Florida Town Named the Best ‘Cultural Epicenter’
One Florida town has been named a “cultural epicenter” and one of America’s best for living. If you’re thinking of starting a life in a new city and want to know of a fantastic Florida town to set up shop, you’re likely going to want a welcoming town with a reasonable cost of living and, of course, a high level of safety. Thankfully, there are plenty of welcoming areas across America, so whether you want to live close to where you’re from or venture out, you have options.
‘Cultural Epicenter’ in Florida
The experts at Money have put together a tally of the finest places to live in America. “This year’s Best Places to Live list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life,” they state, adding that, “Instead of using a predetermined dataset to whittle thousands of American cities down to a ‘winning’ 50, we crafted our list from the ground up through meticulous research and in-depth reporting — paying special attention to those deeply invested in the livability, equity and sustainability of their communities. We asked readers for suggestions, too, in a newsletter poll that produced hundreds of responses.”
During the vetting process, Money did their research and compared each city, town and neighborhood on their roster of contenders against various metrics, including the health of the local job market; the average housing costs borne by homeowners and renters; the quality of public schools; and more. So, if you’re looking for places that are projected to be great areas to live in the future, this is the tally for you. They also said they used a “holistic” approach, because they know some wonderful benefits of living in certain places can’t be counted on metrics.
The Florida town the experts at Money say is a great “cultural epicenter” is Ybor City (Tampa). They call this the “cultural epicenter of one of America’s hottest cities,” both in temperature and in terms of being just awesome. Of the spot, Money states, “Also known as Cigar City, Ybor is located just north of the harbor, Port Tampa Bay, and is a historic melting pot of Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants.” They add, “The local architecture, art and cuisine are all the richer for it.” They suggest checking out the booming main street and promise that you won’t be disappointed.
Secret Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation
1. Try to Negotiate Your Lodging
Did you know that hotel fees can be negotiable? Fidelity.com points out that, “You may be able to negotiate the online price by calling a hotel directly, or asking if they have any discounts for students, government employees, or members of certain groups, such as AAA.” So, don’t settle for that price you see on your laptop. Try to do better. It’s a secret tip that can pay off bigtime.
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2. Get Smart with Your Lodging
Did you know some hotels that are virtually the same, including the same brand, can be cheaper just a few miles apart? As a general rule, hotels that are near the airport are more expensive. So, you can look at the hotels you want to stay at and their multiple locations in the area for the best rate. “Some hotels that are under construction may rent rooms at a discount, which is a great option if you can deal with the noise,” Fidelity.com points out.
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3. Snack Your Way to a Cheaper Trip
Going out to eat on vacation can be one of the most exciting things about the trip. But, if you want to save on cash, skip a few meals out and opt for healthy, hearty snacks. Pack (or buy at a local store) some protein-rich snacks, like protein bars and meal bars, and limit your dining out. You can still enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer, just not as much of it. This is a way to stay fit on your trip, too. A lot of people don’t think of this tip, so it’s a bit of a secret.
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4. Timing is Everything
You’ve heard it so many times in life: Timing is everything. That’s true for travel, too. Research to find the least-busy times to visit your destination. If you travel during those downtimes, you’ll save big. While this is a common tip, something people forget is that every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, be specific for your travel spot.
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5. Travel with a Friend
If you’re thinking of traveling solo to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go cheaper by traveling with a friend. You two can share lodging fees. Also, sometimes there are more deals and discounts for those traveling with multiple people. I always do this when going to a big music festival, if it’s far away. I’ll usually meet my friend there, and we share lodging costs. It also makes the trip more fun.
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6. Find Free Spots to Travel
Look for some free attractions in your travel area. Chances are, they won’t be as packed as the big-named places, too. You can still visit some of the popular landmarks. But, if you add a trip to a national park or free museum to your itinerary, it will save you some cash.
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7. Max Out Your Memberships
Are you a member of any random groups? You might have travel deals just waiting for you. Check everything, from your college alumni membership to your credit cards, for travel discounts. You may be surprised what you find.
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8. Don't Get Picky
Say you just want to get out on a fantastic trip, but you don’t really have a place in mind. That’s actually a good thing. Take an hour to look at flight specials happening right now. If you aren’t picky on where to travel, chances are you’ll find a great rate on airfare and lodging somewhere. Once you find the most reasonable place to travel, then you can start looking at what to do when you’re there.
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9. Go Popular
This is a bit ironic, but often times, the most popular tourist destinations are also the cheapest. That’s because there is a lot of competition for all those travelers. So, big-named destinations like Orlando, Florida, or Las Vegas, Nevada, tend to have really good travel deals. Go popular, or go home.
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