Ybor City seems to be the popular spot for the younger crowd in the Tampa area. Hyde Park is a trendy and nice area. That's where I work.
I prefer Pinellas county (Across the bay in St. Pete) myself. Tampa has no beaches and Pinellas has 20 miles of them or so....not to mention the beach community scene and a great downtown area loaded with various clubs, restaurants and bars...now open until 3 am as of last month. Treasure Island is my favorite beach. Legal to drink on the beach and the beach itself is huge...very wide and you can always find a spot. Lots of Beach bars and Marina type bars in St. Pete Beach and T.I.
I live north of Tampa, but it's only like 45 minutes on the parkway. As for Ybor, I would stay out of that place, even if you are young and looking for party fodder. It's just not a safe as it used to be and there are shootings all the time. Just my 2 cents.
That reminds me. Why is it we give two cents for an opinion but only get paid a penny for our thoughts. SOMEONE OWES ME A PENNY DAMNIT