's not turn this into one of those vs. threads in the SE forum!!

as much as i luv tampa, tally (actually i hate tally, screw the 'noles, GO CANES!), orlando, and the rest, nothing compares to miami, the only true major city in florida, just look at the skylines, u cant compare, not even at the same level, miami actually can be compared to the great cities of north america (chicago, toronto, ny, la, san fran), i doubt u can do that with tampa, orlando, or pensacola

not to bash u guys, great towns, but miamis floridas only true city

ps... nuttin like south beach baby!

You can't really be serious about such a statement can you? I realize a poll like this can be inflammatory to start with but to dismiss all the great cities in Florida other than Miami as insignificant "towns"...come on......really....open your mind a bit

:puke:



perhaps i misspoke, or was misinterpreted, im not sayin that all of floridas other cities arent real cities, all im saying, is that miami is the biggest, and best, and the only that is truely of world caliber, again... not saying the others arent amazing (cept tally, GO CANES!), but if u go to australia, are they ever gonna have heard of pensacola or st. petersburg?

^I've bet they've heard of Orlando & Disney! .........just playing devil's advocate.

WELCOME ONE and ONLY CUBAN :) , Make Sure you VOTE Here on your Favorite CITY, and Make Your Opinion Count Right HERE, and WELCOME AGAIN to the Florida Forum !! :cheers:

WELCOME LOGYBOGY :) , Make sure you VOTE Here on Your Favorite CITY in Florida, Also Include your POST and Opinion on The City you have Chosen, AGAIN, WELCOME to the FLORIDA FORUM ! :cheers:

And they very well may have heard of the Tampa Bay (due to the sports, at least) - though they generally have no idea of the geography- especially things like distance - most of the Australians I know get quite confused.

"the best" is purely subjective. I would guess that more Austrailians come through Orlando every year over Miami. Florida is internationally famous around the world because of Disney, lets face it, and because it is the "best" Disney out there, and will always be.

Think of it this way, Tampa, Miami, JAX, and most other cities in Florida have about 100 years of history and headstart on densifying their cities to Orlando, yet Orlando's downtown is the most walkable, friendly, interesting day and night, and getting better and better. It is not the biggest, but its pulling away from the rest, especially with all these mixed-use projects under construction.

Austrailians Love Apples, So when they come here to Visit " THE BIG APPLE " in New York City, They Think want to try a " Little Apple ", Too, and Thast the Way MIAMI Looks, lol.

Miami looks nothing like New York...thats not a bad thing, it just doesnt.

"the best" is purely subjective. I would guess that more Austrailians come through Orlando every year over Miami. Florida is internationally famous around the world because of Disney, lets face it, and because it is the "best" Disney out there, and will always be.

Think of it this way, Tampa, Miami, JAX, and most other cities in Florida have about 100 years of history and headstart on densifying their cities to Orlando, yet Orlando's downtown is the most walkable, friendly, interesting day and night, and getting better and better. It is not the biggest, but its pulling away from the rest, especially with all these mixed-use projects under construction.


Sorry SkyDJ, No mountains, no ocean, ... no way Orlanda tops Miami (although i too love WDW... but not every day... so i'll just drive from Miami every now and then :) ).

True the downtown Orlando area is very nice. The public spaces around Lake Eola are fantastic. I lived downtown for a short while and enjoyed it.
Having said that, my very biased opinion still sides with Miami, and especially Miami Beach! Not sure if this settles a debate of opinion... but Miami Beach was voted an All America City 2003 (http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/all_american_city.asp) It was the only Florida community to win.

As for walkable/livable....I'm going to leave my computer right now and walk two blocks to Historic Lincoln Road for a little lunch with my friends (they really like to eat in the outside cafe that is downstairs from the modeling agencies), then walk two blocks from there to Miami Beach City Hall (open on Saturday) to vote!! Then walk over to the Art Deco Historic District and the Atlantic Ocean for a Wet Willies alchoholic slurpee. Who knows who I'll run into on the sidewalks, but maybe we will go sit outside on the water at Smith & Wollensky's to watch the sunset over the Biscayne Bay while the cruise ships leave the largest cruise port in the world.

Oh yeah.... interesting nightlife...I'm not sure about Orlando or Tampa, but the MTV VMA's, Latin Grammy's, and Art Basel, etc. don't choose Miami for nothin'

^I agree with you, South Beach is wonderful...I was talking downtowns. So Miami has the Latin Grammy's, I think thats great, Orlando has awesome conventions that come to the city every year. More conventions are held in Orlando than all of Florida's other cities combined. I love conventions, I go all the time.

Orlando also has its share of hip restaurants/bars, and if you haven't been in a while, I would recommend checking out Thornton Park. Its becoming quite the place. You obviously know the area. btw, if we are talking about the pop culture scene, I suppose Orlando must be on the map because Paris Hilton is opening a club on Church St called Club Paris.

but Miami Beach was voted an All America City 2003 (http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/all_american_city.asp) It was the only Florida community to win.


I checked out the official website, it seems rather orbitrary, the application process and all...oh well.

As for walkable/livable....I'm going to leave my computer right now and walk two blocks to Historic Lincoln Road for a little lunch with my friends (they really like to eat in the outside cafe that is downstairs from the modeling agencies), then walk two blocks from there to Miami Beach City Hall (open on Saturday) to vote!!

To vote? Good luck on that, all week the library here has been PACKED with old people, I mean "seniors" and they're so loud :sleepy:

3 days ago an ambulance had to come because someone had a heat stroke (I think that's what it was). The line went from the parking lot, made 10 loops in the library, then upstairs to the voting booths. Stairs? No wonder the line goes so slow, these aren't marathon runners...

To vote? Good luck on that, all week the library here has been PACKED with old people, I mean "seniors" and they're so loud :sleepy:

3 days ago an ambulance had to come because someone had a heat stroke (I think that's what it was). The line went from the parking lot, made 10 loops in the library, then upstairs to the voting booths. Stairs? No wonder the line goes so slow, these aren't marathon runners...
Nope ZULU :) , Their NOT Marathon Runners, lol. BUT Those " Seniors " CAN YELL " GO CANES " !!! :cheers:

Jacksonville is neat!

Oh yeah...Paris...saw her out a on South Beach a couple of weeks ago, I think she is filming a movie here. Not THAT kind of movie!!

Interesting that she is opening a nightclub in Orlando, is it going to be near Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and Gloria Estefan's Bongos Restaurant?? wink, wink :)

The last time I was in Thorton Park area, I went to Hue and some wine bar. This was a few months ago, it was a good time, but everything closed around 1am. In order to get some late night eats we had to drive to Angel's (love that place!) I also really like that Bar b que place in Thorton Park.

Sure, Miami Beach doesn't have nearly as many conventions as Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago, NY, or probably even San Diego.
The events that I mention are more like cultural (I use that term loosely when including the VMA's!!)
Art Basel, the largest art show in the world, is more like a week and half long party for the participants and the residents.
The Winter Music Conference is a the largest electronic music festival on the planet and a week long party on the beaches, in the hotel pools, in the streets, and in Bicentennial park.
The MTV Video Music Awards is another week long party with many events open to the public.
The Orange Bowl....Super Bowl...World Series Championship Baseball Team...

Once you take a boat to Monty's for happy hour, then take the boat to a Miami Heat game and check out the skyline in the middle of winter, it will be pretty hard to argue for any city but Miami/Miami Beach.

Roark, the Paris club is going to be on Church St downtown. It is where the old Cheyenne Salon once was about 10 years ago. Its a great space. Those you mentioned are at citywalk and downtown disney.

I think there are a few latenight restaurants on Wall St, The Globe comes to mind, and there is a new Spanish one I believe. Hue is hot on Thursday nights and the disco brunch on Sundays rocks, check it out next time.

Nope ZULU :) , Their NOT Marathon Runners, lol. BUT Those " Seniors " CAN YELL " GO CANES " !!! :cheers:

Which reminds me, I almost tripped on every cane those old...uh, "seniors" had, they're everywhere, I can't more one meter without having a cane wack my knee from a blind..."senior". They make us call them seniors now :sleepy:

Hey SkyDive...those places there on Wall Street are great...my best friend used to own a restaurant on Central & Orange and I stayed on Broadway near the Lake for awhile. Globe/Loaded Hog/Wall Street Cafe, those places are pretty fun. That Cuban themed bar (I forgot the name) upstairs in downtown is good too.

I was kind of joking about the celebrity restaurants...
Note that all of those celebrities have places in Miami.

When the Heat play in Downtown MIA you can always see Buffet courtside (remember when he got ejected from yelling at a ref?), and when I go for the morning run on the beach, it's not unusual for Miami Beach resident Gloria Estefan to be walking along.
Paris couldn't open a club here because she would be bouncing around in the other clubs until 5am or in the 24 hour entertainment district.
There is no comparison to the Miami nightlife!

LOL ZULU :) , I never thought it that way, Seniors with their CANES, lol GO CANES, WHACK them !, lol , just too much.haha :cheers:

Before I go into my rant... I'd rank them Tampa #1, Miami #2, Jacksonville #3.

Okay, where do I begin? Let's start with nightlife. I'm the nightlife writer for the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. Wanna see a column... check out my column Nocturnal Vibe (http://tbo.com/weblogs/weblognightlife.shtml)

I'll go ahead and attach a photo or two from my adventures the past few weekends...

Here's one of the beautiful bartenders at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/14.jpg

Here is a nice visual from Floyd's.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/floyds/img/12.jpg

More beautiful ladies at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/23.jpg

Okay, I've heard this O'town cat saying Tampa sucks. Get a life dude, Tampa kicks Orlando in almost every catagory, starting with nightlife. Paris Hilton isn't opening a club in Orlando. A local business owner is and he's paying her 1 million a year to use her name. No my friends, Orlando didn't all of a sudden take some of that celeb vibe SoBe is known for. Orlando is a tourist trap that only has the Big Rat going for it. It's in the middle of the state of Florida, and ask yourself this...why the hell would anyone want to camp themselves in the middle of Florida when we have all these beautiful beaches to enjoy? Nuf said!

Tampa combines the best of everything in my opinion. It's old, it's modern. It's industrial, it's edgy, it's artsy, it's pretentious, it's high tech and it's only getting bigger.

Tampa nightlife has the best of Ybor City, Channelside, SoHo, International and surrounding cities like St. Pete and Clearwater. Ybor isn't trashy. It did go through a rough spell where thugs started taking over the streets and it ran most of the yuppies off at night. But the city has cracked down, the young professionals are back, and Ybor is fast becoming a hotspot again. (A brand new club called Lotus Ultra Lounge will be opening on Thursday night by the way) If you think Ybor is trashy, maybe that's because it's urban and feels like a real city, unlike O'town and their fun parks and glossed over tourist meccas.

But O'town, my suggestion is to actually get off the interstate for once. I don't care if you lived in Lakeland all your life, you'll never see the true Tampa by riding your bike down I-4 and 275. Come visit South Tampa. Take a walk down SoHo and venture into Mangroves, Ceviche, Whiskey Park, or the deck at MacDinton's. Drive through the cool urban neighborhoods and check out places like Hyde Park Cafe, or The Rack, the upscale pool hall and sushi bar. And trust me, downtown isn't as quiet as you think. The noise coming from all the contruction of towers and condos is enough to make you wear ear plugs. But Channelside is always hopping. Several downtown pubs are becoming very popular. And you can't deny the hot ass girls walking from UT through our urban core.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh myself on Orlando. I'm not a fan of the city. As I said earlier in this post...I don't like the idea of leaving the coast to spend time inland when living in this state is all about the weather and the water.

As for Miami nightlife...can we all just be honest with ourselves and say it's a bit overrated? I mean, sure, there are tons of bars, clubs and lounges all over Miami, SoBe, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. But how many times have I walked down Washington Ave and seen a line of suckers trying to gain entry into some of those establishments. You call that "great nightlife?" Sure, you're stuck standing outside, watching the stars in the sky, while the hollywood stars strut their shit inside to other idiots who either payed way too much to get a table or just happen to be related to the door guy.

Okay, I've heard this O'town cat saying Tampa sucks. Get a life dude, Tampa kicks Orlando in almost every catagory

First of all, it's a dash. Second, I'll get a life when you stop being a dillusional homer. Tampa "kicks" Orlando at very few things. Third, I never used the word "sucks". I can if you'd like me to.

Orlando is a tourist trap that only has the Big Rat going for it.

Tampa is a giant run-down strip mall with a downtown that belongs under a tombstone, 'cause it ain't breathing. I'll ignore the big rat comment since it's just a rehash of the last 10,000 times someone has said a similar comment, all equally ignorant.

If you think Ybor is trashy, maybe that's because it's urban and feels like a real city, unlike O'town and their fun parks and glossed over tourist meccas.

Pretty > Ugly

You can have all the grit you want. I prefer the so-called un-urban beauty here. And by here I mean Downtown O-Town. Where the buildings aren't crumbling and the streets aren't lined with trash. Most of the "fun parks" you speak of are way outside city limits. How they even come into the conversation is beyond me. Now, I do enjoy Universal, which is well in city limits and more urban than the rest of the attractions. Even Tampa's own park, Busch Gardens, is the ugliest one I've ever seen. Maybe we've got a theme going here?

And I've never lived in Lakeland.

Even Tampa's own park, Busch Gardens, is the ugliest one I've ever seen. Maybe we've got a theme going here?


BGT has been rated one of the most beautiful park in the US! It lies just below Busch Gardens Williamsburg, which is rated the most beautiful park in the country. Btw, you don't need a theme that screams at you. BGT has a very subtle African theme that people have raved about. Also BGT is getting a new roller coaster that will be the first of its kind in the US. It will be the tallest and fastest in FL also.

Before I go into my rant... I'd rank them Tampa #1, Miami #2, Jacksonville #3.

Okay, where do I begin? Let's start with nightlife. I'm the nightlife writer for the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. Wanna see a column... check out my column Nocturnal Vibe (http://tbo.com/weblogs/weblognightlife.shtml)

I'll go ahead and attach a photo or two from my adventures the past few weekends...

Here's one of the beautiful bartenders at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/14.jpg

Here is a nice visual from Floyd's.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/floyds/img/12.jpg

More beautiful ladies at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/23.jpg

Okay, I've heard this O'town cat saying Tampa sucks. Get a life dude, Tampa kicks Orlando in almost every catagory, starting with nightlife. Paris Hilton isn't opening a club in Orlando. A local business owner is and he's paying her 1 million a year to use her name. No my friends, Orlando didn't all of a sudden take some of that celeb vibe SoBe is known for. Orlando is a tourist trap that only has the Big Rat going for it. It's in the middle of the state of Florida, and ask yourself this...why the hell would anyone want to camp themselves in the middle of Florida when we have all these beautiful beaches to enjoy? Nuf said!

Tampa combines the best of everything in my opinion. It's old, it's modern. It's industrial, it's edgy, it's artsy, it's pretentious, it's high tech and it's only getting bigger.

Tampa nightlife has the best of Ybor City, Channelside, SoHo, International and surrounding cities like St. Pete and Clearwater. Ybor isn't trashy. It did go through a rough spell where thugs started taking over the streets and it ran most of the yuppies off at night. But the city has cracked down, the young professionals are back, and Ybor is fast becoming a hotspot again. (A brand new club called Lotus Ultra Lounge will be opening on Thursday night by the way) If you think Ybor is trashy, maybe that's because it's urban and feels like a real city, unlike O'town and their fun parks and glossed over tourist meccas.

But O'town, my suggestion is to actually get off the interstate for once. I don't care if you lived in Lakeland all your life, you'll never see the true Tampa by riding your bike down I-4 and 275. Come visit South Tampa. Take a walk down SoHo and venture into Mangroves, Ceviche, Whiskey Park, or the deck at MacDinton's. Drive through the cool urban neighborhoods and check out places like Hyde Park Cafe, or The Rack, the upscale pool hall and sushi bar. And trust me, downtown isn't as quiet as you think. The noise coming from all the contruction of towers and condos is enough to make you wear ear plugs. But Channelside is always hopping. Several downtown pubs are becoming very popular. And you can't deny the hot ass girls walking from UT through our urban core.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh myself on Orlando. I'm not a fan of the city. As I said earlier in this post...I don't like the idea of leaving the coast to spend time inland when living in this state is all about the weather and the water.

As for Miami nightlife...can we all just be honest with ourselves and say it's a bit overrated? I mean, sure, there are tons of bars, clubs and lounges all over Miami, SoBe, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. But how many times have I walked down Washington Ave and seen a line of suckers trying to gain entry into some of those establishments. You call that "great nightlife?" Sure, you're stuck standing outside, watching the stars in the sky, while the hollywood stars strut their shit inside to other idiots who either payed way too much to get a table or just happen to be related to the door guy.

what a low blow at Orlando. Downtown Orlando is indeed more walkable than downtown Tampa. Downtown Tampa is just depressing. Channelside is sort of cool I guess, but its a lifestyle center, and not even the best in the state (Cityplace in West Palm takes the cake). Ybor City is great, I always enjoy myself, but you cannot say its high up there on the "class" factor.

As for the Paris Hilton thing, you are right, who really cares? Orlando has the best clubs in Florida that I have been to otherwise (Icon, infamous techno scene, Firestone, one of the oldest running clubs in the state of Florida, plus dozens of others that line Orange Ave).

And well, theme parks, I wouldn't even go down that road if I were you.

Well, I am not going to rant and rave, but just point out a few things:

1) the poll says tampa Bay Area -which has Hillsborough and Pinellas with two downtowns (I am not counting Clearwater) and a bunch of beaches. Enough said.

in any event, Tampa is a city, not a street, tehre are a lot of place to go that people not familiar with the place won't know
2) O-Town is way out there - I guess he's being reactionary as so many ofthese thread descend into foolishness. Look, Orlando is nice. Fine. But the BS you spew on Tampa is just that, BS - and to say Tampa is just a big strip mall - excuse me, the most famous road in orlando, actually it's not in Orlando, but whatever, is I-Drive - with a bunch of hotels with huge parking lots and stip malls catering to the odd Euro fasciantion with American sprawl. It can be fun, but it's not quite urban.
3) DT Orlando - well it may rock at night - I can't really comment there because I return to the coast, though I have seen little to indicate that it does - but, while it has some nice spots and I have enjoyed it - it's not really busting out all over during the day (I have sat on Orange avenue for an hour and not seen anyone but the lawn guys [for sunTrust], a couple of buses and city maintenance guys)- and neither is Tampa.
4) as for Ybor - While it gets into car adds where they shine the pavement to reflect the car - it is actually used and old - thus it looks used and old. So what? DT Orlando is not the cleanest place in the world.
5) Channelside - umm, yea, see me in a few years or any weekend, dude.
6) Um, St. Petersburg . . . .
7) Um, beaches . . .
8) Finally, I can't speak about gay bars and the like because I am not gay and my gay frieeds don't do the gay bar scene. Maybe Orlando has a great gay bar scene, couldn't say.

Like I said, I am not going to bash Orlando (though many of you think I do, I really don't and, if I do, it is much less than I bash Tampa), but get a grip man.

In any event, Miami clearly has the best nightlife in Florida. I really don't see how you can argue otherwise. This, of course, doesn't mean you can't dig the other places, but I think it's pretty obvious, especially if you speak Spanish.

OK, not to be critical or anything but this thread sucks!

I've never read so many mis-informed generalizations in my entire life.

Stop the madness now!

:rant:

2) O-Town is way out there - I guess he's being reactionary as so many ofthese thread descend into foolishness. Look, Orlando is nice. Fine. But the BS you spew on Tampa is just that, BS - and to say Tampa is just a big strip mall - excuse me, the most famous road in orlando, actually it's not in Orlando, but whatever, is I-Drive - with a bunch of hotels with huge parking lots and stip malls catering to the odd Euro fasciantion with American sprawl. It can be fun, but it's not quite urban.


I-Drive is actually in Orlando, its just not downtown Orlando. You are probably thinking of Disney being in Lake Buena Vista. Anyways, its not really a big deal, but its a misinformed statement.

^Yeah, this thread has gotten pretty bad. Its beginning to resemble on of those foolish vs. threads in the Southeast section.

First of all, these thread always turn out like this. You can't ask for an opinion on the best cities in the state without people giving you, well, their opinion.

I'll try to be fair here and say that Orlando isn't a bad place. From what I have seen, it's clean, it's new, it's vibrant, and there are many similarities to Tampa in terms of size. But it doesn't appeal to me. As I said in my rant before, I don't like the idea of living in a city in the middle of a state so dedicated to it's coastline. It's the same reason I would rather live in San Francisco than Sacramento. But I'll save that for one of those western threads.

What really pisses me off is when someone goes so far off the deep end to bash a city that don't really know anything about. Tampa is dirty? Take a drive down Bayshore Blvd. tonight around 6 p.m. You'll see one of the more beautiful streets in Florida, with hundreds of people walking and running along the longest continuous sidewalk in America. Take a walk down SoHo, and you'll see lots of trendy restaurants, nightclubs, coffeeshops, and very expensive condos. Drive through the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Beach Park, Seminole Heights, Palma Ceia, etc. and you'll see some of the coolest urban neighborhoods around, sprinkled with cafes, galleries, and pubs. Heck O-town, I'd be glad to show you around one night. Tonight we have our tradition of having tappas at Ceviche in SoHo and then venturing over to Hyde Park Cafe for a night of trance, house, and some of the most beautiful women in Florida.

I've lived all over the east coast. I lived in Youngstown, Ohio. Tampa is not dirty not is it depressed. There is more development going on in downtown and Channelside than any other city besides Miami. Ybor is always a good time and trust me, there isn't trash all over the place. I have a picture at the office from several days ago that I'll post when I get in tomorrow. It's a beautiful urban neighborhood with character and great architecture. It's also a tourist trap by day, so the city has to keep it clean, because there is too much at stake down there. BTW...anyone interested...there is a new club opening in Ybor on Thursday night that will put almost any other club in this state to shame. Obviously the crowd remains to be seen, but the design elements of this joint is insane!

Okay...so who's gonna show me some of the Orlando nightlife????

I-Drive is actually in Orlando, its just not downtown Orlando. You are probably thinking of Disney being in Lake Buena Vista. Anyways, its not really a big deal, but its a misinformed statement.

That's interesting because every map I have every seen shows the city limits of Orlando ending at north of Sea World, the Convention Center and Martin Marietta somewhere. did they annex it?

^I believed Orlando annexed that area a couple of years ago. Som kind of way, they've also annexed land all the way down to the Osceola County line.

Okay...so who's gonna show me some of the Orlando nightlife????


If you are sincerely interested, I can give you some pointers, both in the touristy areas of town and downtown as well. Downtown caters purely to the local scene so IMO its far more interesting, although cast member nights at Pleasure Island (Mon and Thurs) tend to be a good time because there are so many people. Citywalk has has some fun places, some rather artifical, but the Hardrock usually brings in awesome shows. Still in the touristy areas, Pointe Orlando has a few clubs that have become hotspots recently, and the Dueling Pianos at the Boardwalk brings in a lot of local talent.

In and around downtown, there is of course the Orange Ave/Church St area, which is ablaze pretty much every night of the week with a pleathera of different scenes. Then there is the emerging Ivanhoe district that seems to be going more gay recently, LAVA is sort of an institution around there at this point. Thornton Park is the "see and be seen" area of Orlando (HUE, Dexter's, Roccos, the Winery). A bit further, College Park is also blossoming, a new restaurant/lounge called Taste recently opened and its totally fun.

And then of course there is Winter Park and all of its own establishments. I'm leaving a lot out, but if you are interested in more than just Disney and Seaworld on your next visit, I can steer you in the right direction.

As for the coast thing, I too like the coast, but thats not to say that Orlando doesn't have its own natural assets. My family has lived in College Park for over 10 years and the chain of lakes are really wonderful for skiing and boating. There is also the Butler Chain in West Orlando (around Isleworth).

As for Miami nightlife...can we all just be honest with ourselves and say it's a bit overrated? I mean, sure, there are tons of bars, clubs and lounges all over Miami, SoBe, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. But how many times have I walked down Washington Ave and seen a line of suckers trying to gain entry into some of those establishments. You call that "great nightlife?" Sure, you're stuck standing outside, watching the stars in the sky, while the hollywood stars strut their shit inside to other idiots who either payed way too much to get a table or just happen to be related to the door guy.

Yeah...this thread is digressing quite a bit. This isn't to knock anybody or any city, but to simply defend my humble little town!

Here's my final thought on nightlife. Still beyond compare to any other city in the US (save, maybe Vegas).

If you think that the SoBeach nightlife is over rated because you walked down the street and were never invited to a party, then you are right; it's overrated. Sure, we can be honest.

Next time, walk down Washington with a few beautiful girls and you are sure to be let in and pay a cover. If you yourself are interesting and the girls are interesting, then none of you have to pay cover. That's the secret. You don't wait in line outside, you don't pay cover, and you are likely to have an amazing time. You don't have to be related to the doorman, you don't have to be a hollywood actor, just bring something interesting to the party.

If indoor clubs are not your cup of tea, go to the Raleigh Pool, Nikki Beach Club, the Clevelander or any number of places that are larger and are active day and night, and within walking distance of each other.

Rated/overrated are very subjective, but for volume/longevity/quality, I'm still voting for MIA.

South Beach is the Super Bowl of nightlife. If any city's bars/nightclubs close at 2am, then that city's game ended in the third quarter! Miami Beach nightclubs close at 5am, and if you want to win it in overtime, then Miami's 24 hour entertainment district never closes.

Here are some photos from last Friday (http://www.michaelcapponi.com/html/partyflash.htm) After this...I'm keeping it all to tall buildings!!
Promise.

actually part of Orlando is I-drive. I-drive is intersected by Sand Lake Road. It's the point from where the big ugly Micky D's is.
From that point on South is unincorporated Orange County. From that point north is Orlando. There is even a sign that says "Orlando city limits" as you're driving down I-drive. The convention Center & Pointe Orlando are not Orlando city-limits, but Wet n Wild and the surrounding area are.
As far as nightlife, I can chime in on that. Tampa has ybor, which is the main party center for your typical younger, low 20's crowd. From there on out however, the clubs and bars are spread out, and it's nearly impossible to club or bar hop without a car. However, SoHo IS coming up and it's quite chic, however it caters to the older crowd (and hey, there's nothing wrong with that).
Orlando's nightlife is concentrated in downtown Orlando, and the theme parks. Disregarding the artificial nature of the theme parks, Downtown Orlando caters to that young 20's crowd, but still has something for everybody. And the best part is you can get on your feet and bar or club hop. It also has an urban setting, with office buildings mixed with retail and residential, with tree-lined streets.
I've partied in both cities, im 22 years old and I can say this... Orlando caters more to my kind of crowd. The younger, vibrant population. Tampa caters to an older more mature crowd. Also, Orlando's best nightlife is located in a strictly urban environment while Tampa's is on a strip in an industrial area, and in upscale urban neighborhoods. I prefer Orlando, but I will say that Tampa still has much to offer (Guavaween rocks), just not as much for my kind of crowd.
Hope both sides can at least agree on this.

There are more than 30 bars and clubs in Ybor. Two cater to a younger crowd. Unfortunately, people see this and associated the entire district with those two clubs.

I'm wondering where some of you go when you venture into Tampa for nightlife? Have you been to HPC? Have you been to The Rack, Whisley Park, or Bahasa? Have you been to Amphitheater, Prana, Level III or Rare Olive in Ybor?

As for Miami nightlife...yes, it's probably some of the best in the country. I personally think it's better than Vegas, but I still think NYC and LA give it a run. Prive' is one of my favorite joints in town. Mynt has always been fun and Crobar was interesting. I took my woman to Grass last week and really enjoyed it. I've never been in Mansion or BED. I've heard lots of good things about the pool at Raleigh. Being that I live in Tampa, it's hard to get down there all the time and experience all these places. Last time we were there, we stayed at Townhouse. I always have a good time in Miami.

I never have a problem getting in places because a. I'm an entertainment writer. b. I usually have my fiance and her friend with me, and they are both very attractive. c. some of my good friends Sheldon Prince and Josh Wilkins are on the Lust For House collective and spin at Opium and other places around the city.

Did you take those photos Roark?

As for Miami nightlife...yes, it's probably some of the best in the country. I personally think it's better than Vegas, but I still think NYC and LA give it a run. Last time we were there, we stayed at Townhouse. I always have a good time in Miami.

I never have a problem getting in places because a. I'm an entertainment writer. b. I usually have my fiance and her friend with me, and they are both very attractive. c. some of my good friends Sheldon Prince and Josh Wilkins are on the Lust For House collective and spin at Opium and other places around the city.

Did you take those photos Roark?
Nah...I would have too much trouble holding the camera still. Those are from Michael Capponi's Friday party at Prive. He also promotes a great party Wed at B.E.D.
My photo collection will be kept private to protect the guilty!

I'm with you...I think that Miami is better than LV & LA, in fact, I know a couple of people from each of those cities that have moved to Sobe and believe SoBe to have better nightlife.

If you ever make it up to Tampa, I'll be throwing a party on Friday nights at Floyd's at the Hard Rock. We're still working out details, but they have very deep pockets and are looking into some high profile DJs for the event. I'll keep everyone on this forum informed.

One thing I love about Miami is that it's just as urban as NYC, with a SoBe flair. I love how I can take my woman into a place like Grass, enjoy some great food, but also stay awhile and people watch. Who knows, I might end up living down there in the next year or so. My woman is in the Coast Guard and could get stationed there. We're trying to stay here in Tampa because of my job, but I writing about Miami nightlife wouldn't be too bad either! :)

Here is a link to my column called Nocturnal Vibe (http://tbo.com/weblogs/weblognightlife.shtml)

All my club reviews and photo galleries are on that page. I have about 300 photos in the office to add to the galleries from the past two weeks, but I've been slammed. They aren't too shabby.

I barely go to South beach because it's so crowded. When going to beaches I go a bit more north but not passed Hollywood beach. Much less people but you cannot avoid parking problems. Even there our van was dented by these old people from Maryland. I felt bad for them (80 year olds in the hot sun for hours) but it WAS their fault.No, you can't escape ze seniors, AARP will take over Miami!

Everytime I go to Miami beach there is always a case where a senior suffers a heart attack from half naked cuban dancers, or in other cases the common Miami apartment murders. Really, we drive up to the parking lot and there it is, the same ambulance every day! They must have an all nightstand or something :sleepy:

BUT ZULU :) , they still come, in all shapes, ages, colors, from all around the globe, SOUTH BEACH just Draws them here, no matter how crowded it is, ITS THE SUN, FUN , Capital of the WORLD, MIAMI BEACH !!, we bring you the JACKIE GLEASON SHOW, lol. :cheers:

Oh I want them to keep coming. More people, more money, more happieness. Well, more money atleast for us citizens ::polishes shoes:: I just hate it when people every 5 seconds ask me to take a picture of them next to there $100 000 car manufactured in Michigan :sleepy:

Oh I want them to keep coming. More people, more money, more happieness. Well, more money atleast for us citizens ::polishes shoes:: I just hate it when people every 5 seconds ask me to take a picture of them next to there $100 000 car manufactured in Michigan :sleepy:


correction, designed in michigian... manufactored in korea *wink wink...
its a global economy man, keep up lol

Go to Detroit and you'll see what I mean, factories everywhere!

ZULU :) , ITS ONLY IN MIAMI, look at the VOTER's POLL here, ONLY 2 away from the BIG 50 for MIAMI, wow, SO MANY ' SENIORS ' out there Yelling " GO CANES ", lol. :cheers:

I went back today, much more people voting. They keep handing me pins, Kerry stickers and everything, I just throw them away when I leave.

---

I've been to pensacola, the coast of the pan handle is overdeveloped, too many cheap (many of them ugly) houses there, except Navarra beach, that buildings there were actually nice. I'm glad I don't see ugly one story beach houses on sticks along Miami beach...

ZULU, :) GUESS WHAT !!!!, ONE MORE in the VOTE Poll, and we're FIFTY, wow, GO SENIORS, keep Yelling " MIAMI's FOR ME ". GO GO GO Canes, lol. :cheers:

WOW...looks like my vote just became the 50th. (As if there is really any doubt as to the difinitve FLA city)

THANKS Embarcadero :) , Lets Celebrate !!! :cheers: , Yes, Your Vote did it, MIAMI IS NOW 50, lol. I wonder how long it will take to make 100 , maybe 2 years, lol. :)

____:bash:
Tampa^ ^Miami

ZULU, :) lol, Your So Funny, I'm cracking Up, :cheers:

haha, so sad, yet so true

no offense to the tampa guys ...keep trying, lol

I went back today, much more people voting. They keep handing me pins, Kerry stickers and everything, I just throw them away when I leave.

---

I've been to pensacola, the coast of the pan handle is overdeveloped, too many cheap (many of them ugly) houses there, except Navarra beach, that buildings there were actually nice. I'm glad I don't see ugly one story beach houses on sticks along Miami beach...

Like anywhere, you have the nice parts and the bad parts..I specifically remember a beautiful Pensacola street, the Scenic Highway, with beautiful homes on cliffs (yes cliffs). Pensacola Beach was also very nice, the nicest beach in Florida IMO.

____:bash:
Tampa^ ^Miami
LOL ZULU :) , This Could be REALITY in January, 2007 in Our Own SUPERBOWL, when the MIAMI DOPHINS :) play the TAMPA BAY BUCS :bash: , and I wonder Who's gonna WIN, YES, I can"t WAIT !!! VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE, We need Your VOTE Now !!! :cheers:

WELCOME MAGIC-CITY :) to the Florida Forum, Make Sure you have VOTED for your Favorite CITY, and POST your OPINION about Your Chioce and Again WELCOME to the Florida Forum :) , Your Comments are very Welcome here. And Please POST any PICS you have of OUR CITYS, Thanks. :cheers:

Jacksonville (my home town) and St. Augustine.
I used to make side trips to St. Augustine every weekend or so and I never hated it. Good food, good views, and good atmosphere.

Miami all the way! I like the vibes the size and cultural differences.Not to mention a kick ass skyline. But I also like orlando for its rapid growth, and even though its not as big as miami, its a very rapid fast paced city.

BUBBA :) , True About ORLANDO, it is a Fast growing City , too, I agree, BUT MIAMI is Still THE ONE, and we're still Having FUN, Because YOUR THE ONE !!!!!!!!, Don't FORGET TO VOTE on this POLL !!! :cheers:

By 2015, we are going to be looking at very different cities in the state of Florida. It will be interesting to see the residential density figures for each of the downtowns by then, as well as vibrancy.

People's perceptions of a city is often influenced by the vibrancy of the downtown area, and Orlando is going to be in good shape by then. :)

well i don't think that this thread was really fair what city can say the have video games,movies,shows, etc named after them(miami and newyork)
so it could of been closer if miami didn't have any of these

WELCOME JR79 :) , and BUBBAGump :) , to the FLORIDA Forum, PLEASE VOTE :) on Your Favorite Florida CITY and Then POST Your Opinion on the Selection you Made. We Need 100 VOTES here and its almost Complete !!!. AGAIN ,Welcome To The FLORIDA Forum :) , Your Comments and INFO are always Inviting, Thank You. :cheers:

Like anywhere, you have the nice parts and the bad parts..I specifically remember a beautiful Pensacola street, the Scenic Highway, with beautiful homes on cliffs (yes cliffs). Pensacola Beach was also very nice, the nicest beach in Florida IMO.


I wish they protected the beaches better though. Panama city is this big ugly overdeveloped town, sand is great, but the land value is too high to have these crappy buildings there (no offense to anyone who lives there, just my opinion)...

WELCOME Mianight69 :) , to the Florida Forum, PLease Make Sure YOU VOTE on this POLL, and Make your POST on the Decision You made and AGAIN Welcome :) to the Florida Forum, Your Opinions are welcome here anytime. :cheers:

WOW :) , Now 46 % and Growing, We need 100 Votes here to make this Look Good, Keep Voting Everyone :) , YOUR VOTE COUNTS !!! Again , NewCommers, WELCOME to the Florida Forum. :cheers:

Miami, seeing the skyline every morning on my way to work glistening off the bay is amazing. Also Miami Beach, a true urban environment. Look ma no Car, LOL.

I wish they protected the beaches better though. Panama city is this big ugly overdeveloped town, sand is great, but the land value is too high to have these crappy buildings there (no offense to anyone who lives there, just my opinion)...

Panama City Beach is indeed the trashy beach in the state. That, however, is a small section of the Panhandle, which while it isn't the most exciting place on Earth, has some charming aspects.

WELCOME HAVOK :) , YES , its A sight When I see it every Morning , TOO, But you have to SEE MIAMI at NIGHT :) , especially coming from MIAMI BEACH, either on the I-395 OR the I-195 :) , THE NIGHT LIGHTS make YOUR HEART POUND, its Wonderful. :cheers:

I wish there was a way to have a orlando vs tampa thread, involving intelligent reasonable discussion. Im just afraid there would be tearing apart of both cities.

^Those threads are rather useless considering area demographics. There have been these kinds of threads before and I've seriously learned nothing about either city other than boosterism.

I wish there was a way to have a orlando vs tampa thread, involving intelligent reasonable discussion. Im just afraid there would be tearing apart of both cities.
GREAT BUBBA :) , You Voted For Tampa, NOW we need 14 VOTES MORE for a PERFECT 100. :cheers:

GREAT EVERYONE :) , Another VOTE, we JUST need 13 MORE to make a PERFECT 100 :) . AGAIN , Welcome to the Florida Forum !!!

This is Good Everyone :) , One More Vote, All we need is 12 More Votes for a Perfect 100. :cheers:
Again , Welcome to The Florida Forum :) , Your Vote and Post Your Opinion is Welcomed . :cheers:

GREAT :) , I see some NEWCOMERS :) here in the FLORIDA FORUM, WELCOME :) !!!, Make SURE you VOTE, Here, MAKE IT COUNT !, and Post your Opinion about YOUR Choice. AGAIN :) New Registers, Welcome to the Florida Forum !!! :cheers:
WE Need 10 MORE VOTES to make A Perfect 100, YES ! :cheers:

MIATrumpSter :) , WELCOME to the Florida Florum, Your VOTE Counts HERE, Please Vote and POST your Opinion about Your VOTE :) , Again , Welcome to the Florida Florum :cheers: ,
WE Only Need 9 MORE VOTES to make a Perfect 100 !!! :cheers: P.S. Is that really 47 % of Voters for MIAMI, It is the Magic CITY. :)

If We Have 58 Votes Of 91 Isn't That Like 60 Percent

BLINK182 :) , You Started a THREAD That HAS THE ANSWERS RIGHT here in THIS TREAD :) , You being in California, SHOULD STAY THERE :) and Please Don't ADD Threads that ARE NO USE for OUR STATE . :cheers:
:) Please be More Carefull next time in creating a DISPUTE Thread Such as the ONE you Just created.
I'm Just trying to make a SIMPLE Point here. :cheers:

SO TRUE STREET :) , so True BRO !!! :cheers:

WELCOME MiamiSunCity :) to the Florida Forum, GREAT PICS :) and INFO you have given US so Far, ITS Your Turn to VOTE for Your Favorite CITY and Post your Opinion on the City you have Chosen. :cheers:
We have ONLY 8 MORE VOTES to make a PERFECT 100 !!!, AGAIN , Welcome to the Florida Forum :cheers:

WELCOME BOBO :) To the FLORIDA FORUM :) , You Can Make YOUR VOTE COUNT Right here. We Have ONLY 7 MORE VOTES to make this a PERFECT 100 ! :cheers:
Again BOBO, Name Calling Is Forgiven Here at the Most Friendley State in the Nation !!!, WE Should ALL JOIN at ONE PLACE in the STATE and HAVE OUR PICTURE Taken Like those MEN at the TOP of this WEBSITE ,LOL, WELCOME Again and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL !!! :cheers:

Thanx Chucky

Damn Miami of course

Your WELCOME BOBO :) !!!, Only 2 MORE VOTES :) to make This THREAD a PERFECT 100 VOTES :cheers: , Lets DO IT ALL, VOTE NOW New MEMBERS of The FLORIDA FORUM !!! :cheers:

I like Miami, but in the end I had to go with Zuber.

Miami. I rather to live in Miami and Los Angeles.

Pensacola has been devastated by hurricanes--check out some pictures at www.pensacolanewsjournal.com

For whatever reason P'cola is a forgotten place even though it had the most beautiful beachs in the world before the last hurricane.

The economy is modet to poor--almost non-existent except for retired military.

1st is Miami
2nd is Tampa
3rd is Orlando

1st is Miami- Most unique skyline is FL
2nd is Tampa- Larger Skyline than Orlando but smaller than Miami
3rd is Orlando- If not because of the FAA restriction, Orlando would be above Tampa for FL cities. Orlando is growing rapidly with 6 new skyscrapers under construction.
4th is Jacksonville- City skyline looks too old. Although the biggest city in FL (as in land mass) it's lacking uniqueness. The Modis building is the only building in my opinion that stands out.

I would def take jax before orlando, definitely!

in my opinion,i've been to jax and its was one of the most boring experiences of my life

so it would be orlando for me

Tampa, Miami, and Orlando.

I've gotta go with Tampa, Orlando and Jax... I love visiting the Miami area, but I'm quite certain I wouldn't want to live there.

Jax for me. I like the appeal of beach and large river in the same city. The variations to the environment are huge too. Westside forests, southside and northside swamps. Desert like dunes at the Jettys, Deerwood and Regency (although the last two are almost gone from major retail centers). Small town feel in Baldwin and large city in downtown.

I've gotta go with Tampa, Orlando and Jax... I love visiting the Miami area, but I'm quite certain I wouldn't want to live there.
JASON :) , Bro, You don't have to LIVE here in MIAMI :) to make a Load of Money on Buying a condo in one of the PROPOSED 50 Buildings, - 400 FOOT PLUS, 20,000 UNITs, 300,000 EACH, Condo Towers Ready to go UP Just in the CITY LIMITS of MIAMI :) in the Next 5 Years, ALL to be COMPLETED by 2010, and GUAREENTEE to SELL for DOUBLE when BUILT for RESALES. JUST INVEST in the PRE SALES and put ONLY 10 % DOWN, another 10 % When Groundbroken, and Pay the REST when completed and SELL it for Double the Amount. LIVE RICHLY, by Just INVESTING and NOT LIVING HERE , lol. :cheers: Also GO CRANES !!! :cheers:

Tampa is the best I have seen and with its Downtown redevelopment well under way, we can only see a true urban feel come. Orlando sucks way to Mickey for me... Miami is cool and Jacksonville is rather confusing whether it is a big city or not. The whole panhandle is very boring as it isn't Florida, it's Alabama.

I gotta go with ORLANDO. The skyline is very "Florida". There's alot of development in Orlando right now, from the 37 story twin tower Ivanhoe, to the twin 37 story Tradition Towers, 35 story Vue at Lake Eola, 31 story 55 West, 37 and 34 story Orlando Palace, 27 story Dynatech, also the New 42 story Peabody Hotel. There's also The Benchmark Building and the 27 story Premiere Trade Plaza. As well as twin North Orange Condo towers and confirmed but not annouced, Central Park Apts which should be a very tall highrise in Orlando. All these approved buildings should be completed by 2008, by then Orlando will DEFINITELY stand out as one of the most beautiful skylines in Florida. BTW...Even with the FAA restriction, Orlando still manages to have more and more skyscrapers built, just imagine Orlando without the restriction.

MIAMI IS REALLY THE HOTTEST AND SEXIEST CITY IN FLORIDA. WHEN CELEBERTIES AND THE THE FAMOUS TRAVEL TO PARTY THEY COME ONLY TO MIAMI.

^Not true, Orlando gets its share of celebrities as well.

^ and so does Tampa :)

MIAMI :) :) :) :) :)

2nd was Tampa/Orlando

TRUE BLINK :) , MIAMI ROCKS the 21st CENTURY :cheers: , and 3 MILLION METRO Residents in MIAMI-DADE County by 2015 !!!, WOW :) , MIAMI is For Me and U,,, GO CRANES !!! :cheers:

MIAMI IS REALLY THE HOTTEST AND SEXIEST CITY IN FLORIDA. WHEN CELEBERTIES AND THE THE FAMOUS TRAVEL TO PARTY THEY COME ONLY TO MIAMI.
Ladies :) And Gentlemen :) , This is really true about travel to MIAMI, FLORIDA. :cheers:
Check out this History of Greater MIAMI :) ;
MIAMI :) Holds the distinction of being the only U.S.A. city conceived By a Woman :cheers: . The Wife of a wealthy industrialist from Cleveland, Ohio, JULIA TUTTLE :) ( Also the name of a GREAT I-195 Miami Expressway To Miami Beach ), Arrived here in MIAMI :) in 1875 in a Mail Boat ( Only way to get to MIAMI, Fla, Back Then ), with two small children and a vision of transforming the river front Seminole Indian Trading Post community into a city :cheers: .Also, there was ruins of a U.S. Army camp known during the Civil War as Fort Dallas. The Nearest Railroad in those days of The Wild West :runaway: was Nearly 400 Miles Away. :sleepy:
HENRY FLAGLER :) , Was " The Man ", Owner and Developer of the Famous East Coast :) Railroad during the Turn of the 20th Century was persuded :bash: lol, by Julia Tuttle with a Bouquet of Fresh Orange Blossoms sent to Flagler and a offer of 300 acres of her land in the Winter of 1895. It was evidence of MIAMI's ability to deliver Citrus Fruit to Northern Markets year-round. It Worked !!! :cheers: , In Fact, Henry Flagler :) steamed his Great Railroad into MIAMI :) a Year later, making the First step in the Evolution of MIAMI, FLORIDA. Go Cranes !!! :cheers:

tampa and Miami is tied, next comes Orlando.

I just knew that Miami is not the biggest Florida city, like I always thought it was, its actually Jacksonville.

tampa and Miami is tied, next comes Orlando.

I just knew that Miami is not the biggest Florida city, like I always thought it was, its actually Jacksonville.
AZN_CHINA :) ,JACKSONVILLE :) is THE 98 % of DUVAL COUNTY, its BIG BY LAND, ONLY !!!, back in 1975, Jacksonville was a Regular CITY with a Population Smaller than TAMPA :) and MIAMI :) :cheers:
IN FACT :) , DUVAL :) COUNTY Population in 2004 was ONLY 800,000 , MIAMI-DADE :) COUNTY POPULATION is OVER 2 MILLION, 400 THOUSAND Friendley RESIDENTS, lol. :cheers:

Alot of people don't realize this, but Miami proper's density per square mile is as dense or denser than Chicago and NYC.

Anyone else notice that the ranking in our poll here almost perfectly mimics the population of the state's metros?

I would assume that it's generally safe to say that the bigger a city is, the more our members like it. (wow, am I smart or what?! lol)

Anyone else notice that the ranking in our poll here almost perfectly mimics the population of the state's metros?

I would assume that it's generally safe to say that the bigger a city is, the more our members like it. (wow, am I smart or what?! lol)
Well JASON :) , It could Also be the Percentage of LATINS :) PER CITY, lol.
ITS Perfect !!!, 55 % of MIAMI-DADE :) County is LATIN, And its True percentage of LATINS in Orlando :) and Tampa :) , and True About Jacksonville :) , the African-Americans Are More than the Latins There. :cheers:

NO Problem Jason :) , I've been a member of this Forum for over 6 months now, and only one other member had a complaint about my caps, so i'll cut my caps in half , and cut my smiles to just after the member names to be friendley with them o.k., its nothing in the rules about using too much of nice gestures to keep everyone happy, but I'll do it to keep you , Happy, o.k. ???. Thanks Jason :) for being a good staffer. :cheers:

I would assume that it's generally safe to say that the bigger a city is, the more our members like it. (wow, am I smart or what?! lol)I think you got something going there. Sounds like thesis material to me. :)

NOBODY LIKES FT MYERS NOW, CUZ ITS BORING OR CUZ IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE A CITY OVERALL, BUT IN A FEW YEARS FT MYERS WILL BE BIGGEST THAN MIAMI!!

i live IN CAPE CORAL, ANOTHER PRETTY CITY, IS FULL OF CANALS, AND GOLF COURSES, THE PEOPLE IN HERE ARE PRETTY GOOD. IN FORT MYERS NOW WE CAN SEE ALOT OF REAL ESTATE, ....I LOVE FT MYERS.....

NOBODY LIKES FT MYERS NOW, CUZ ITS BORING OR CUZ IT DOESNT LOOK LIKE A CITY OVERALL, BUT IN A FEW YEARS FT MYERS WILL BE BIGGEST THAN MIAMI!!

i live IN CAPE CORAL, ANOTHER PRETTY CITY, IS FULL OF CANALS, AND GOLF COURSES, THE PEOPLE IN HERE ARE PRETTY GOOD. IN FORT MYERS NOW WE CAN SEE ALOT OF REAL ESTATE, ....I LOVE FT MYERS.....


Having lived in FM for over a decade, I just have to say. The cape is one of the ugliest places in the world. I love FM tho, yet still, no way it will beat Miami in our lifetimes.

Having lived in FM for over a decade, I just have to say. The cape is one of the ugliest places in the world. I love FM tho, yet still, no way it will beat Miami in our lifetimes.
LOL, POLA :) , Everyone wants to beat MIAMI, its just like the number after my name. :cheers:

Welcome MiamiTom :) to the Florida Forum, please make sure you vote on this thread, also all Miami posts and info , pics and opinions are in the Miami Metro thread at the top of the Florida Forum page , info you need to post pics are in this thread. again MiamiTom , welcome to the florida Florum, make sure your vote counts !!! :cheers:

Tampa
Miami
Orlando
Cocoa Beach/Melbourne :eek2:

Tampa gets my vote, it has something for everone. We moved from Tampa to Pensacola ... what a mistake. Can't wait to head south again!

BeachGal :) , try heading south to MIAMI, the sun-fun-entertainment-thrilling-tennis-golf-football-basketball-baseball-swimming-art-deco-birdwatching-parrots-whales-dophins-monkeys-alligators-casinos-indians-100-different-country-languages-most-cars-trucks-dumptrucks-cement-trucks-semi-trucks-jeeps-boats-mopeds-bikes-wheelchairs-singers-actors-actresses-arctitects-authors-doctors-dentists-nurses-lawyers-teachers-most tower construction cranes capital of our nation of the U.S.A. You gotta love it here, lol. :cheers:

Welcome Mike :) and Jorge :) to the Florida Forum, we, all here are a friendley family , and we will do the best we can to keep you informed of many projects and construction updates in the great state of Florida, please vote for your favorite city here and post your opinions about your choice, again Mike and Jorge, you are very welcome here to the Florida Forum !!! :cheers:

Chuck, you're looking mighty psychotic again....:D

Chuck, you're looking mighty psychotic again....:D
No problem Jason, anything for you, keep up the great staffer work , so I re-edited the last two.

Alot of people don't realize this, but Miami proper's density per square mile is as dense or denser than Chicago and NYC.
Wow JZ :) , does that mean with the 50 plus 400 Foot plus towers going up and already approved by the city of Miami commission to go up in the next 4 years means more people per square mile than Tokyo , Japan ??? :cheers:

Alot of people don't realize this, but Miami proper's density per square mile is as dense or denser than Chicago and NYC.

I was waiting for someone else to comment on this, But I guess I'll Do it.

Not sure where JZ got his info, But here are the stats I got for Density.

This is the source :http://www.demographia.com/db-us90city100kdens.htm


Rank City & State Population Square Miles Population per Square Mile Population per Square Kilometer
1 New York city NY 7,322,564 308.9 23,702 9,151
2 East Los Angeles CDP CA 126,379 7.5 16,819 6,494
3 Paterson city NJ 140,891 8.4 16,691 6,444
4 San Francisco city CA 723,959 46.7 15,502 5,985
5 Jersey City city NJ 228,537 14.9 15,360 5,931
6 Chicago city IL 2,783,726 227.2 12,251 4,730
7 Inglewood city CA 109,602 9.2 11,955 4,616
8 Boston city MA 574,283 48.4 11,860 4,579
9 Philadelphia city PA 1,585,577 135.1 11,734 4,530
10 Newark city NJ 275,221 23.8 11,555 4,461
11 El Monte city CA 106,209 9.5 11,179 4,316
12 Santa Ana city CA 293,742 27.1 10,845 4,187
13 Yonkers city NY 188,082 18.1 10,402 4,016
14 Miami city FL 358,548 35.6 10,079 3,891
15 Washington DC 606,900 61.4 9,883 3,816
16 Berkeley city CA 102,724 10.5 9,824 3,793
17 Hialeah city FL 188,004 19.2 9,770 3,772

These are from the 1990 census

Sorry it is so hard to read . Not sure how to seperate the numbers

TONY :) , I did check out that graph at that website, did you notice # 194 - Jacksonville's square miles at 759, the largest square mile city in the Intercontinental U.S.A., not counting Alaska ???, very interesting. :cheers:

i definitely prefer the miami area. it has an urban feel all around, although it could use some beautification projects for the suburbs as well as the more poor regions. Second on my list is Jacksonville because it gives off the feeling of a northeast steel city.

Tampa gets my vote, it has something for everone. We moved from Tampa to Pensacola ... what a mistake. Can't wait to head south again!


I was in Pensacola for 5 weeks doing disaster relief will Bell South after hurricane Ivan. The obvious damage and hardship caused by that notwithstanding, it was the first trip I've ever been on where I was actually happy to be back in Tampa. (A recent trip to exurban Georgia south of ATL was even worse, so take comfort in that!)

i definitely prefer the miami area. it has an urban feel all around, although it could use some beautification projects for the suburbs as well as the more poor regions. Second on my list is Jacksonville because it gives off the feeling of a northeast steel city.
Yes, Greenwood :) , I second that about Jacksonville, its like the old phrase, " the women there iron all day, while the men steel all night " lol, I kill myself. :cheers:

its got to be milan

my fav is either destin or orlando.

I was in Pensacola for 5 weeks doing disaster relief will Bell South after hurricane Ivan. The obvious damage and hardship caused by that notwithstanding, it was the first trip I've ever been on where I was actually happy to be back in Tampa. (A recent trip to exurban Georgia south of ATL was even worse, so take comfort in that!)

I know what you mean, I just spent a long weekend in Newnam, GA. and as hard as I find it to believe, it was actually worse than Pensacola. But the good news is we're planning on moving back towards Tampa either the end of this year or the beginning of next ... I just can't wait!

as being to almost all of the FL cities here is my review


Orlando: Been here quite a bit for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.. Overall all I think Orlando is a better place to visit, and to aviod living in... Traffic sucks, construction on half of all major roads. 1 street happens to be named "the most deadliest in Florida" (forget which one-might be OBT) to many tourists that drive like retards, Damn tolls every time you use a certain area off the high way. The mall sucks, Orlando is mostly made up of tourist attractions and outlet malls.. The radio stations play the same songs over and over. From what I hear the rent cost is ridiculously over priced to live in this city... But I do highly recomend Holloween Horror Nights to anyone!!

Miami: I have only been here once, and was mostly spent lost and 90% of the time the the worst ghetto's Miami has to offer. Using the Florida turnpike i had to pay $10.50 toll just to enter the miami area. Had car trouble in North Miami. Then agian in opillaka? (hysi) Spent the night in little havanna, almost got car jacked in Overtown. and left.. So i cant gather to much of a fair critic' on Miami.. But atleast i know where the worst parts are.. other then that, the city scape was amazing. at sundown was the best.

Tampa: This place has a porn store and liqour store on every corner, alot of clubs, ybor city is decent entertainment for about 2 weeks, now they have camera's hanging on telephone poles.. Tampa's crime rate is rather high for its size.. $40 reg. Rooms. City is much better then orlando, better traffic, better skyline/drive, better malls. crappy beaches. Easy to figure out roads and highways/exits. Easy to find entertainment shopping/dining/sports/porn/bars/clubs/strip clubs

FT. Myers: Just CRAP.. Nothing to do, Skyline and traffic are fair. Reg. Hotel room $80 not much to say.. although some awesome hurricane damage photo opps still remain.

Daytona Beach: Cops up the ass, I actually got arrested here once, he initially pulled me over because i had a screw missing on my licence plate.. $50 rooms.. The Dessert Inn & The Mayan are probably the best hotels for the price.. $125 Balcony/Hottub ocean side suite. Plenty to do. Traffic isnt bad at all. great beach. great place for a low cost trip

Gainesville: College town.. need i say more.. Traffic is very poor at certain times.. Good Hospital. Few places to work due to students payin for college... Decent mall, Crappy clubs. Good campus parties. Not very urban.

Tallahasee One of the only Florida cities i havent explored..

Jacksonville My favorite city yet.. Amazing skyline & bridges. Malls are A+.. Traffic is okay, Jacksonville beach is nice, college nearby, Zoo is best in Florida i have been to so far. Skytram, for downtown commuters. Crime is bad in parts.. Best place for 4th of july in FL on my vote (only if u stay the night, otherwise it will talke you a lifetime in traffic on Beach BLVD. and Atlantic Ave.


My stands
1: Jacksonville
2: Daytona Beach
3: Tampa
4: Miami ( only from my bad experience )
5: Orlando

you have a negative view on pretty much everything... just curious how you rate a city based on the quality of the malls, and the price of the hotel rooms.
To each their own I suppose.

Crappy beaches? LOL, I guess if you go to Ben Davis Beach :P

Stop KRYing Monkey Zooma :sleepy: !!!, The one time you came to Miami, had of been 25 years ago during the Mcduffie Riots, which was May 16-18th, 1980, a bad weekend to visit all those places you had trouble in. Believe me KRYMZ, I was there, scared with my family, locked behind doors and close windows, afraid to step outside of being shot by any black person, it was also my worst weekend here in Miami. All those places you mention were the hardest hits, burning buildings and dead white people, over 25 died just in that one weekend. And now you have open that horrible memory again.
P.S.Shame on you, KRYMZ :eek2: , I sure like to visit your town or city and spit on your land.

I like Tampa and Miami. Miami for the party atmosphere, and Tampa for it's business-oriented atmosphere.

Chuck calm down dude... sheesh!

as being to almost all of the FL cities here is my review
My stands
1: Jacksonville
2: Daytona Beach
3: Tampa
4: Miami ( only from my bad experience )
5: Orlando
That was pretty negative.
You seem like the kind of person that people in the forum would NEVER invite to their party.
Remain miserable, that is your choice.
However, anyone planning a trip to Miami or Miami Beach....Holla...just go to Miami forum and mention what you enjoy and there a over a 100 of people that are fantastically passionate about their city and can direct you to a club, restaurant, walking tour or even a bed and breakfast/brothel.

And yeah J, what the hell happened to you Chuckles...chill out. Love you when you aren't going nuts.

Okay, Jason :) and Roark :) , my friends and bro's, I took a chill pill and calmed down, but " just a little ", lol. I really think you had to agree with me " just a little " about that one post that did cut down almost every beautiful city here in our sunshine :) state of florida.
I will behave like a real person and keep this to myself like a real person should. :cheers:
p.s. I should have been a book writer, " The Real Person in Me ", lol.

just curious how you rate a city based on the quality of the malls, and the price of the hotel rooms.
To each their own I suppose.
Hisma :) , this is a good topic on favorite Florida cities, " The Malls ", yes , its true , a good rating mall brings more tourists and future buyers of condos and homes closer to these outstanding great malls of Florida, for example ;
#1 " The Florida Mall ", Orlando, when I visit Disney World, Sea World, I go here to shop my off time from the theme parks.
#2 " The Aventura Mall " Miami-Dade, 6 major department stores with JCPenney, Macys, Boomingdale's, Lord & Tayor, Sears, and Saks Fifth Avenue, including two foors of 200 more shops and a AMC 24 movie theater.

Please everyone :) , post more outstanding malls in our great state of Florida, I know there are other great malls in Tampa, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, St.Pete, Gainesville, Tallahassee and Pensacola, please mention them here, thank you. :cheers:

Everyone :) , Who cares if Florida is the " Best " state or not, lets please get off that stupid subject and check out our " Best " cities here in Florida still growing more beautiful, everyday !!! :cheers:

p.s. just think of it this way, there's almost 160 of us out there that still " like " our favorite cities, lol. :)

Where's the love for Sarasota?

Where's the love for Sarasota?
SDK4 :) ,I love the city of Sarasota, its growing like Naples and St. Augustine, its a more deco type of city with older renovated buildings of our past. :cheers:

In the favorite city vote poll here, there should be a Southwest Fla Area instead of the Ft.Myers area. Which would include Sarasota, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Port Charlotte, Naples and Marco Island. :cheers:

sarasota=tampa bay?

sarasota=tampa bay?

Yeah but in a poll like this, when people think of the Tampa Bay area only Tampa and St. Pete come to mind, not Sarasota. In addition, Sarasota is really too far north to be part of a Naples/ Ft.Myers choice. Sarasota/Bradenton would have been my choice.

I usually think of sarasota as part of the tampa bay area only becuase I go there so often for the beach and its a short drive. Sarasota is a very nice place and one of my favorite towns in Fl

Jasonhouse,
I think it is a little unfair that you judge a community after a disaster like hurricane Ivan. You said, "obvious damage and hardship notwithstanding,"(???) how do you disregard the wake of a disaster and maintain objectivity? I currently live in North Dakota, Pensacola is my hometown, and I saw the damage afterwards (fortunately my family was not seriously affected) but the scale was overwhelming that I was glad to be back in North Dakota!!! LOL But I know what the town is like when it is not trying to rebuild after a hurricane and it is not that bad to me. Maybe you can try visiting again in the future (direct hits from hurricanes notwithstanding).

Once it is rebuilt, Pensacola will be a great place to visit again.

Once it is rebuilt, Pensacola will be a great place to visit again.
I'm sorry to say, SDK4 :hi: , but Pensacola will not be spared Today, " Black Sunday " July 10th , 2005, a day that will live infinately and it will be at least 10 years from today , just like Hurricane Andrew :omg: , before this area could be like it was 2 years ago before the Hurricanes started.

Hurricane Dennis :devil: is now a CAT 4 storm at 140 mph, with gusts up to 155 mph and the Mb at 930, this is a Big Disaster :down: Storm, its sad, but its Real !!! :runaway:
Pensacola, our prays are with you :angel1: .

If I had to remain in this state indefinitely.........

I would live in the idyllic Destin area.

Thanks for your prayers, Chuck. As far as I can gather, it looks like we may be ok, relatively speaking.

Thanks for your prayers, Chuck. As far as I can gather, it looks like we may be ok, relatively speaking.
Anytime Pensacane :hi: , I'm glad for our female friends :rock: that have made it through the storm :angel: , Like Gloria Estenfan sings, :dj: " There's always Tomorrow !!!, Start over again, " you here the wind in the background of the song. Pensacola will come back again as a strong city :applause: , just like down here in Homestead and south Miami-Dade county, We are Back :pepper: :banana2: :bow: and better after 13 Years since the worst storm of the Century, August 24th , 1992 :omg: . A day we will never forget. God Bless the U.S.A. !!! :love:

Thank God Everyone :rock: , We're Back !!! :applause: , after this forum being hacked :hammer: out for almost two days, I felf miserable :goodnight without Skyscrapercity.com. I know many did too, it was very dissappointing not to be able to post nothing in here and at least talk to any of our great family here in the Great State of Florida !!! :cheers1:

Welcome Back everyone :cheers1: , I pray to god :angel1: this will never happen like that again.

At the risk of being slammed for this, I'll state my opinion that I honestly don't care for many of the Florida cities I've visited. It seems like many cities in Florida have a fear that they will be left behind unless they build more hotels, more condos, more shopping, more of everything. All of this massive and quick growth has left a sterile quality in much of the urban landscape.

I suppose that's why I've always been drawn to St. Augustine. Although VERY old, it remains a small town while everything around it has exploded over the past 100 years. I know that's where I would want to live if I was in Florida.


In Cardpooch's defense, he's actually just referring to a trend that urban analysts have talked about for years. Many agree that Florida cities, usually referring to Miami, have a severe inferiority complex to much of the rest of the nation. It's why they wear wool suits when it's 90 degrees out because they wear wool suits in New York and Florida businessmen fear they won't be taken seriously if they don't appear the same. It's that kind of thing. I think especially Miami is building simply because "that is what cities do." It makes you ask yourself why Miami is building more residential projects than other regions which are growing faster than it in population. How do they plan to fill these? In my personal opinion, Miami has been exploding for long enough now, it's time to slow growth and concentrate on quality instead of quantity.

In Cardpooch's defense, he's actually just referring to a trend that urban analysts have talked about for years. Many agree that Florida cities, usually referring to Miami, have a severe inferiority complex to much of the rest of the nation. It's why they wear wool suits when it's 90 degrees out because they wear wool suits in New York and Florida businessmen fear they won't be taken seriously if they don't appear the same. It's that kind of thing. I think especially Miami is building simply because "that is what cities do." It makes you ask yourself why Miami is building more residential projects than other regions which are growing faster than it in population. How do they plan to fill these? In my personal opinion, Miami has been exploding for long enough now, it's time to slow growth and concentrate on quality instead of quantity.
But Peter Smith :) , I do agree with you :| , But as long as the Interest rates hold at these great levels and Miami keeps the sunshine and great beaches, it will always grow even more Quantity of people, than the Quality of life, its growing in Numbers such as house and condo construction and construction jobs to bring more people from other states and cities to south florida to work and live. The high risk of densed population will continue to grow for the next 4 years ,at least, only the high price of Gasoline makes people nervious, it raises the price of flying down here from those cities far , far and away. :cheers:

Miami and Tampa are differnet with city problem? :cheers:

Many agree that Florida cities, usually referring to Miami, have a severe inferiority complex to much of the rest of the nation.

I would take this a step further and throw most Southern cities into this mix. Because the cities up North are typically older and have a more established financial and cultural base, there is a tendency for newer Southern cities to feel that they have to "prove" something, that they are no longer rednecks, they too can be cosmopolitan, the "New South," blah, blah, blah.

Of course, the attitudes of Northern cities reinforce this, as they seem to covet the weather and dynamism of the Southern cities, while looking down their noses at the sophistication (or perceived lack) of the people, architecture, city planning, etc.

Then again, Northern cities are not immune to this same inferiority complex. The Chicago forum talks about how that city feels it has something to prove to New York. Mid-sized Midwestern cities like Kansas City and Indianapolis are always striving to change how they are perceived by outsiders.

Maybe a little inferiority complex is a good thing in terms of city development. It seems to drive the city leaders towards continuous "improvement" in order to compete with other US metro areas, which in turn would seem to benefit the residents.

I'm being very general here, of course, but just my opinion.

I think it has more to do with the migration of people into the South east. Downtowns are growing in pace with the urban areas. Infill will be the only thing that really saves the Florida most of us grew up with. One Condo building in downtown is hundreds of acres saved from destruction. The urban infill you label as an inferiority complex, is the first step in planning smart for growing cities. We get to see what we dont like about large cities in older regions and make a template with improvements. Not perfect, by any means. But i would rather see my parents living in a condo, than in a trailer being carried away by a hurricane. The climate draws people here. We are just trying to host all of them.

^^^ Good post and welcome csmurphy8885! :)

thanks.. 3rd crane going up this month in tally....20+ condo

thanks.. 3rd crane going up this month in tally....20+ condo
Wow, Great C S Murphy :) !, 33rd crane going up this month in Miami...60+ condo...Opera Tower :cheers:

Hey almost 10 cranes up in Sarasota.

What an Exciting place to live...

Before I go into my rant... I'd rank them Tampa #1, Miami #2, Jacksonville #3.

Okay, where do I begin? Let's start with nightlife. I'm the nightlife writer for the Tampa Tribune and TBO.com. Wanna see a column... check out my column Nocturnal Vibe (http://tbo.com/weblogs/weblognightlife.shtml)

I'll go ahead and attach a photo or two from my adventures the past few weekends...

Here's one of the beautiful bartenders at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/14.jpg

Here is a nice visual from Floyd's.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/floyds/img/12.jpg

More beautiful ladies at The Amphitheater.

http://entertainment.tbo.com/clubland/amp/img/23.jpg

Okay, I've heard this O'town cat saying Tampa sucks. Get a life dude, Tampa kicks Orlando in almost every catagory, starting with nightlife. Paris Hilton isn't opening a club in Orlando. A local business owner is and he's paying her 1 million a year to use her name. No my friends, Orlando didn't all of a sudden take some of that celeb vibe SoBe is known for. Orlando is a tourist trap that only has the Big Rat going for it. It's in the middle of the state of Florida, and ask yourself this...why the hell would anyone want to camp themselves in the middle of Florida when we have all these beautiful beaches to enjoy? Nuf said!

Tampa combines the best of everything in my opinion. It's old, it's modern. It's industrial, it's edgy, it's artsy, it's pretentious, it's high tech and it's only getting bigger.

Tampa nightlife has the best of Ybor City, Channelside, SoHo, International and surrounding cities like St. Pete and Clearwater. Ybor isn't trashy. It did go through a rough spell where thugs started taking over the streets and it ran most of the yuppies off at night. But the city has cracked down, the young professionals are back, and Ybor is fast becoming a hotspot again. (A brand new club called Lotus Ultra Lounge will be opening on Thursday night by the way) If you think Ybor is trashy, maybe that's because it's urban and feels like a real city, unlike O'town and their fun parks and glossed over tourist meccas.

But O'town, my suggestion is to actually get off the interstate for once. I don't care if you lived in Lakeland all your life, you'll never see the true Tampa by riding your bike down I-4 and 275. Come visit South Tampa. Take a walk down SoHo and venture into Mangroves, Ceviche, Whiskey Park, or the deck at MacDinton's. Drive through the cool urban neighborhoods and check out places like Hyde Park Cafe, or The Rack, the upscale pool hall and sushi bar. And trust me, downtown isn't as quiet as you think. The noise coming from all the contruction of towers and condos is enough to make you wear ear plugs. But Channelside is always hopping. Several downtown pubs are becoming very popular. And you can't deny the hot ass girls walking from UT through our urban core.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh myself on Orlando. I'm not a fan of the city. As I said earlier in this post...I don't like the idea of leaving the coast to spend time inland when living in this state is all about the weather and the water.

As for Miami nightlife...can we all just be honest with ourselves and say it's a bit overrated? I mean, sure, there are tons of bars, clubs and lounges all over Miami, SoBe, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. But how many times have I walked down Washington Ave and seen a line of suckers trying to gain entry into some of those establishments. You call that "great nightlife?" Sure, you're stuck standing outside, watching the stars in the sky, while the hollywood stars strut their shit inside to other idiots who either payed way too much to get a table or just happen to be related to the door guy.

Man.. this post makes me laugh my ass off. I have lived in Orlando (15 yrs, Las Vegas 3 yrs, Tampa 2 1/2 years.. and now Miami. Dude, I understand that you are a kid from Tampa that has probably lived there 1/2 of your life... but you are OUT OF YOUR MIND with the comments you made.

First, YBOR city is a total shithole with cheesy, small, awful nightclubs. The Amphitheater is suposedly the best club in Tampa? That club is complete cheese. Walking down 7th Ave on a Saturday night is like walking down the street in Bronx NY. It is filled with gangbangers, girls X'd/k'd out, and dude's trying to act all hard. You call that fun nightlife? I dont.... oh the best... walking down 7th ave and an entire street fight breaks out with gangbangers... thats always fun to have to try to walk through... pretty damn scary if you ask me.

Orlando is far better than Tampa in every aspect.

1) its closer to an ocean that has actual waves.
2) its a vibrant city that has a young crowd.
3) The public schools in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties are WAY better.
4) The crime in orlando is not half as bad as the crime in Tampa.
5) Orlando has MAJOR development happening downtown.
6) YOUR CLUB PARIS comment is ignorant. Of course Paris Hilton didnt pick Orlando.. but the club owner did, and if he was building it as a tourist trap.. dont you think he would have built it on I Drive? Tourists dont go downtown.
7) The best theme parks in the world.. with 2 major entertainment complexes (City Walk and Pleasure Island).
8) Awesome shopping malls (Florida mall and Melinium... sorry dude but the malls in Tampa suck... International Plaza is ok.. but nothing on the same line as the 2 mentioned.)
9) Restaurants.. Orlando has every restaurant imaginable.
10) I lived in Westchase.. great place but borring.
11) DT Tampa is a total Ghostown after 5pm. At least DT Orlando has a lot of stuff going on DT after 5pm
12) Tampa has one sports team - The bucs (just like Orlando). I dont call the Devil Rays a professional sports team. Their stadium is awful and its like going to a AAA minor league baseball game.
13) Orlando has great parks... the city is green.. everything is new.. and the suburbs (like Altamonte, Lake Mary, Longwood, etc are booming. Lake Mary is now like the hi tech capital of FL.

One thing that sucks about Orlando is the traffic, but I have seen the propsed I4 project and it is amazing. Once this is in place in several years, then Orlando is going to pass Tampa.

Miami nightlife overated? WHAT? Miami nightlife is better than Las Vegas. It has the best nightclubs in the world. I cannot believe that someone who loves the Amp would say Miami nightlife is overated. Whatever.

The development in Miami is amazing. The nightlife development in Miami is amazing. Have you heard about the new 58,000 sq. ft. club opening up in downtown? Also, Miami nightlife overated?? Since when was the last time you went clubbing in Tampa.. and had the opportunity to walk out of the nightclub at 1pm the next day? Downtown Miami nightclubs have 24 hours liquor licenses.

Overall, I pick Miami out of any city in FL. It is an awesome place to live.

1) Miami
2) Orlando
3) Ft. Lauderdale
4) Tampa

Man.. this post makes me laugh my ass off. I have lived in Orlando (15 yrs, Las Vegas 3 yrs, Tampa 2 1/2 years.. and now Miami. Dude, I understand that you are a kid from Tampa that has probably lived there 1/2 of your life... but you are OUT OF YOUR MIND with the comments you made.

First, YBOR city is a total shithole with cheesy, small, awful nightclubs. The Amphitheater is suposedly the best club in Tampa? That club is complete cheese. Walking down 7th Ave on a Saturday night is like walking down the street in Bronx NY. It is filled with gangbangers, girls X'd/k'd out, and dude's trying to act all hard. You call that fun nightlife? I dont.... oh the best... walking down 7th ave and an entire street fight breaks out with gangbangers... thats always fun to have to try to walk through... pretty damn scary if you ask me.

Orlando is far better than Tampa in every aspect.

1) its closer to an ocean that has actual waves.
2) its a vibrant city that has a young crowd.
3) The public schools in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties are WAY better.
4) The crime in orlando is not half as bad as the crime in Tampa.
5) Orlando has MAJOR development happening downtown.
6) YOUR CLUB PARIS comment is ignorant. Of course Paris Hilton didnt pick Orlando.. but the club owner did, and if he was building it as a tourist trap.. dont you think he would have built it on I Drive? Tourists dont go downtown.
7) The best theme parks in the world.. with 2 major entertainment complexes (City Walk and Pleasure Island).
8) Awesome shopping malls (Florida mall and Melinium... sorry dude but the malls in Tampa suck... International Plaza is ok.. but nothing on the same line as the 2 mentioned.)
9) Restaurants.. Orlando has every restaurant imaginable.
10) I lived in Westchase.. great place but borring.
11) DT Tampa is a total Ghostown after 5pm. At least DT Orlando has a lot of stuff going on DT after 5pm
12) Tampa has one sports team - The bucs (just like Orlando). I dont call the Devil Rays a professional sports team. Their stadium is awful and its like going to a AAA minor league baseball game.
13) Orlando has great parks... the city is green.. everything is new.. and the suburbs (like Altamonte, Lake Mary, Longwood, etc are booming. Lake Mary is now like the hi tech capital of FL.

One thing that sucks about Orlando is the traffic, but I have seen the propsed I4 project and it is amazing. Once this is in place in several years, then Orlando is going to pass Tampa.

Miami nightlife overated? WHAT? Miami nightlife is better than Las Vegas. It has the best nightclubs in the world. I cannot believe that someone who loves the Amp would say Miami nightlife is overated. Whatever.

The development in Miami is amazing. The nightlife development in Miami is amazing. Have you heard about the new 58,000 sq. ft. club opening up in downtown? Also, Miami nightlife overated?? Since when was the last time you went clubbing in Tampa.. and had the opportunity to walk out of the nightclub at 1pm the next day? Downtown Miami nightclubs have 24 hours liquor licenses.

Overall, I pick Miami out of any city in FL. It is an awesome place to live.

1) Miami
2) Orlando
3) Ft. Lauderdale
4) Tampa

Wow.

Tampa is ten times better than Orlando. As a city, it has nothing. Nothing. The downtown is small and pretty dead after hours. You have *one* authentic nightlife area that isn't nearly as great as Ybor or SoHo. I don't count Citywalk or PI, which are nothing more than cheese traps for tourists. Those are NOT real clubs. If you are happy living in a sprawling, hot, crowded little hole in the center of Florida, enjoy Orlando. But don't diss Tampa, which has a great boating and family enviroment on top of everything else. I just don't see how you can rate Orlando any higher. Tampa outdoes it in every aspect.

PS Tampa has three professional sports teams, like it or not. And you forgot to mention the current champions of the NHL, the Lightening. Hmm, MINOR DETAIL.

funny 2 see the orlando vs tampa fight in here lol

ive been 2 both, what i didnt like bout tampa, was the area where busch gardens was, going on 275, and the busch gardens exit and that area, was like your in the middle of hialeah, traffic on the highway, and the streets and everything were ugly and old. orlando theme parks kills tampas. (maybe im just saying that cuz there was construction going on, and it was a gloomy day, plus after a 5 hour drive...)

but everything else of tampa was str8, nice skyline, love the bridges and a city by the water,

now orlando's skyline... lets just say "downtown kendall" would give it a run for its money.

Hey MIABallinboi,

You are absolutely correct about the area around Busch Gardens. It is butt ugly, and everyone here knows it. There are always these plans floating around to "spruce up" Busch Blvd and other streets surrounding the park with landscaping, benches, etc. But that will be just putting a little lipstick on an ugly old whore.

This whole Tampa vs. Orlando thing is tired. :bash: I have friends who moved from Tampa to Otown and regretted it, and some that loved it. Also have friends that moved from Orlando to Tampa with the same reactions.

But if people want to write long emails putting down the other city, that's cool. Makes for entertaining reading.

now orlando's skyline... lets just say "downtown kendall" would give it a run for its money.

ridiculous statement...one must consider quality (or the lack thereof) when referring to the Kendall skyline.

rhaney, I disagree with u about nightfire is better in Miami than Las Vegas so you need research some more.

I don't think I could stand to live in place like Orlando with so many traffic jams everywhere. :)

ridiculous statement...one must consider quality (or the lack thereof) when referring to the Kendall skyline.
Sky Dive !!! :hi: , Your back my friend :bow: , I just knew some day you'll be back from the dead, I told Jason :) , back then, he'll be back, this forum rocks :rock: , its hot and our Florida cities are growing so fast, you just can't leave this forum and never say I'll never come back to this great sunshine state. :righton:

Welcome Back Sky :wave: , good to see your posts again.

p.s. Sky :) , to defend my friend MIAballinboi :okay: , I've seen him in person and he's really a honest young man and friendley, when he talks about downtown " Kendall ", he really means how much it has grown with more towers up and still going up to 30 plus floors in just the last 3 years, I've been to Orlando many times in the last 35 years since Walt Disney World opened, and to tell you the truth, downtown Kendall has looked alot like downtown Orlando.
Sky :) , you really have to take a " now " look at the downtown Kendall skyline as you drive down the Palmetto expressway S.R. 826 from Miami, its a huge change, the towers now are up and as you drive down there on your way to U.S. 1 towards the Florida Keys, you see this huge skyline reaching the sky's limit, and saying to yourself, wow, how downtown " Kendall " has changed and is now in geological terms as the southern tallest towers city in the United States of America. :cheers:

I have never left the forum, i've posted elsewhere and continued viewing this thread, nor do I plan on contributing here much. I have seen in person the Kendall skyline last month and while it has changed, its not better than Orlando, plain and simple. You may perhaps compare it to the I-Drive corridor of Orlando, that may be a better comparison. I've also seen the proposals in Kendall, and they pale architecturally in comparison to Orlando's proposed/approved and u/c. Urbanplanet is a great source for Orlando's projects, which also hover around 35 or so.

^good 2 see you around skydive,

na well of course kendall's skyline is not gonna be like orlando, orlando is like the center for 2 million people, but also was being sarcastic, orlando's skyline, for the city and metro's size is ..........not 2 good. but with all the boom in florida, it will also grow and get better.

thnx chuck for comin 2 my side lol, well kendall's cool and pretty good for like the #5 or 6 skyline of south florida with all the cranes, and new towers that are now dwarfing the "marrioot" former tallest, and i thought that was tall when i went to the top of it a couple years back.
too bad we got all the nimbys that wont let anything over like 300 feet through.

I think it is a little unfair that you judge a community after a disaster like hurricane Ivan. You said, "obvious damage and hardship notwithstanding,"(???) how do you disregard the wake of a disaster and maintain objectivity?Well...after a disaster is the best time to judge a community. Great communities rally and regenerate. A very small percentage whine and bilk insurance companies....97% of the people help their neighbor. Mostly with tears in their eyes...but they stand up, take care of their neighbors, and then take care of themselves. My family (Aunts/Cousins) lost 4 homes, some commercial property and all their farms in Perrine. I have some recent personal experience.
But for those that don't...Study life after the Chicago fire...
It's fair to judge community after a distaster...just wait a few years to judge the quality of the landscaping... :)
But even that will grow back nicely!

rhaney, I disagree with u about nightfire is better in Miami than Las Vegas so you need research some more.South Beach is beyond compare...I love Vegas, but there really is no comparison.
The bottle service girls at Ghost Bar are nothing compared to the bottle service girls at Mynt, and when I walked out of Tabu with my girl...there wasn't a single bonfire, teepee, or Ocean in which show my affection.

When Vegas puts together a Sunday oceanfront party with Bonfires, dj's, modeling agencies, and International flights from Brazil/Argentina/Columbia then you can begin to equate the fraction that Vegas nightlife can be applied to South Beach nightlife.

When was the last time you saw a "what happens in South Beach stays in South Beach" commercial????
Exactly!!
As often as you have seen a Ferrari commercial.
Enough said.

I see SkyDive :wave: , good to see ya again anyway!, Everyone one here is always welcomed, no matter how long they don't post here.

Thanks MIAballinboi :angel: , just doing my thing for my friends.

Roark :bowtie: , my friend , good points, you tell them like it is. Its only the truth !!!

And , for Everyone :hi: else here, We're back !!!, Hurricane Katrina :runaway: did not hurt us, but gave us in MIAMI :cheer: , a warning what a CAT 1 hurricane can do. What a Surprise !!! Our power finally got back on Tuesday, its good to be posting , again. :cheers:

Chuck calm down dude... sheesh!

Jason :) , I missed your comments lately, please advise me on something, its just too quiet lately and I'm getting bored, lol., Anyway, I hope your okay and probably busy as usual. Have you notice the so many new members joining lately, its getting busy again this fall in all three Florida Forums. :cheers:

Fort Myers, 4 me is the best; cuz i live here.!! 4.ShO!

Tampa rules!! It thrives of it's own economy.

Hey kids! I'm back. Actually, I've never really left the forums...only Florida. I'm now living in Oakland, CA. Before some of you ask why I left, let me say I hate it out here!

Anyway, I started going back over this thread and felt it was time to chime in again in respect to Florida cities. First of all, I still love Tampa and miss it terribly. When faced with the move to the San Francisco Bay Area, I was stoked to move to a truly urban metro. After living here for several months, I miss the style and vibe of Florida. More notably, I miss grass! Never did I realize how much I enjoyed the natural beauty of our Florida cities. I don't care if it's Jax, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, or Lutz. Florida is simply a beautiful state and I have yet to find another place that matches its charm.

So with that said, I'd still pick Tampa as my first choice on this list. Tampa was such a nice combination of large city, small town, pro sports, minor leagues, big-time nightlife, pubs with character and great people.

As for The Amphitheater in Ybor, I will simply leave you with this photo... And wonder why anyone would not like this place.

http://www.g-spotonline.com/images/tantra11/tantra11_15.jpg

^^It's too bad you had to move away, dvs. You did a great job of representing Tampa. Hope you'll still stick around on this forum even tho you're many miles away! :)

Okay DVS :wave: , you got 4 extra votes for Tampa, with that Yibor City girls picture :cool: , which I have to say, " WOW :drunk: ", great looking bunch there, and I wish sometimes I was there, myself, lol. But please all, post more opinions here about your vote for each city. :nocrook:

:cheer: Welcome again newcomers and keep voting, Miami is only 13 away from the " Magic City 100 " :okay: , thanks everyone for voting !!! :cheers:

Nice picture of Ybor, I will have to make a trip up there some time soon. :cheers:

Everyone :) , since we are about 11 votes from that Magic City 100 " years ", I just had to bring back this great true story of Miami again, enjoy all, :cheers:

Ladies :) And Gentlemen :) , This is really true about travel to MIAMI, FLORIDA. :cheers:
Check out this History of Greater MIAMI :) ;
MIAMI :) Holds the distinction of being the only U.S.A. city conceived By a Woman :cheers: . The Wife of a wealthy industrialist from Cleveland, Ohio, JULIA TUTTLE :) ( Also the name of a GREAT I-195 Miami Expressway To Miami Beach ), Arrived here in MIAMI :) in 1875 in a Mail Boat ( Only way to get to MIAMI, Fla, Back Then ), with two small children and a vision of transforming the river front Seminole Indian Trading Post community into a city :cheers: .Also, there was ruins of a U.S. Army camp known during the Civil War as Fort Dallas. The Nearest Railroad in those days of The Wild West :runaway: was Nearly 400 Miles Away. :sleepy:
HENRY FLAGLER :) , Was " The Man ", Owner and Developer of the Famous East Coast :) Railroad during the Turn of the 20th Century was persuded :bash: lol, by Julia Tuttle with a Bouquet of Fresh Orange Blossoms sent to Flagler and a offer of 300 acres of her land in the Winter of 1895. It was evidence of MIAMI's ability to deliver Citrus Fruit to Northern Markets year-round. It Worked !!! :cheers: , In Fact, Henry Flagler :) steamed his Great Railroad into MIAMI :) a Year later, making the First step in the Evolution of MIAMI, FLORIDA. Go Cranes !!! :cheers:

p.s. Thanks for voting :) , and also lets pray for all our neighbors and love ones in Texas and Louisiana to get through this monster of a storm, Remember Louisiana has U.S.A. as its middle letters with the i's separting them. :cheers:

Tampa Bay area's not doing too bad either. 73 votes is good. :)

I myself like Miami and the Tampa Bay area's.
Wow, everyone :grouphug: , that was 1 " one " year ago today, now 189 member votes later, Miami and Tampa the most favorites with Miami only 6 away from the " Magic City 100 ". :applause:

Thanks everyone :okay: for making this thread work so good, and thanks for voting here in the friendley sunshine state of Florida. Welcome :hi: Again Newcomers !!! :banana: :cheer: :pepper:

Miami all the way!

Chuck man I cast my ballot for Miami :D I could care less about the nightlife though. I have some fond memories of living there and southbeach isnt one of them. They are about Key Biscayne, the upper east side and north beach. Also the grove area, beautiful.

Just wanted to say that I have nothing against the rest of florida, and Im really fond of Cocoa Beach too :)

Chuck man I cast my ballot for Miami :D I could care less about the nightlife though. I have some fond memories of living there and southbeach isnt one of them. They are about Key Biscayne, the upper east side and north beach. Also the grove area, beautiful.

I see :cheers2: , Rider of Rohan :hi: , Thanks :applause: , and now only 3 More votes to a " Magic City 100 ". :cool:
We have to celebrate that goal together everyone :grouphug: here in Florida and our outsiders :okay: too .
All welcome here to the friendley sunshine state. Its been over a year now, since this thread was first introduced by bigboyz2004, I'm glad he started this poll back then, and now with over 196 members and non-members can vote, too. It has become an important hit with over 7,000. :applause:

Yes :wink2: , Miami nightlife needs a better spark, but I feel when the " Mary Brickell Village " :rock: shops and entertainment all night restruants open next summer, 2006, there will be some excitement in the nightlife here with the Nighttime City Lights of all the light up shinning new towers of Downtown Miami. :banana: :banana2: :cheer: :pepper:
I took a drive on I - 95 all through downtown last night at 11 pm, and what a sight of the new lighted towers with the older ones, all light red lights on the Bank of America tower,huge blue square box lights on the " Vue " tower, all white top of the Brickell on the river 1 tower, like a oval shape top, not including the dark small ugly spire on top, lol. The top of the " One Miami " towers with the off blue lights with spots shinning white, looking like stars. The neon lights shinning on the Miami river from the metrorail crossing, and all the other normal top lighted towers in both the downtown core and Brickell area. :cheers:

p.s. Rider of Rohan :happy: , yes, the Aventura and Sunny Isles beach are beautiful areas, as much as I love Key Biscayne , too, but, Miami :cool: will get better in the future as all 50 towers get completed in the next 7 years or sooner :soon: . Go Cranes !!! :cheers1:

I wish Tampa had a Brickell. Damn that Santa Maria was huge when I saw it back in 99 and now bigger ones are going up. It's crazy.

Everyone :grouphug: , we just hit the super jackpot !!! 7 - 7 - 7 - 7 , :banana: :cheer: :pepper: :fiddle: all the last digits in the top favorite cities of our friendley sunshine state of Florida. Thanks for voting, members and non-members :okay: can vote , too. :)
Miami :cool: has 97, only 3 more votes to make a " Magic City 100 ". :cheers:
Tampa has 87 :rock: , a very nice inprovement over the last month with over 25 votes. :cheers2:
Orlando has 27 :happy: , a beautiful lake city with growing glass towers on the rise. m))

To complete the 7 's :bow: , we now have 197 member votes total, give yourself a handclap !!! :applause:

Hi ChuckScraperMiami#1,

I can't remember if I voted before or not. Anyway, I am voting for Miami. Hey. let me know when they finally put a crane on 900. :cheers:

Hi ChuckScraperMiami#1,

I can't remember if I voted before or not. Anyway, I am voting for Miami. Hey. let me know when they finally put a crane on 900. :cheers:

Thanks 900 Biscayne :hi: !!!, this is great :okay: , only 2 more to go for that " Magic City 100 " what a great way to recelebrate Miami's 100th birthday. :applause:

Also :cheer: , I was there today, around the 900 Biscayne Bay :yes: condo site, and still putting in the huge foundation with 2 tall drilling cranes with more 50 ' long rebar steel being built on the site by about 25 men in a line tying them together. The Marquis condo tower is also moving fast with its huge foundation. Both of towers are going to be Huge and tall, what a sight. :banana: :cucumber:

I wish Tampa had a Brickell. Damn that Santa Maria was huge when I saw it back in 99 and now bigger ones are going up. It's crazy.
True Robbie :) , it was back in the early 60's , I believe it was the mayor Murice Ferre that made a proposal of changing the Brickell area from single family homes to office, and multi family developement area, when the Four Ambassors hotel was first built, since then its been a mad house of small office towers , into condo towers replacing all the old mansions that used to line up down Brickell Ave to the rickenbacker causeway entrance, Miami Vice helped it even grow larger and more densed during the 80's and into the 90's came more condos ,such as Ugo Columbo's Towers and Brickell Skyline tower,. now the 20 proposed towers in the future will line up all down Brickell again with the Twin Capital towers, the Twin Avenue Towers, the Twin 500 Brickell towers, the Twin Infinity towers,, the Twin Axis Towers, the Twin Plaza on Brickell towers,. the Triple ICON Brickell towers,., the Twin Imperal towers,, the Triple Brickell Citi Centre towers,,. and of course the twin Brickell on the river tower with the 1390 brickell bay tower, the Magna Twin towers, and I forgot the Mary Brickell Village Tower, WOW,, anymore,.,LOL.
I Say,, Go Cranes !!! :cheers:

^^I wish dowtown Jax had the height and quantity (and quality) of new 'scrapers that Brickell alone has right now. I can't imagine how even more awsome Brickell will look once all those planned towers are built.

:bowtie: :speech:

Thanks Everyone :wave: :grouphug: , for the member :okay: who makes this 100th Vote for Miami :cool: , please make a Post that you have made that special vote for a " Magic City 100 " :applause: . To recelebrate Miami 's 100th Birthday, again, this is very special moment to come in the next couple of days or week. Thanks again, everyone :rock: , Members and non-members :righton: of this great website of SkyscraperCity.com a success :cheers2: and will continue in the years to come as a great place to visit. :banana: :cheer: :carrot:

OK! youv'e got my vote. Where is the official voting booth?