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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sado" data-source="post: 2089009" data-attributes="member: 20589">Lakeland is a nice little town about 30 minutes east of Tampa.  It has a decent shopping mall, good restaurants, and is convenient to both Tampa and Orlando (about halfway between).  I-4 (east-west interstate running through Lakeland and really the only way to get anywhere else) can be a nightmare at times, especially with recent construction projects.  I-4 is what you would take into Tampa as well, and it gets worse the closer you get, until you get to what we call malfunction junction, where I-4 with its east-west traffic meets I-275 and its north-south traffic and everyone going into Tampa merges onto I-275 southbound.  Expect long delays.Tampa itself is a pretty ugly city, except for areas on the west and south sides and Davis Island (where you need to have uber-wealth to think about living), and an area north of Tampa called New Tampa.  If you are actually going to be working/doing most of your stuff in Tampa, I would recommend looking at New Tampa, or better yet one of several unincorporated areas east and southeast of Tampa-areas like Brandon, Seffner, Valrico, and Riverview.  Real Estate is fairly inexpensive in these places, and the city is sort of migrating in those directions, making property there a good investment.  And a quick jump on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway gets you right into downtown Tampa with little trouble (though it is a toll road-you could take SR 60 if you are cheap like me). You may even consider western Pasco County.  Land there is still pretty cheap and its a straight shot south on I-75.Stay out of Pinellas County.  It is one big slummy overgrown overcrowded traffic-jammed construction area.  That's where I live, and I hate it here.  Pinellas County (St Petersburg and Clearwater) is a long peninsula connected to Tampa by three bridges, which are all veery badly backed up during rush hour.  There are a few nice places, but its mostly trashy houses on $100,000+ lots (land being expensive due to major overcrowding)-either that or half million $ beachfront properties.So in short, the Brandon/Seffner/Valrico area would be my first choice, and New Tampa would be my second, with Lakeland a close third.  If you do decide on Lakeland, it's a nice place.  You get small-town charm while still being convenient to two major metropolitan areas.EDIT-Plant City is about halfway between Lakeland and Tampa, and it is also right on I-4.  They don't have as many local ammenities and shopping themselves, though-you would need to go into Tampa more often.If you have any specific questions, like about shopping, attractions, restaurants, etc, ask away.</blockquote>

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