City Guides: Orlando, the City of Beautiful

Orlando is the vacation capital of America—and some would argue the world. Every day, thousands of tourists flock to the city for a little R&R. Beyond the tourist attractions, Orlando has also become a great place to live and work. If you are looking for a place to live in Orlando, Greystar has you covered, offering plenty of stylish and comfortable apartments in Orlando for rent. Visitors to Orlando only see a part of the city; as a resident, you’ll get to explore and see it all.

Our team has put together a guide to give you some insight on what it’s like to live in the city. Without further ado, here are some tips:

Beyond the Parks

Without a doubt, Universal Studios® and Disney® theme parks are a huge draw to the area, and they also employ a large number of people. However, there is far more to Orlando than the theme parks. You can find great shopping at the Premium Outlets® or in the Mall at Millenia. There are weekly farmer markets at Lake Eola that deliver fresh produce and local goods to residents and the variety of food offered by scratch kitchen and farm to table restaurants is endless. In short, residents love the theme parks, but they also know that there is so much more to Orlando!

… But Orlando Residents Love to Have Fun

One of the reasons why Orlando residents love going to the theme parks is because Florida residents receive a discount on tickets. If you can afford it, a season pass to one of the parks is a great investment and will pay for itself in just a few trips. The parks also feature seasonal events that are favorites of locals and visitors alike, like Halloween Horror Nights® at Universal Studios® and the Food and Wine Festival at Disney’s Epcot®. Plenty of events also take place outside of the parks, like the Orlando Pride festival in Downtown Orlando and the Florida Film Festival in Maitland.

Free Transportation

There is a little known secret to getting around downtown Orlando: the LYMMO. This bus service is free, and also has its own right-of-way on the road, meaning that you can avoid the oftentimes-congested roads. The LYNX® system also connects outlying suburbs with the city proper, running from South Kissimmee all the way to North Sanford. When you want to get out of the city entirely, you can head to the Orlando International Airport, which links to pretty much every destination you can think of.

Big City, Tight Community

Orlando is a fairly large city, but one thing that separates Orlando from other metropolitan areas is the sense of community people have. Orlando comes together as a tight-knit family for both celebrations and overcoming tough times alike. Even though Orlando is a very diverse community, you will often hear people identify as an Orlando resident first and a Floridian second.

Escape the City

If you’re interested in getting out of the city and enjoy some nature, there are plenty of opportunities nearby. Wekiwa Springs is an oasis of relaxation and a favorite destination for kayaking and canoeing. At Kelly Park/Rock Springs, you can go tubing and let the day pass you by. If you don’t want to leave the city, Orlando offers some great natural areas, including Lake Eola Park and Harry P Leu Gardens.

Orlando is more than just a great place to visit; it’s a great place to live! If you are planning on moving to Orlando, find the perfect Greystar apartment for your lifestyle today. With options around the area, Greystar has plenty of apartments in Orlando for you to choose from and call home.