Tampa/clearwater area
 

can I just have opinions on the tampa/clearwater area for young families , looking mostly at Safety Harbour, which has schools that meet my children's needs almost to the tee. Move is most likely within the next 9-12 months, could be as soon as 6 months from now. This gives us many opportunities in the long term future and have many positive thoughts from the area, but would like some ideas into anyone with knowledge and experience.

(we were thinking Austin Texas until we had a spanner in the works which has made the big change)

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Safety Harbor is lovely. I had a condo off Enterprise road. I think the ex still lives there!
I don't have kids so no idea about schools.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Thank you

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Safety Harbor is indeed lovely, nice parks around that area, Philipe Park is a particularly lovely place to spend an afternoon. I will say that the traffic can sometimes be a bit heavy and for as long as I've been here there's been construction going on everywhere in Pinellas county, seemingly for no good reason, but of all the areas in Pinellas, Safety Harbor is is very near the top choice.

Given the choice between Safety Harbor and Clearwater, I would chose Safety Harbor every time. I lived in Clearwater for a few years and found it to be dull, uninspiring and kind of suffocating. Give a look to Dunedin if you have a chance, really nice bohemian vibe there.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

thank you for the heads up regarding traffic, I have found the schools that meet our needs on paper so I need to find a home that fits those (I am very impressed with their SEN provision mostly and is the 2nd thing I check after the rating). I will look into Denedin cheers.:thumbsup:

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Can I ask a question. I know where I want to live, but if there is no property by the time we go that meet our requirements do you have to choose your allocated schools? Or can you choose obviously if in a reasonable distance from the school?

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

I love Clearwater Beach...but the problem with Clearwater is it's the HQ of Scientology. :eek:

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

hahahaha

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

So that's why they hang around and bug you at the St Pete farmers market.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

You can request to attend any school in the county. Unfortunately the good schools will be oversubscribed and your request is likely to be denied.

I bet if you were to request to attend an F grade school you would be right in.
Best bet find a property in the school district you are wanting to attend. That's the only sure way to get a placement your after.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Don't worry, they're easy to spot. They're the only people wearing trousers in summer.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

The schools I love are C+ and a B especially as the elementary I believe had a lot of focus on autism and other learning difficulties including speech which is vital for my boys . I assume this will give me a better chance than A rated.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

:)

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Just because I can, I took a spin through Safety Harbor at lunch time today. I rigged up my phone as a dash cam. It is not spectacular video, but in real life it is fab drive. Imagine you can see Tampa Bay and Tampa skyline 50 feet to the left for most of the ride. :lol: And a free sample of local radio as soundtrack:p

Main Street (Downtown SH) then Bayshore Blvd, then Bayside Bridge (McMullen Booth Rd/49th St)

Hope this link works.

Re: Tampa/clearwater area
 

Very generous of you cheers

All i can say is wow from what I have seen. It appears to have a very Mediterranean feel to the place and incredibly green. Good perspective on what a commute may be like that bridge is quite some distance. I simply can't wait to get out there.