Sunshine, beaches, a subtropical climate, cultural activities, beautiful parks and professional sports teams help make the Tampa Bay Area one of the most attractive in the western hemisphere. The metropolitan area that includes St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa and two dozen smaller communities offers a wealth of opportunities for "living the good life." You can attend music, dance and theatre performances at Mahaffey Theater, Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; visit dozens of art galleries and museums (including the famed Ringling Museum in Sarasota); watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Raymond James Stadium and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field; visit Busch Gardens, Sunken Gardens, the Lowry Park Zoo or Fort DeSoto Park with the family.

The area also offers the University of South Florida, Eckerd College and the University of Tampa, along with dozens of community colleges and branch campuses of regional and national universities.

To help you get a taste of this good life, here are a few community links.