small town near Orlando (Lakeland, Winter Haven: trip , job, housing)

[peaceynot]

We may be moving to Orlando. Job may move us. Married with 4 kiddos ages 8 twin 5 and 2. Currently in small town 3800 pop in Massachusetts. We love small town living and would like to maintain that. We also prefer older homes (but not a requirement). Of course we want great schools. Not a huge fan of living communities. His commute would be to Sand Lake RD area, So I guess that would be southern Orlando. Willing to commute 45min if needed. Any suggestions??? Would buy a home around 300,000 if that chooses area.

[Wilshire81182]

I would suggest either Polk County like Davenport or closer to the Lakeland area or SE of Orlando out toward St.Cloud and Harmony.

[GregTraub]

Going to be hard to get that small town feel and still be relatively close to the Sandlake Rd area. Mt. Dora may fit the bill but are FAR from where you will be working. Mont Verde, Oakland, and Winter Garden may be a fit with older homes and a small town feel....the schools are pretty good (except the high school is questionable).

While many may feel Lake Nona area isn't really a small town feel, I think the Northlake Park community gives this illusion pretty well, with all A schools and a new high school to be built by the time your kids are old enough to go to it, and a very easy commute down the the sandlake Rd. Area. Newer homes though.
Maybe even the better Conway areas may be worth a drive through.

[Crane's Rooster]

Mount Dora would be your best bet. I think 45 minutes would be a stretch but if you used the 429 and or turnpike and used the back roads from Winter Garden you may be able to pull off the commute in a little over 45 minutes. Other than the commute Mount Dora seems to fit your requirements to a T.

I would also look into other areas of Lake County and Polk County. Try Winter Haven, Haines City and Lake Wales.

[cfIfan]

To be honest, Winter Garden/Windermere would be your bet. Excellent schools, nice feel and great location in terms of commute to not only work but anywhere you possibly might need to go to. Finding older homes/communities is to be honest difficult in the area, but you can find nice quaint areas.

Good luck

[al_roethlisberger]

I'm sure it has changed since the mid-1980s since we lived there, but for an "in town" small town community feel, we really loved Winter Park.

The tree lined streets, some brick, and gently rolling topography around many small pocket lakes was just charming.

We hope to get back to see the old neighborhood on a trip to Disney in the next year or two. I really loved living there. I wish I could have made it back before they demo'd the original Glenridge Elementary a couple years back and built the new one on the old Navy training facility. It would have been nice to see it one last time.

One thing I know that has changed is that many of the small orange groves that broke up the neighborhood are now long-since developed into new housing. But from what I can tell, the old housing from the 1920s through 40s is still there too, so the charm perhaps isn't lost.

Anyway, that's a long ramble... my apologies

If you don't mind being "in town", you might check out Winter Park and the surrounding area. It was very nice.

Al

[PrettyMissAshley]

Don't move to Orlando. Orlando is definitely NOT the place to raise a family. And this is coming from a 21 year old, haha.

[bdpop]

Originally Posted by al_roethlisberger

I'm sure it has changed since the mid-1980s since we lived there, but for an "in town" small town community feel, we really loved Winter Park.

The tree lined streets, some brick, and gently rolling topography around many small pocket lakes was just charming.

We hope to get back to see the old neighborhood on a trip to Disney in the next year or two. I really loved living there. I wish I could have made it back before they demo'd the original Glenridge Elementary a couple years back and built the new one on the old Navy training facility. It would have been nice to see it one last time.

One thing I know that has changed is that many of the small orange groves that broke up the neighborhood are now long-since developed into new housing. But from what I can tell, the old housing from the 1920s through 40s is still there too, so the charm perhaps isn't lost.

Anyway, that's a long ramble... my apologies

If you don't mind being "in town", you might check out Winter Park and the surrounding area. It was very nice.

Al

I agree Winter Park is very nice, with that "small town" feel.

[Alphaman]

My choices would be Oviedo, Windermere, some areas of winter park.

[Alphaman]

Originally Posted by PrettyMissAshley

Don't move to Orlando. Orlando is definitely NOT the place to raise a family. And this is coming from a 21 year old, haha.

Why not? I am raising a family here and I have no issues and I know plenty of other families who love it here.