Wesley Chapel, FL

Wesley Chapel was developed in the 1840s when pioneers discovered the land. They originally nicknamed the area Gatorville due to the large number of alligators. Today, the neighborhood has grown to close to 16,000 households with a racially diverse population of around 44,000 people.

After work, residents in the area enjoy a thriving culture scene with plenty of activities and year-long events. The Contemporary Art Museum features several exhibits including Making Sense, A Different Frame of Time and Social Engagement. Every time the museum opens a new exhibit throughout the year, a grand opening provides a variety of activities and food. Admissions to the events are available for a nominal fee.

Every January, the city holds a pirate festival where children and adults can become pirates for the day. Sample traditional pirate foods and watch the parade of pirate ship floats through downtown.

The majority of the restaurants in Wesley Chapel lie centrally located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. You can find everything from fast-food chains, international restaurants and American cafe-style establishments.

GrillSmith offers an intimate atmosphere for company meetings or special events. Happy hour happens daily between the hours of 4pm and 7pm, and the restaurant offers inexpensive lunch specials for those wanting something more than fast food. Menu items include the signature Caribbean pumpkin crab bisque and the grilled chicken lettuce wraps. Families with children will appreciate the kids' menu, and a selection of tempting desserts help complete your meal. If you want international fare, the Hungry Greek restaurant can satisfy the healthiest of appetites. Choose from a variety of pitas, spinach pie, dolmades or the specialty Horiatiki salad,which are all made with fresh ingredients.

If you were born and raised in America, you understand that nothing beats a good burger. Burger Monger can satisfy any burger craving with just one bite. Sample the signature monster monger burger with two 8-ounce, all-beef patties, and top the meal with an order of monster fries.

At night, locals enjoy live music in their own neighborhood at the Brass Tap Beer Bar. The bar provides a friendly atmosphere with excellent service and live music every night. Try out your voice at the mic with karaoke every Tuesday. For those looking for more things to do, Tampa can be found just a short drive away.

Like most rural areas, Wesley Chapel can be explored easily by automobile. In fact, auto transport provides the most common method to get around the area and into downtown Tampa and St. Petersburg, and public parking can be found easily and cheaply. When navigating the area, walking can take a long time due to the expanse of the neighborhood. However, bike lanes are readily available for avid cyclists.

The PCPT (Pasco County Public Transportation) line provides a reliable mode of transport to and from Tampa and various places around the neighborhood. If you don't like taking the bus, calling a cab provides another excellent option for transport in Wesley Chapel. Residents do not stand on the corner and hail a cab because most cabs don't patrol the area due to the expensive cost of gas. Instead, residents call local cab companies to schedule a ride. Wesley Chapel lies just outside the limits of Uber, however, if you travel to downtown Tampa, Uber offers an excellent ride solution.

With plenty of open areas and beautiful flat landscapes, Wesley Chapel rarely allows residents to run out of things to do.

Wesley Chapel District Park remains open every day of the week from 8am until 10pm to allow residents to get in their exercise. The park has a large playground for children, picnic tables, grills, fishing, athletic fields and plenty of places to walk. No fees must be paid to use the facility, but if you reserve the picnic pavilions, a small fee applies. Pets can come in the park when kept on a leash. Every summer, the park holds the Ryan Pickett's Football Camp for those interested in playing football in the fall.

Wesley Chapel strives to provide residents with an excellent quality of life. For this reason, the cost of living in the area remains only around 0.3 percent higher than the city average. This allows the people who live in the city to enjoy luxury items. The rent of a one-bedroom apartment hovers around $850 per month, which remains about the same as other apartments rentals in the surrounding area.

The price of bus fare to downtown Tampa is $1.50 per ride, and a one-day pass is $3.75. Children under the age of four can ride for free. Gas prices hover around 1.4 percent lower than the national average. A trip to a local pub will cost you around $3 to $6 for a glass of beer.

Shopping in downtown Wesley Chapel offers high-end and high-value stores with something for everyone.

The Fancy Frock Bridal and Formal Wear Boutique offers a large selection of special-occasion dresses for all ages. The store also takes items in for alterations, so you always get a perfect fit. Choose from handbags, clothing and even jewelry items.

For those who like to pamper their pets, the Bow Wow Boutique provides spa-like services for your pooch. Grooming includes painted nails, cleaned ears and bows or bandannas. Gift cards can be purchased for someone special.

Wesley Chapel area residents can purchase their groceries at one of the major chains located in the area, including Publix, Winn Dixie and Cumberland Farms. For fresh fruits and vegetables, visit Fresh Market at Wiregrass on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Located on the corner of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 56, this open-air market offers produce grown by local vendors, and you'll also find smoked meats, fresh fish, fresh jams, pickles and food vendors selling a variety of homemade items. While there, you can also enjoy live music and mingle with the local residents.