There’s a lot to cheer about when you live in the Tampa Bay region, and not just our championship-winning professional sports teams.
 
Over the past year, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater have earned a host of major accolades - from recognition as one of the World’s Greatest Places to being the Best City for Remote Workers. Tampa Bay is definitely a region on the rise and a magnet for new residents who are drawn to our outstanding quality of life, year-round sunshine, beaches, museums, and food scene.
 
The most coveted recognition comes from TIME Magazine, which included Tampa in its list of World’s Greatest Places. One of 50 cities and landmarks selected as extraordinary places to explore, TIME editors praise Tampa’s Water Street development - the first in the world to be a WELL-certified city district for its walkability, sustainability, and livability. Water Street is also home to the city’s first 5-star hotel, the Tampa EDITION, new eateries, retail, and luxury housing. The Tampa Riverwalk, Sparkman Wharf, and Armature Works got high marks as exception locations to visit in the city. Tampa is one of just six U.S. locations selected.
 
Travel lovers have Money Magazine to thank for adding Tampa to its list of Best Places to Travel in 2023 for its thriving craft beer scene, Ybor City’s historic district and hand-rolled cigars. The magazine also notes the Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Park, Busch Gardens, and the city’s outstanding Glazer Children’s Museum.
 
While the Tampa Riverwalk may just be the city’s crowning glory, with more than 100,000 visitors each month, readers of USA Today named the 2.6 mile walkway the second-best Riverwalk in the U.S. It was the first time the popular attraction was included in the readers’ poll.
 
Of course, Florida has always been a popular place for visitors and retirees, but over the past few years “working households have been flocking to the state for promising career opportunities, a relatively low cost of living and no state income tax,” according to Forbes. The magazine ranks Tampa as the Best Place to Live in Florida, recognizing the city for its pristine beaches, amusement parks, and pro sports teams not to mention an estimated monthly expenses of less than $7,000 and a median home price under $450,000.
 
Nowadays, a job doesn’t have to tie someone to a particular city; remote working has changed that. According to the website HigherVisibility.com, St. Petersburg is the top city in America (with a population under one million) to be a remote worker. A plethora of free wi-fi hot spots – more than 5,000 of them -  figure into the distinction, and median home prices below the national average.
 
It’s clear that Tampa Bay is a destination on the rise with offering an exception quality of life and endless opportunities work both work and play.