Lutz, Florida

Lutz (pronounced loots), rated one of the Best 100Wal-Mart, K-Mart, a new Super-Target and malls
Places to Live by Money Magazine in 2004, and beinggalore in the Tampa area, as well as to all the popular
either a contender or a finalist for that spot since then,restaurant chains: Moe's, Chili's, Applebee's. But Lutz
has a small but growing population of 25,000. It is a landresidents also enjoy a few local favorites like
dotted with more than 100 pristine lakes, making Lutz aSalvato's, Benedetto's and Hot Rod's Barbeque.
haven for those who enjoy boating, fishing, swimmingSalvato's, in the Willow Bend Shopping Center on
and jet-skiing. Being just 12 miles north of its largeState Road 54, is a local casual dining hotspot with a
metropolitan neighbor Tampa, Lutz is considered asports bar and live entertainment. To satisfy that Italian
bedroom community, with many residents working incraving, Lutz residents turn to Benedetto's in the Village
the city and returning to their slice of paradise in theShopping Center, also on SR 54. And for a true local,
country at the end of the day. The commute in andLutz experience, don't miss Hot Rod's Barbeque and
out of Tampa is a bit easier than most in the area,Grill: open four days a week and serving up specialties
which is well known for its traffic plight: the intersectionlike Grilled Swamp Bat, Redneck Prime Rib, otherwise
of I-4 and 275, with a commanding, up-close view ofknown as SPAM, and the $39.99 BIG BURGER, a
Tampa's downtown skyscrapers, is well-known by15-pound, 100% American USDA beef burger on a
locals as malfunction junction. To the north of Lutz and16-inch bun that takes two hours to make and includes
sharing many of its borders and services is the city ofingredients like Gator Guts Hot Sauce, Fo-Play Rub
Land O'Lakes in Pasco County. While most of Lutzand enough chopped onion to make you cry.
sits within Hillsborough County, a small portion isLeisure and Play in Lutz
considered Pasco. The line is blurry though, many folksThere's lots of play to be had in and around Lutz. With
sometimes aren't sure whether their favorite spot isits numerous freshwater lakes and ponds, many of
considered Pasco and Land O'Lakes, or Hillsboroughwhich are connected through canals, the area is
and Lutz.heaven to fishermen, boaters and water-ski
Shopping and Dining in Lutzenthusiasts. Lake Keene, a 30-acre lake at the
Shopping and dining options in Lutz, while nothing tointersection of Hanna Road and Sunset Lane, is
sneeze at now, are about to get a whole lot larger. Inreportedly well stocked with bass, catfish, speckled
June, 2007 ground-breaking began on the hotlyperch and brim. Lake Commiston, half the size of Lake
contested Cypress Creek Town Center, which isKeene and with much undeveloped shoreline, is home
supposedly going to be the largest mall in the Tampato osprey, egrets, blue herons, woodstorks and the
Bay area and the second largest mall in Florida withoccasional bald eagle. Lutz, being home to the most
more than 1.3 million square feet of open-air-styleprestigious golf courses in the Tampa Bay area: Avila,
shopping. Residents have put up a good fight to stopStillwater, Cheval, and with 166 courses within 30 miles
the mall over the years but, as is often the case,of the city proper, is also a retreat for golfers.
progress wins in the end. Also opening in the very nearLutz is also home to several popular clothing optional
future are The Grove and Shops at Wiregrass, tworesorts, including Paradise Lakes, a 72-acre haven with
big-box shopping outlets complete with a Best Buy,more than 400 residents, and Lake Como, a rustic
Ross, Bed-Bath-and-Beyond, 16-screen movie theatre,200-acre nudist community and resort on a 35-acre
bookstore and more.lake. Neighboring Land O'Lakes offers a few more of
Lutz residents already enjoy easy access tothese resorts, if that sort of thing strikes your fancy.