Florida Area Has Two Of The Most Pet-Friendly Cities In America
“Don’t leave your pup at home when you visit Tampa Bay,” Visit Tampa Bay states in their dog-friendly guide. It’s with a good reason. WalletHub recently published a report that lists the most pet-friendly cities in America and Tampa Bay
ranked towards the top.
In order to compile this ranking, WalletHub analyzed 100 major cities across the country. They identified 23 key metrics and then categorized them into three primary topics. They were; pet budget, outdoor pet-friendliness, and pet health and wellness.
“Animal companionship is a great stress reliever, and the nearly 90.5 million households in the U.S. that own pets want to live places where their beloved companions can enjoy long, healthy lives without breaking the bank,” they said.
Tampa Ranked #2
Only slightly edged out by Scottsdale, Arizona, Tampa shined bright here. Pet health and wellness was the area Tampa ranked the highest (#3). In addition, Tampa was at the top of the list for Veterinarians per Capita.
St. Petersburg Ranked #3
Equally as fascinating here is the fact that St. Pete was strong enough to branch out and claim its own top spot. In fact, this city region finished right behind Tampa. Both finished with the same results in terms of pet budget, but Tampa faired slightly better when it came to outdoor pet-friendliness.
On Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, you will even find a place called Mutts and Martinis. This large sports bar offers a dog splash pad on the premises. ” With over 25 sports streaming TVs and a dog-only swimming pool you can both take some time to chill,” Visit St. Pete Clearwater states.
In total, Visit Tampa Bay listed dog hiking as one of the best activities to partake in throughout the Tampa region. Furthermore, they exclaim, “It’s a dog’s life in Tampa Bay.”
Honorable Mention
Orlando (ranked #15), Miami (ranked #20), Hialeah (ranked #48), and Jacksonville (ranked #51) also represented Florida in the most pet-friendly cities in America. Orlando was the best city in terms of the most dog-friendly restaurants per capita.
Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa
Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.
Getty Images
Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys
This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It’s a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, “the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys.” In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.
