When people think of Orlando, Florida, they dream of theme parks and sunny weather, and rightfully so. It’s that energy that keeps this city a mainstay in the global tourist industry.
There is little doubt that theme parks like Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios are a large part of life here in Orlando, but that’s only half the story. This city has a rhythm that exists beyond the ride queues and the fairy dust.
The heart of Orlando is its diverse culture, emerging technology, and eclectic arts programs. If you really want to know Orlando, you have to see beyond the theme parks into the soul of the city.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Orlando
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,579 | $840 | $7,500 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,727 | $461 | $3,527 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,080 | $540 | $5,934 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,469 | $965 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,896 | $730 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $1,657 | $939 | $10,000+ |
Current Rental Pricing for Homes for Rent in Orlando
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,232 | $819 | $1,900 |
| 1 Bedroom Homes | $1,434 | $600 | $2,800 |
| 2 Bedroom Homes | $1,855 | $865 | $5,000 |
| 3 Bedroom Homes | $2,400 | $900 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Homes | $3,108 | $675 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Homes | $5,989 | $2,000 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Homes | $4,280 | $800 | $7,900 |
| 7 Bedroom Homes | $39,500 | $10,000 | $10,000+ |
Orlando Neighborhoods: What’s Popular?
Orlando is a network of vibrant neighborhoods, beginning with the central hub of the city—Downtown. Downtown is this city’s historic central business district. It is stacked with banks, professional office buildings, restaurants, theaters, and museums. There are also urban apartment buildings full of young professionals.
There are several neighborhoods built into the downtown area of Orlando. The community of Lake Eola, for example, is situated near one of the most iconic landmarks in the downtown area – Lake Eola Park.
Families tend to settle in one of the city's many master-planned neighborhoods, such as Baldwin Park or the town of Celebration. These self-contained communities are meticulously designed with them in mind. They come complete with single-family homes, tree-lined streets, and numerous amenities and green spaces.
Winter Park, a city located just north of Orlando, is also popular with families. It’s known for its top-rated school system, upscale homes, and gorgeous parks.
Residents who want to live closer to the action, but not downtown, enjoy the Doctor Philips neighborhood. This is home to Orlando’s famous restaurant row. It is also a popular choice for those who work either in the downtown area or at one of Universal’s theme parks.
A Brief Look at the History of Orlando
Orlando is a city with both a rich history and a promising future that extends beyond its role as a vacation venue. In 1840, what we now know as Orlando was a small community surrounding a Fort.
At that time, it was the town of Jernigan, named after the family that first settled there. By 1875, the name had changed to Orlando, and the city had a population of 85 residents.
It’s not clear how the name went from Jernigan to Orlando. Folklore tells of a young sentry named Orlando Reeves, who died during the Seminole Wars. It is said that the residents decided to honor him by renaming the area Orlando. That’s just one of a number of stories around how Orlando got its name, though.
Initially, this city was a center for cattle and citrus growth. Sometime between the Spanish-American War and World War I, it became a resort city. The Roaring Twenties brought with it a land boom that led to the development of many neighborhoods that circled the town center and the city began to grow.
Orlando is known for its military connections. During World War II, army personnel in the area lived at the Orlando Army Air Base. In 1956, Martin Marietta, now known as Lockheed Martin, established a plant in the city. Orlando is still home to the Naval Support Activity (NSA) military installation, which provides services to the Department of Defense.
Orlando really came into its own in 1965 when Walt Disney chose it as the location for his Walt Disney World. Disney wanted the parks in Florida, and settled on Orlando because it was more inland. It was a decision that would make it the world's premier tourist destination. Disney ignited a fire that would bring with it Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and LEGOLAND.
Tourism is still the heart of the economy, but Orlando is proving to be a dynamic city with many layers. It is home to emerging technologies, primarily centered around digital modeling and simulation. The city serves as a hub for immersive technology and virtual training for the military. There are innovative venues in the town, such as the Central Floriada Research Park, Creative Village, and Neocity, which are driving the future of technology.
Getting Around the City Beautiful
The main artery of Orlando is Interstate 4 (I-4). Once upon a time, it was the pathway to just about anything in Orlando. You could take it from Kissimmee all the way to Lake Mary and beyond with little congestion, especially if you were strategic about avoiding high traffic times.
Over the last decade, that has changed. Today’s I-4 is notorious for heavy congestion, largely due to the city's population growth and its status as a major thoroughfare. I-4 is one of the only roads that will take you north through the center of the town.
Orlando also has several toll roads that can be problematic. You’ll pay a toll on the Florida Turnpike, state road 528, the Beachline (B-Line) Expressway, and the I-4 Express. To make the process more streamlined, there are a number of easy payment methods that allow you to drive through the tolls without stopping. You attach a transponder to your vehicle and then pay a bill monthly.
There are alternative methods of travel in Orlando, too. LYNX is the public bus system. It offers routes throughout the city and suburbs, spanning four counties: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake. Bus rides can be long, though. If you are travelling from Kissimmee to downtown, for example, you will need to take multiple buses. The I-Ride Trolley is convenient if you need to go down International Drive, but it is primarily for tourists.
SunRail is a newer option in Orlando. This commuter rail system takes you from north to south with stops in Sanford, Lake Mary, and Altamonte Springs. There is another line that travels through Orange County, stopping at stations in Maitland, Winter Park, and Downtown. There is also an Osceola line that goes through Kissimmee and ends at Poinciana.
The Must-Sees For Residents of Orlando
It is a myth that people living in Orlando don’t visit the parks. Of course, we do. All the parks give Florida residents a discount, and we know the best times to go when there are fewer people. So, yeah, parks are an essential staycation venue even for people who live in the city.
What sets us apart from tourists is that we know there is more to this place than just theme parks. Orlando has plenty of interesting things to do and lots of hidden gems to see.
It is home to some fantastic natural sites that you can spend a whole day enjoying. Harry P. Leu Gardens, for instance, is a 50-acre botanical oasis full of garden after garden. It’s a challenge to see them all.
If you want to enjoy the wildlife, then Orlando Wetlands Park is an option. It is 1,650 acres of wetland full of trails and boardwalks. Watch out for the gators, though.
At Rock Springs in Apopka, you can enjoy 65,000 gallons of crystal clear water and boat the 8.5-mile river. It is not unusual to see people lying on the embankments eating lunch or sunbathing.
Orlando hosts more than a few unusual museums, as well. The Wells Built Museum is full of African-American history and culture. In the 1920s, it was a hotel owned by one of Orlando’s first black doctors. Entertainers at the hotel included Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art houses the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the Randall Knife Museum offers the world’s most extensive collection of pocket knives.
There is a little something for everyone in Orlando, from art to zoology. You could spend a lifetime exploring this diverse city.
The Taste of Orlando
Orlando is the place for foodies, too. We have the usual chain food restaurants, mostly in the tourist areas around the parks.
If you want to look past the obvious, you’ll find that Orlando is known for its seafood. That shouldn’t surprise anyone, given it is just an hour’s drive from the Ocean, whether you go east or west. You could likely find a crab shop, lobster buffet, or seafood restaurant on just about every block in the busy sectors of the city.
Orlando is also known for its iconic key lime pie, anything orange or citrus, and the Cuban sandwich. You can enjoy farm-to-table and modern American cuisine here, featuring locally sourced ingredients. As a tourist mecca, you’ll find plenty of fine dining locations in Orlando, as well.
Orlando Loves Its Sports
Sports are a different kind of magic in Orlando, both at the professional level and the collegiate. The city is known for its sports teams almost as much as it is for its tourist attractions.
There is, of course, the Orlando Magic professional basketball team. Their home stadium is in the middle of downtown at the Kia Center.
The city also hosts a professional soccer team, the Orlando City SC. They play at Inter & Co Stadium, which is also downtown on Church Street. Orlando plays host to minor league teams in ice hockey, women’s football, indoor football, and volleyball, too.
Each year, there are two bowl games at the Camping World Stadium: the Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Orlando is the home of the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic, between the Florida A&M University Rattlers and Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats.
The residents here support multiple collegiate teams. If you live in Orlando, chances are you are a UCF Knights fan or a South Florida Bulls fan, but not both. You are also most likely a Gators fanatic, which means you boo at the Georgia Bulldogs every chance you get.
And About That Orlando Weather
If you don’t come to Orlando for the theme parks, the food, or the sports, you come for the weather. While most of the country experiences four seasons, Orlando has two main ones: rainy and dry. The hot and rainy season runs from May to late October. The milder temperatures and dry weather begin in November and go through April.
This can be an adjustment for those moving into the state from areas that experience four distinct seasons. It may feel unnatural for there to be no snow at Christmas time, for instance. That’s okay, just head down to Celebration, they manufacture it for just that reason. You can experience snow while wearing flip flops and shorts.
Orlando is also known for its sudden, brief thunderstorms. Local residents will tell you that these sudden downpours are so precise that they can drench the front half of your car, with the back staying dry. The storms tend to be fierce, too, with lots of wind and lightning. It can be a bit terrifying, but it’s okay, because in five minutes, you’ll never know it happened.
It’s a myth that Orlando never gets cold, though. Yes, the temperatures usually run from 75 to 90 degrees or more. However, in January, temperatures can drop to the 50s during the day and even fall below freezing at night. It doesn’t last long. Residents experience a couple of weeks of cold at the most each year.
What Makes Orlando the City Beautiful?
Orlando is a city synonymous with the dream vacation. That is a good thing because much of the economy is built around the tourism industry. But the locals will tell you that the city offers so much more magic than that.
The beauty of Orlando is in its vibrant neighborhoods and laid-back elegance. You can enjoy the urban lifestyle of the downtown area or the classic, treelined streets of Baldwin Park.
There is an undercurrent of history, and a local buzz that focuses on innovation and creativity. It is a city of contrasts that includes everything from immersive technology to natural springs.
Millions of people visit Orlando each year to enjoy the sights, but they often miss out on the real beauty there. That’s what makes it such an interesting place to call home.
