Planning and an abundance of preserves have partially shielded the Tampa Bay area from the overdevelopment that saturates much of the Atlantic Coast. While this is one of the state's largest metro areas, it is less fast-lane than Miami. Granted, Tampa has Florida's third-busiest airport and a vibrant business community, but to counter that St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota have exceptional beaches, and the entire bay area has superior hotels and resorts that make this an excellent place to spend a week or more. More »
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