As one of the best places to live in Florida, Apollo Beach deserves all the attention it receives. Surrounded by beaches, endless recreation options, and beautiful weather, residents of Apollo Beach have the ultimate quality of life. The city is located close to St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, so it's perfect for those who want the laid-back nature of a beach town and the amenities of the big city. Symphony Isles is a gated community in Apollo Beach that features a variety of homes, many of which are oceanfront. What is it like living in Symphony Isles, Apollo Beach? Here are seven reasons why you want to live here.
1. The Beaches
Living on the waterfront is likely among the top of many Apollo Beach residents' "wants" lists. The beaches are a huge draw for those who want to live in one of the best places to live in Florida. The desirable weather in Florida makes beach town living that much better. Apollo Beach sees warm weather most of the time during the long summers, with average temperatures reaching between 73°F and 91°F. The weather makes it always great to do water activities like swimming, surfing, kayaking, fishing, and much more.
2. The Amenities
When living at Symphony Isles, Apollo Beach, the amenities are top-notch. The deed-restricted community offers plenty of social activities for all ages. A community clubhouse features a pool, boat launch area, playground, and much more. The meticulously maintained properties have environmentally-conscious features. Symphony Beach Park features a barbecue area, horseshoe put, volleyball court, gazebo, and private beach on Tampa Bay. The gated community features sidewalks and walking paths perfect for your morning run or dog walking. Not to mention, the views are incredible.
3. The Location
As one of the fastest-growing areas in the county, South Shore has seen explosive growth and is now home to some great conveniences. Just minutes from Symphony Isles are various grocery stores, restaurants, specialty stores, and drug stores. The Sun City Center has a Beall's Department Store, Wal-Mart, and Home Depot. Just 20 minutes away is the Westfield Mall has plenty of stores, a movie theater, entertainment, and fine dining options. You can drive another 25 minutes to Hyde Park Village, Prime Outlets in Ellenton, International Plaza, and West Shore Plaza if you want even more shopping options. The Tampa International Airport is about 50 minutes from Symphony Isles.
It's easy to get from Symphony Isles to St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, and St. Pete Beach because Interstate 75 is just minutes from the community. It's ideal for those who want to visit the big city for sporting events, museums, the Tampa nightlife, other beaches, performing arts, fine dining, or other things to do. There's so much to explore in Tampa, like the Lowry Park Zoo, Dali Museum, Busch Gardens, TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Adventure Island, and much more.
Residents of Symphony Isles are close to medical facilities like South Bay Hospital, which is located in Sun City Center, and Brandon Regional Hospital in Brandon. St. Joseph's Hospital South opened in 2015, and it's about 15 minutes from the community.
4. The Sports
Symphony Isles has plenty of championship golf courses nearby for the avid golfer, so you can find a new course to enjoy often. The Apollo Beach Community Center is two blocks from the gates of Symphony Isles, and it features basketball, tennis, playgrounds, a dog park, and fitness classes.
Sports lovers will adore the location of Symphony Isles. You can easily drive to watch Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sundays, The Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), The New York Yankees during their spring training in Tamps, and the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB). You're also only about an hour and a half from Orlando, where you can see the Orlando Magic (NBA) and stop in at Walt Disney World. Visit the most magical place on earth in just an hour and a half, so a day trip is definitely doable.
5. The Quality of Life
While housing prices are a bit on the expensive side for all of Apollo Beach, residents spend less money on basic expenses, healthcare, and utilities to counteract the high housing costs in the area.
If you have school-aged children, moving to Symphony Isles, Apollo Beach, is an excellent option because of the educational resources available. The community is served by the award-winning Apollo Beach Elementary School, Eisenhower Middle, and East Bay High Schools. You can feel confident in your child's education from kindergarten to post-secondary. The Tampa area has a few post-secondary campuses like the University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, Stetson College of Law, and Eckerd College.
The job market in Apollo Beach is relatively small. Unless you're working in retail, education, healthcare, or tourism, many large corporations are stationed in Tampa or St. Petersburg. Many people commute to the big city for work, which takes around 30 minutes.
Residents of Symphony Isles choose a high quality of life over living in the big city. However, they're close enough to reap all the benefits of Tampa and St. Petersburg. The lifestyle afforded to them in the gated community is everything that you'd expect from a high-end beach community.
6. The Things to Do
The list of things to do in the Symphony Isles is genuinely endless. There are so many activities, shopping, recreation, restaurants, and more that you'll never be bored living in the area. If you run out of things to do, you can explore Tampa, St. Petersburg, and even Orlando.
If you take a look at the top things to do in Apollo Beach, you'll likely always find the Manatee viewing center. It is something everyone should experience at least once. You can watch wild manatees swim around the Big Bend or float around the bay in their natural habitat. You'll want to wear comfortable shoes, as it's about a mile to walk up to the observation tower and there are stairs to get to the top. The view is absolutely worth the trek. Residents can visit between November and April.
The Apollo Beach Nature Preserve is another must-see attraction that all locals should visit. It's a great place to have picnics, soak in the sun, and enjoy the area.
Of course, there are plenty of beaches if you love spending time in the water. If you love to spend time outdoors, you can always find something to do. There are plenty of walking pathways, biking pathways, hiking, swimming, water sports, parks, and green spaces to enjoy. Tampa and St. Petersburg also have plenty of recreation to enjoy, so residents can spend the day in the big city exploring.
Apollo Beach is home to some fantastic restaurants. Some must-try spots include Circles Waterfront Restaurant, Asian Fusion Buffet, Kimi's Ice Cream & Coffees, Four Stacks Brewing Company, Apollo's Bistro, Latitudes Apollo Restaurant and Lounge, Alpha Pizza House, The Vineyards Trattoria and Pizzeria, San REMO Pizza Restaurant, Apollo Beach Diner, Ybor Grille, Mi Viejo Latin Cafe and Catering, Salty Shamrock, Zpan Hibachi And Sushi Bar, and Beef O'Brady's Apollo Beach.
7. The Real Estate
Property types include single-family homes, waterfront homes, beach homes, townhomes, and zero-lot-line homes. When moving to Apollo Beach, FL, you'll immediately recognize that it's an affluent community and the real estate market is very competitive. It's an excellent place for investors to snatch up a property. They often go up in value based on the great location and high quality of life. Properties in Symphony Isles are incredible, ultra-luxe estate homes. The gated community has 314 properties. They are all located on wide deep-water canals that lead directly to Tampa Bay. With 24-hour security, residents have the ultimate peace of mind. If you're considering moving to Apollo Beach, FL, Symphony Isles is a must-see community.
Melissa and Gunner Davis (Team Davis) strive to ensure a positive experience for each and every client through their strategic buying or listing process. They have a wide diversity in area and market knowledge and come well equipped with all of the information needed to make the best decisions for you and your family. This experienced real estate team knows the industry and are here to direct and protect you through this detailed process.