Wellswood - Tampa, FL

Tampa began in 1521 as an Indian fishing village called "Tanpa" and surrounded by woodlands. In 1539 Hernando de Soto sailed into Tampa Bay searching for gold. For the next 200 years, the area remained mostly untouched. In 1772, Dutch mapmaker Bernard Romans gave the name “Hillsborough” to the local river. The United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1821 and organized Hillsborough as Florida's 19th county. At the time, the sprawling area held a population of only 800. The area languished until about 1949, when the Wellswood community center was built. The first house was built in 1950, and a residential community soon came into existence.

City-run Taylor Art Studio offers arts classes for all ages. Residents travel less than 5 miles to visit two 2 large art museums near downtown. The Wellswood Civic Association hosts an annual community BBQ.

Residents find it easy to spot a restaurant along Armenia Avenue, where all types of Latin food predominate. Look for Columbian, Mexican and Caribbean eateries.

Locals enjoy Colombian cuisine, drinks and music at La Cabaña Restaurant. La Cabaña serves homemade meals with authentic flavors. Try the chorizo con arepa, or sausage with corn cake, as an appetizer, followed by carne a la brasa, or grilled skirt steak, with sweet plantains on the side.

Monserrate Restaurant Bar & Grill serves Latin specialties in one of the top-rated Latin restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Regulars ask for the picada monserrate, a mixed platter with sausages and roast pork, including fried potatoes and yucca as well as corn pie. At lunchtime, be sure to try the Cuban sandwich.

Most residents look to other parts of Tampa for nightlife, although several nightclubs serve the neighborhood. Historic Ybor City features an active entertainment district about 10 minutes away at Centro YBOR. Entertainment options include a 10-screen theater, the Tampa Improv, and GameTime. The Center also includes 10 restaurants and bars with a wide range of offerings including a brew pub and a wine bar.

Although some errands can be accomplished on foot, most residents of Wellswood rely on cars to get where they want to go. Routes 574 and 92 connect to Interstate 275 for convenient expressway access, and the drive downtown takes about 12 minutes via Interstate 275. Free on-street parking helps make driving convenient. For residents who prefer public transportation, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority serves the area with two north/south bus routes and one that travels east/west. On weekdays, the buses run about every 20 minutes. Residents can summon a taxi by phone or online from one of the more than 30 taxi companies serving Wellswood, and Uber offers another option in the area.

Wellswood does not have many bike lanes. A bicycle trail runs along Hillsborough Ave near the northern edge of the neighborhood, and bike-friendly Wishart Blvd crosses the neighborhood diagonally from north to south.

The City of Tampa parks do not charge admission. Nearby Rivercrest Park runs along much of the Hillsborough River. Park amenities consist of a fishing pier, a playground area and a nice place to have a picnic. The Calvin Taylor Park has ball fields and a playground, while the River Shore Linear Park and River Boulevard Park provide access to the Hillsborough River.

Al Lopez Park, 2.5 miles from Wellswood, covers 132 acres and incudes two ponds. The northern pond offers fishing, which residents enjoy. For children, an inventive play area encourages fun and physical fitness with its six large play structures including one especially designed for younger and/or limited ability children and a rock climbing structure. The dog park here includes enclosed, leash-free areas.

Wellswood Baseball Park operates a large private facility with ball fields for youth baseball.

It costs about 4 percent less to live in Wellswood than in the average Tampa neighborhood. Groceries, housing and healthcare all cost less than the national average. Residents pay about $697 for an average monthly one-bedroom apartment rental, and find transportation costs easy on the budget as well. It costs $2 for one-way bus fare to downtown, and the price of gas equals the national average. A draft beer at a local pub will set you back $5, and you can expect to pay less than $10 for a pizza to go with it.

Much of the commercial development along Route 92 consists of small businesses and chain stores. Wellswood supports one small shopping plaza but no large shopping centers, so residents tend to shop outside the neighborhood. The nearby Taubman Center features high-end stores only a 15-minute drive away.

Sherry's YesterDaze Vintage Clothing and Antiques sits just east of Wellswood. It sells a wide range of vintage clothing from the late 1800s to the early 1990s as well as vintage jewelry. Look for the groovy assortment of mid-century modern household objects, too. The inventory changes constantly, bringing customers back often.

For those who enjoy grabbing the latest comic book title, Demolition Comics on Waters Avenue stocks the most recent issues. The friendly staff is more than willing to help with suggestions for those new to the hobby, and you can even order online and pick up the selections in the store. Several large grocery stores serve the neighborhood. The unique Africa on the Bay serves as Florida's largest retailer of African foods, stocking foods and products from the entire African continent, from Algeria to Zimbabwe.

Tampa Bay Farmers Market sells local fresh produce in season. Drive about 15 minutes south of Wellswood to find it, and keep your eyes open for strawberries and Florida citrus.