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Orlando

A natural paradise with magic everywhere

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Say "Orlando" and most people will think of a city with theme parks—Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios. That's not surprising; more than 40 million people a year make Orlando their vacation destination. But this bustling city is so much more than its tourist attractions. In the last 30 years Orlando has transformed itself from a sleepy town surrounded by cow pastures and citrus orchards to the bustling city that defines Central Florida. To be sure, Disney World and the dozens of other large and small man-made attractions are a key reason Orlando is thriving. But the Magic Kingdom is just a small part of the magic you'll experience in Orlando. From its natural beauty to its cultural centers to its welcoming neighborhoods, this "City Beautiful" is the very heart of Central Florida.

Orlando's history began with the end of the second Seminole war. Adventuresome pioneers came to Central Florida when the area was reputedly little more than swamp, mosquitoes, and humid weather. They settled around an old Army fort, the site where U.S. soldier Orlando Reeves was killed by a Seminole's arrow while on sentry duty, and the present-day site of Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. The population of this newly formed settlement was 85.

Living here

Today, more than 1.5 million people live and work in Greater Orlando, which includes areas of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. The median age of Orlando's residents is 33.9, well below Florida's average of 37.9. Most residents (about 75 percent) are college educated and account for Orlando's largely professional workforce. The city's strong economy and moderate cost of living attracts single people and married couples alike. Many are drawn to Orlando by its dual personality—even as the city is becoming more cosmopolitan, it retains many of its small-town characteristics, such as local parks, a strong sense of community, and livable downtown neighborhoods.

Thornton Park is a shining example. Just steps away from downtown Orlando, the area is reminiscent of "Old Florida." Many homes in historic Thornton Park feature large front porches shaded by giant Spanish oaks. This charming area offers the best of both worlds—the tranquility of an old-fashioned residential neighborhood and easy access to busy downtown Orlando. In addition to the single-family homes, Thornton Park has a number of loft apartments. In Downtown Orlando, "trendy" seamlessly blends with old-world charm. The Downtown neighborhoods feature modest bungalows as well as modern high-rise apartment buildings. Living here means you are part of one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country.

Look to East Orlando if you prefer an eclectic mix of housing options—and residents. Home to the University of Central Florida (UCF), East Orlando is equally popular with senior citizens, young families, empty-nesters, and UCF students. The area has a number of planned communities that offer single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments. These self-contained communities often feature local recreation centers, swimming pools, and parks.

Southwest of the city you'll find the newer, gated, "executive" communities, many located along lakes and with their own golf courses. Southwest Orlando residents enjoy their isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city, while Downtown Orlando is only a 15-minute commute. In fact, almost any residential area in Greater Orlando (such as neighboring Winter Park or the Disney-created Celebration) is within a short commute of the city.

Getting around

If you live in the outlying areas, you definitely will need a car—and a lot of patience. Central Florida's main interstate, I-4, can be gridlocked during peak business times (typically, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.), but it's busy throughout the day. You'll be competing for road space not only with other residents, but with the seemingly unending stream of cars heading to the theme parks and other attractions southwest of the city. It can be to your advantage to take one of the less-congested toll roads.

Many of Orlando's residents rely on public transportation. The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (CFRTA) has developed a well-organized network of bus routes (called links), making its "LYNX" system a viable option for getting where you need to go. LYNX serves all of Greater Orlando, an area of about 2,000 square miles, seven days a week and on holidays. Bus stops are easily identifiable—they're marked with the "paw print" of a lynx—and the buses are just as easy to spot. LYNX buses are painted bright colors, and CFRTA refers to its more than 200 air-conditioned coaches as "Moveums of Art."

You won't have to wait more than 15 minutes for a bus on the heavily used links, while average frequency in Orlando's urban areas is every 30 minutes, and outlying areas receive hourly service. An added CFRTA perk is the Lymmo bus service, which runs in a three-mile loop throughout downtown Orlando. During business hours, Lymmo buses run every five minutes; after hours, they run every 10 minutes. But the best part of this service isn't that it can drop you within a block of any place in the downtown area; it's that the service is free. (Yes, free.)

"Sunshine State"

Long before the advent of the Mouse and Shamu, visitors came to and often remained in Orlando for its semitropical climate. Central Florida's weather is typically mild. Although it does get hot in summer—the average high temperature in July is 90 degrees, and the humidity is thick—the average yearly temperature is a comfortable 72 degrees. The Sunshine State gets its share of rainfall—typically, it rains 116 days of the year—but as the locals will tell you, most of the time the rain is just a quick cloudburst and then the sun reappears.

Cultural hot spot; naturally wonderful

Orlando is arguably best known for its theme parks, and some residents do take advantage of their close proximity to so many attractions by purchasing yearly passes. But Orlando is quickly becoming the cultural hub of Central Florida. The city has its own opera company, ballet troupe, orchestra, and concert band. Local colleges produce live theater and UCF has an annual Shakespeare Festival. The local libraries offer a number of activities for children, and kids also enjoy the Orlando Science Center, which has 42,000 square feet of permanent and interactive exhibits.

Greater Orlando offers outstanding natural wonders, including 82 lakes and 4,000 acres of public parks, where you can swim, bike, walk, canoe, fish, have a picnic, or just relax. At nearby Blue Spring State Park, you can get an up-close look at Florida's special residents—the endangered manatee. You even can swim with these gentle creatures in a designated swimming area.

A perfect destination

Today, it seems that all other cities in Florida define themselves by their distance from Orlando. Leading national business publications, such as Fortune magazine and Businessweek, consistently rate Orlando as one of the best cities in which to work and live. Healthcare workers who come here will find first-rate hospitals, along with many opportunities for continuing education. When you combine this working and learning environment with Orlando's unsurpassed natural beauty, wealth of entertainment facilities, and welcoming neighborhoods, it's easy to see that the real magic of Orlando is that it's the perfect place to call home.