The Westchase Community Association provides Residents with beautiful landscaping, a well…read moremaintained Olympic Pool, Pool Slide, & 4 Tennis Courts, off Linebaugh Avenue, Belgrave, & Parley, in the Westchase District of West Tampa. The Westchase Community Association has another Olympic pool with 6 Tennis Courts off Countryway Boulevard and Linebaugh Avenue but that pool is in use on weekdays by a swim team from 3-7pm and the pool is only open until 8pm. Luckily the pool off Parley is not in use by a swim team during the weekdays. The Westchase Community Association has 3 well maintained parks & 3 kids playgrounds. The pools are open 10:00 am to 8:00 pm year round and the tennis courts are open 8am to 9pm. The pool is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. The tennis courts are home to recreational and USTA league play, private lessons, clinics, after-school programs, summer camps, junior and adult tennis lessons, group lessons, and tournament play. On two of the 6 courts at Countryway are 4 pickleball courts. The Westchase Community Association charges a monthly Home Owners Association fee of $384 per year for a 3 bedroom house, $324 for a 3 bedroom townhouse, and $242 per month for a 2 bedroom townhouse which is pretty reasonable. Westchase is surrounded by mature oaks on land dotted with lakes and ponds, one has the feeling of being tucked away in a pristine section of Hillsborough County but the community is far from isolated. The West Park Village retail area features restaurants, bars, and eclectic shops designed in the neotraditional style: pedestrian-friendly and densely populated, reminiscent of early-American mixed-use town centers. And Westchase neighborhoods are just a quick drive to supermarkets, popular eateries, pharmacies, and every other convenience you need. Niche.com honors Westchase with an A+ rating as the Number 1 suburb in the Tampa Bay area!

Had an amazing experience spending time in the city of Dunedin, Florida. This town has such a…read moreunique charm with a perfect mix of coastal vibes, walkable streets, and a welcoming small town feel. Everywhere you go there is something to enjoy, from the local shops and restaurants to the beautiful waterfront areas. The downtown area is especially nice with its laid back atmosphere, friendly people, and plenty of spots to grab a bite or just relax and people watch. The parks and marina areas are clean, scenic, and perfect for a peaceful walk or watching the sunset. You can really tell the city takes pride in keeping everything well maintained and inviting. It feels safe, vibrant, and full of character without ever feeling too crowded or overwhelming. Overall, Dunedin is one of those places that just feels good to be in. Easy 5 stars and always worth a visit.

One of the finest small cities in America. The downtown is full of shops that offer local items…read more There are also restaurants that offer some amazing entrees and lots of locally caught seafood. It is small enough to walk to most shops. There is also a local waterfront that you don't want to miss. A must see place.

The City of Tarpon Springs is a small city of about 25,000 people on Florida's west coast about 30…read moremiles northwest of Tampa. It is most well known for having the highest percentage of Greek-American citizens of any city in the United States. The area south of the river between the sponge docks and the Gulf of Mexico is a bayou as several waterways branch off the main river and which gives the city its unique look and quaint waterfront neighborhoods. While there are many new homes on the bayous, the city has established several historic districts within the city limits where you will see many well preserved old buildings. Tarpon Springs has done a great job of preserving many of its historic homes and businesses. Several of these sites in Tarpon Springs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Old Tarpon Springs High School and the Old Tarpon Springs City Hall. The main north-south thoroughfare in Tarpon Springs is the Alternate US-19, known locally as Pinellas Avenue. The historic sponge dock area is a popular tourist attraction located along the Anclote River west of Pinellas Avenue. John Cheyney founded the first sponge business in Tarpon Springs in the 1880s. His success attracted sponge divers from Greece and it provided quite a few jobs for the local economy. The sponges were harvested off the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico using surface boats and long poles to bring up the sponges. In 1905 John Cocoris came to town and introduced sponge diving to the industry. This deep sea diving technique used a special suit and a diving helmet with air pumped in from a compressor on the boat. He brought in divers from Greece and the sponge industry soon became one of the biggest businesses in Florida and required more and more divers. Many of the original divers came from the Dodecanese Islands of Kalymnos, Symi and Halki. The street that runs along the sponge docks on the river is named Dodecanese Boulevard. The area along the sponge docks is an interesting tourist destination with hundreds of shops, bakeries, restaurants and other businesses with mostly Greek themes. There are museums, statues, plaques and other reminders of the area's unique history. Today the sponge docks is a working waterfront that's home to the remaining sponge boats and the large fleet of shrimpers. I came to Tarpon Springs to attend the epiphany celebration that takes place every year on January 6th. The celebration attracts thousands to the town to celebrate the the baptism of Jesus Christ in the water of the Jordan River 2000 years ago. While attending the cross diving ceremony you can also sample Greek food and participate in Greek customs. While the epiphany is a top draw every year, Tarpon Springs also has some wonderful attractions which includes the shops and restaurants of the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, the beaches of Fred Howard Park, the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs Aquarium, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Spongeorama Cruise Lines, Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, and the Tarpon Springs Farmers Market. My time in Tarpon Springs was not long enough to experience all it has to offer. This town may be small but you will never be bored.

Tarpon Springs is one of those Florida destinations I would still consider a relatively inexpensive…read moregetaway, although let's be honest, nothing is actually cheap anymore. What I mean is that you can come here, have a real vacation, eat good food, walk around, sit by the water and experience something completely different without feeling like you need to spend a small fortune. Tarpon Springs has a personality all its own. It's Greek, coastal, a little funky and definitely not trying to be fancy. In fact, fancy is almost beside the point here. You can show up in shorts, sandals and a T-shirt and fit right in. To me, Tarpon Springs feels like a cross between a relatively inexpensive Greek destination and Key Largo. You have the Greek influence, sponge docks, Greek restaurants, bakeries and little shops, but you also get that laid-back, slightly weathered Florida waterfront feeling. There's definitely a touristy side to it too. You'll find plenty of the classic Florida vacation knickknacks, souvenir shops, sponge-themed souvenirs and the slightly tacky tourist atmosphere that you either love or tolerate. But honestly, I think that's part of the charm. It gives Tarpon Springs some personality instead of making it feel overly polished and manufactured. It's also very family-friendly and senior-friendly. You don't have to be looking for nightlife or some high-energy vacation to enjoy yourself here. You can take your time, walk around, browse the shops, sit by the water, eat and people-watch. It's an easy place to spend a day or turn into a weekend getaway. One word of advice, though: be selective about which Greek restaurant you choose. They are definitely not all created equal. Having Greek food on the menu doesn't automatically mean the food is going to be good, so I would do a little research before choosing where to eat. Tarpon Springs isn't fancy at all. It has a little bit of Greece, a little bit of old Florida, a whole lotta touristy kitsch and a whole lot of laid-back waterfront atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can leave the dress clothes at home and just enjoy being somewhere that doesn't take itself too seriously. Hope you get the picture

The Largo Community Center is offering Intermediate Spanish classes, starting in December 2022 with…read morea terrific instructor. The classes are Mondays from 1-2:15pm. For members (which is only $10/year) the classes cost $60 for the month - $15/lesson. It's a great deal! There's only 2-3 people in the class, so it's almost private lessons. If you've priced language classes, you know this is the deal of the day. The classes are really fun and keep your mind sharp!

Friendly receptionist. Weight room was small, but had all that I needed. Everything was in good…read moreworking order.

Blink and you'll miss it…read more Hugging the west coast of Florida at St. Joseph Sound 4 miles north of Dunedin and about 1 mile south of Palm Harbor is a hidden Pinellas County gem. Folks traveling along ALT 19 pay no attention while they're caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily automobile traffic. If people slow down a bit, and hit the Pinellas trail, the old rail line bulges west just north of Curlew and harkens back to a more simple time. The first home built here was in 1875, and as more folks settled in Florida during the golden citrus years, this village saw sleepy prosperity with its orange groves and fishing wharfs buzzing with activity. Tampa Road, which originated here, was the first paved road leading into Tampa, directly connecting the big city with Oldsmar, Dundein, Palm Harbor and Ozona. Things are obviously much different now. The village is quiet, laid back and the vibe is a kin to Cedar Key on a Monday night. They've got their own post office, a BBQ joint, pizzeria, pub and plenty of coastal property to catch a sunset. To me, this place is far removed from traffic, tourism, unexploited, raw and uncut--pure Florida. I absolutely love it. Oh, and all streets are golf cart friendly.

Mark sure got this one right. There are few places left that give you the original Florida vibe &…read moreis not overrun with tourists. First visit & every visit, I love this small town & that it's aspiration is to remain as it is, lovely & unspoiled. For a very small area, they have multiple small & unique eateries. Maybe not all 5 star dining, but damn good cracker food. When you visit make sure you check out the local shops, restaurants & bars, you won't be disappointed. What's a girl to do? Love, love quaint coastal towns, haven't met one yet, I didn't fall in love with!

Had an absolutely wonderful experience visiting the Gingerbread House in Safety Harbor. This place…read moreis full of charm and personality, with such a cozy and whimsical feel that makes it stand out right away. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and full of character. It really feels like stepping into something special and unique to Safety Harbor. Everything is thoughtfully decorated and has that homemade, artistic touch that makes the place feel personal and welcoming. Overall, a super memorable visit and a true gem in Safety Harbor. Easy 5 stars and definitely worth stopping by.

The original owner B. Rhett Green had this house built in 1908 in the classic Victorian style. It…read moreincludes traditional gingerbread at the peaks of the roofline and still includes its original hardwood floors! It is one of the last homes of its era and type in all of Pinellas County! In 1910, it was a popular place for neighborhood women to bring their laundry. They had a big cast iron kettle of boiling clean water. This house had the best well in town since other nearby wells were full of sulfur! Electricity, fueled by a coal burning plant located on Iron Age Avenue, was added to the house in the 1920s. Use of electricity was limited to the hours of 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Plumbing was installed in the 1930s, less than 100 years ago. The original claw foot tub fell through the floor and remains below the house to this very day! Life is good with history, hidden in plain sight!

My name is Suzanne Distefano, and I'm writing this because I want people to know how much the…read moreScientology community in Clearwater truly saved me. After being trafficked and feeling completely abandoned by other churches in Florida, I was at my lowest point. They were the only ones who actually looked at me, saw my need, and took action. They didn't just offer prayers--they gave me real, tangible help by feeding me, clothing me, and making sure I was cared for. To me, it's a beautiful religion because of the deep compassion and humanity I've experienced firsthand. I will forever be grateful for the way they took me in and treated me with such kindness when I needed it most." Thank you Petra, I love you!

My husband and I are currently in the visitors center. We've been here for 40 minutes and apart…read morefrom a smile upon walking in, the receptionist has been on the phone the entire time. Not one person has talked to us. At all. The bathrooms are nice though.

Parking is cheap Walk across the street to beach…read moreaccess..very easy Bathrooms are clean....for a beach

Unusually configured Beach Park with parking and restrooms on the opposite side of the street from…read morethe beach. Crossing is not difficult, however, because there is a crosswalk button that doesn't activate just a yellow flashing light, but rather activates a regular stop light. The path to the beach is paved and bordered by trees which makes it pretty. The are two multi head beach showers. The beach is wide enough not to feel crowded but not so wide that the walk to the water seems like an excessive distance. The water is shallow for a considerable distance from the shoreline (Note: as of the date of the review but may change the next time a tropical storm comes by). Most people seem not to know this is here. Just driving by, and from the name, people might assume it's a picnic area or playground that faces the intracoastal rather than a beach access park. Anyway, the parking lot never fills and the beach area is decently populated (mostly people from the motels) without feeling crowded. Nice place. Parking price is only a dollar an hour. This is a tie for the lowest price pay lot on the barrier islands.