Tampa Skyline — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Sean Pavone
Gen Z travelers are flocking to Tampa to take advantage of its walkability and plethora of popular dining and drinking destinations.
Once assumed to be a retirement community, the center on Florida’s Gulf Coast is now one of the top 10 locations to relocate to for Gen Zers and millennials.
The city ranked fourth, behind major cities like Austin and Dallas, according to a financial tech business called SmartAsset.
A number of recent, youthful immigrants gave The Wall Street Journal an explanation of the city’s allure, citing features like beaches, restaurants, and the occasional outdoor festival—attractions that many equate with other Florida cities like Miami.
Nneka Jones, a Trinidadian-born artist and entrepreneur, 26, said, “Tampa has allowed me to expand my network across multiple industries.” She likes to strike a balance between “work and adventure.”
Hairstylist Clint Dunlap, 37, who is originally from South Florida, remembered how he moved to New York area from Tampa a few years ago and then returned during the post-pandemic boom in popularity in that area.
Salon owner Dunlap stated, “I see similarities between Tampa and New York for walkability and convenience.”
Gen Z millennials are notorious for not being faithful to cars; instead, they frequently choose alternative forms of transportation over the big, cumbersome vehicles.
The SoHo entertainment sector of the city is well-known for its boutiques, coffee shops, and craft beer.
There’s no shortage of seafood, Asian fusion restaurants, and casual, stylish cuisine to choose from.
The city’s appeal is increased by other neighborhoods that are reachable by foot, trolley, bike, or ferry.
According to a local, Tampa is still known for its Cuban sandwich, which is superior to Miami’s rendition. Every piece of the La Segunda Cuban bread, Swiss cheese, pork, ham, sour pickle slices, mustard, and salami has the ideal crunch.
Carlos Hernandez, a food writer who frequently shares glimpses of Tampa’s culinary offerings on social media, provided that evaluation.
According to data LinkedIn collected earlier this year from location changes on the accounts of its 206 million US users in 2023, Tampa was hiring more people than the rest of the country.
With a net gain of 107 new jobs for every 10,000 LinkedIn members in January of last year, Sarasota, Florida, topped the list.
The Tampa Bay region came in second, followed by Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Austin, and Raleigh.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.