Tampa, Florida is anything but your typical city. Located on the western side of Florida, Tampa is a city that’s always growing, always moving forward and always alluring. A pleasing mix of post-modern and art deco architecture, this is a city that’s both home to several Fortune 1000 companies and one of the top cities in the country for young professionals. This youthful vitality is just one of the reasons so many people are attracted to this Floridian jewel each year.

Tampa’s primary industries include retail, finance, shipping, service, real estate, national defense and tourism. The city’s metropolitan area is home to companies such as WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Walter Energy, Raymond James Financial, OSI Restaurant Partners and many other leaders of industry. Also in Tampa is the MacDill Air Force Base which includes the headquarters of United States Central Command and other important military components.

Tampa is also the port of call for three of the world’s largest cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Sea, Carnival’s Legend and Inspiration and Holland America’s MS Veendam.

Tampa is regularly rated among the top party cities in the United States, and it didn’t get there by having a boring nightlife. The city has a number of regional hotspots where the nightclubs are lively, loud and full of entertaining opportunities like Ybor city, Channelside, Downtown Tampa, SoHo and International Plaza and Bay Street.

Tampa Bay is home to the Florida Orchestra, Opera Tampa, Jobsite Theater, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Stageworks Theatre, Spanish Lyric Theater, and the Tampa Bay Symphony.

The Museum of Science Industry features its own planetarium and the only domed IMAX theater in Florida. Museum lovers also have the Tampa Museum of Art, the USF Contemporary Art Museum and the Henry B. Plant Museum among others. History buffs will enjoy the Tampa Bay History Center and the SS American Victory warship museum.

Animal lovers will appreciate the splendor of Lowry Park Zoo and the 250,000 square-foot Florida Aquarium. And of course, there’s also Adventure Island and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to suit those who can’t get enough of theme parks.

Renters in Tampa have an abundance of natural beauty to enjoy. Within the Tampa city limits, there are also over 165 parks and beaches that encompass over 2,000 acres with another 40-plus parks and over 70,000 acres of parkland spread throughout the surrounding suburbs.

Tampa’s sports scene is very active and renters in Tampa can follow all of their favorite teams with ease. The city is home to the Buccaneers in the NFL and the Lightning in the NHL while the Tampa Bay Rays, the local MLB team, play just across the bay in St. Petersburg. Tampa is also a haven for MLB spring training as numerous pro baseball teams travel here to get ready for the season’s first pitch.

One of the most significant retail cities in the country, shopping plays a tremendous role in both the area’s economy and recreation and Tampa renters have plenty of hotspots to choose from. Popular shopping destinations include Hyde Park Village, the SoHo district, WestShore Plaza, Palma Ceia and International Plaza and Bay Street.

Tampa Bay is divided into a number of areas which are subsequently divided into neighborhoods. The primary areas of Tampa include Downtown Tampa, West Tampa, East Tampa, North Tampa, South Tampa and New Tampa.

Noteworthy communities include:

Ybor City – One of the most historic sections of Tampa, Ybor City has undergone many changes throughout the years. Once a thriving immigrant community, Ybor City is now a diverse, thriving community featuring many newer condominiums and apartments. The neighborhood is especially favored by the LGBT community due to the 2007 development of the GaYbor district, where numerous LGBT-friendly establishments can be found.

Forest Hills – A citrus grove until the 1950’s, Forest Hills is now a lovely neighborhood located near Lake Magdalene. A pleasing mix of affordable apartment rentals and single family bungalows, Forest Hills has plenty of rental opportunities for those looking for a little piece of quiet suburbia.

Sulphur Springs – Home to the famous Sulphur Springs Water Tower, Sulphur Springs was once a tourist destination for the wealthy. It is now a residential community filled with rental opportunities for someone looking for a rental in Tampa. Although it’s no longer a resort area, it still holds on that “special something” that wealthy families found so intriguing decades ago.

Seminole Heights – Seminole Heights is a historic area of Tampa that’s well known for its early 20th Century bungalows and it’s one of the largest in terms of population. While there aren’t many apartment complexes in this particular area, one can find a beautiful single family home to rent if they’re moving to Tampa, Florida with a family in tow.

Tampa Heights – Tampa Heights is a mixed-use community merging residential and commercial properties. It features plenty of new developments where renters in Tampa may be able to find affordable apartments in a constantly growing community.

Hyde Park – Hyde Park is home to Tampa’s SoHo district of specialty high-end boutiques, top-rated nightclubs and trendy restaurants. Typically alluring to younger renters in Tampa, Hyde Park does command higher rent prices but the rental apartments in this area have amenities and conveniences to satisfy the cost.

Other residential communities highly popular among those looking for apartments in Tampa include College Hill, Westchase, Davis Island and Tampa Palms.