What’s Temple Terrace like? I heard it’s rough but it looks beautiful!

Temple Terrace is one of the most interesting, beautiful, and coolest sections of Tampa. Ok yes it’s technically it’s own city but you know what I mean.

Here’s the secret. Temple Terrace is a relatively small area that people think is very large and most people never venture past the major roads or go into the residential areas. Busch Gardens isn’t in Temple Terrace. University Mall isn’t in Temple Terrace. USF and MOSI also aren’t in Temple Terrace. Those are all in Tampa.

Temple Terrace is basically a block or two east 56th St and the majority of it to the West. Admittedly 56th and Fowler are ugly as sin, but that’s not unique to this area. That’s a relatively common feature of commercial roads in Tampa.

The river is absolutely beautiful there, and there is also a college (not USF, Florida College) and a very old school country club (Temple Terrace CC).

The CC is interested because the old style has homes across the street from the course, not directly on the course itself. Provides huge greenways and spaces, with roads swooping this way and that.

Down in the peninsula where the river bends you will find an absolute treasure trove of mid-century homes under an absolutely massive oak tree canopy and riverfront homes. If you follow the river up around fowler it feels like an absolutely different planet, let alone Tampa.

And closer to the school there is a section with blocked access from Fowler where homes regularly have 1/2 to full acre lots. It’s absolutely mind bending.

On the whole homes here are much larger on much larger lots in very quieter neighborhoods than almost every other section of the city. They were mostly built late 50s-80s in a variety of architectural styles, and you just wouldn’t believe how much of a hidden gem the area is.

Like any city that have a couple sections that aren’t quite up to snuff, but they’re not surprises. You’d know soon as you drive though.

Let me put it this way. If I was considering a neighborhood to live in Tampa, Temple Terrace is one of my top picks.

So why does everyone say it’s terrible? Most people do not explore their city and are also pretty bad at geography. Go drive some of these areas yourself and I believe you will be very impressed.