Why do we love Orlando? (Miami, Tampa: rental, amusement park, houses)

[salmanalk]

Hi,

There are a lot of negative things being posted of what really is a beautiful city...sure times are hard and traffic is bad but Orlando has a lot of nice things to offer. Please feel free to share what you love about the City Beautiful.

[pianogal]

I love the weather (when it's scorching in the summer - I'm in the pool!). I love the proximity to the beach, great state parks, year round sports of one kind or another, rich tropical landscapes, green yards and gardening year round, almost never having to wear a coat or own a winter wardrobe! Jumping in the car in January - and taking off for work without having to bundle up, heat it up or scrape ice! Eating meals almost year round poolside - grilling out year round.

For example DH and I have been working on our Florida garden this weekend...yesterday we planted Gold Ixoras, Yellow Lantana, Hot Pink bougainvillea, Deep Pink and Yellow hibiscus, Ruffled Crotons, Blue Hydrangeas, White Confederate Jasmine, White Night Blooming Jasmine, Hot Pink Pentas, Burgundy Hawaiian Ti Plants, Purple TibouChina Tree, Purple Hidden Lilies and Purple Mexican Petunias. We already have beds of Hot Pink Knockout roses, blue plumbago, white iris, blue Lilies of the Nile, Bright Yellow and Red Canna Lilies, Yellow Shrimp Plants, Red Firecracker Plant, White Bird of Paradise, Huge Ginger Plants with Peach blooms, red bromeliads everywhere, along with various types of ferns, grasses such as giant mounds of fountain grass and other tropicals, peace lilies, huge stands of philodendrum, and varous shrubs - azaleas, Indian Hawthorn, scheflurra (sp?) queen palms, magnolia, eucalyptus, maple, etc.

It's wonderful and I don't have a 10th of the plants I would love to have - I'm just running out of room. Florida is a gardener's paradise!

[beckycat]

[quote=pianogal;8416478]I love the weather (when it's scorching in the summer - I'm in the pool!). I love the proximity to the beach, great state parks, year round sports of one kind or another, rich tropical landscapes, green yards and gardening year round, almost never having to wear a coat or own a winter wardrobe! Jumping in the car in January - and taking off for work without having to bundle up, heat it up or scrape ice! Eating meals almost year round poolside - grilling out year round.

I agree with you on everything but one thing. I wish it wouldn't stay so hot for so long. Other than that, I like it! I like being so close to the beach. I like not freezing my but off in the winter. Best of all, the sun shines all the time!

[blueoktober]

I love the downtown neighborhoods that are alive and always active - which is very unlike most cities. When the workers go home, downtown doesn't die like in other places. I love the weather, the endless activities, the diversity, the great places to eat, having theme parks within a short drive, having beaches within a short drive, having natural springs within a short drive, having other major cities within a few hours drive, beautiful manicured downtown streets with great and HAPPY people. Orlando gets major concerts, the wonderful Florida Film Festival and Enzian which is only second to Alamo Draft House in Austin for being the best independent theater house....


There's so much to love here that to me it's crazy if you cannot find something to love.

[ajacques]

I think its intresting that there's only a few posts. I was born and riased here and I'm struggling to find things I like about this city..hell about this state. I hate theme parks and I can't swim; that cuts down ALOT of what this state has to offer. The city is getting stinkier every year and I HATE the heat - its f***ing disgusting. Its hard to find job; particularly if your not bilingual (i'm not bitter; I have a great job but trust me there are few). The education system is atrocious and the people...don't even get me started. I'm 24; lived here 24 years; and well...here's my "what I like about orlando" list:

1.) Thorton park, winter park, the few art districts thrown in here and there.
2.) Never have to shovel snow
3.) My spots that make life livable for me here: Stardust, dandilion, drunken monkey, Parliment House, Pho Hoa,
4.) Fringe - I go every year.
5.) Film Fest - This year we had a real film fest! We have one every year but the selection & schedual is usualy horrible.

[Chrome Microphone]

I have a hard time with the "people" issue too. I too was born and raised in FL. What is it about the people? I did find it interesting that there were 200+ views and very few responses.

[keliyra]

Well - I'm new here and when I posted positively about the city in another thread I got a bitter "just wait" type of response which is why I didn't initially post here.

Even new I can tell you that I hate the job market here already 3 weeks of solid looking (tried before I came down but never got any interest) and still nothing. And i hate all the block houses here - they are so ugly. It's easy to look around and find things to not like but focusing on the positive will make you feel so much better!

But what I love

• Lake Eola Park is beautiful - I love the fountain and pagoda.
• Downtown - I love all the little shops and restaurants
• Palm trees and sand my husband is constantly laughing at how I'm continually amazed by these but coming from KS makes me stop an appreciate it when I see a palm tree in someone's yard or look down and realize i'm walking in sand.
• Proximity to beaches on both coasts easily accessible - all the fun without the insane rental costs
• Theme parks - as in more than Disney - I think the folks who live here take that for granted but when you come from a place where nobody wants to claim the sports team and we have 1 water park and 1 amusement park your options run out quickly. The monthly charge option that SeaWorld has is brilliant - same price as a season pass for our park in KC but so so much cooler.
• Springs - I haven't had a chance to go yet but I'm looking forward to taking my children this summer. Especially looking forward to getting to see the manatees

Essentially what you love or hate is going to depend on your point of reference. Sometime if you're feeling particular upset or bitter try to take a step back and think about what it does look like to someone new here. You just might surprise yourself and come away with something new to appreciate!

[Wilshire81182]

I have nothing but good things to say about Orlando, especially when I visit other places. This year I went to CT for work and Las Vegas for a wedding and I much prefer Florida and Orlando much more than those two places and where I moved from (Portland, Oregon). I love the attractions, the wildlife (huge storklike birds, gators, lizards, manatees), the white beaches, the downtown Orlando area and older areas of the city like Thornton Park, Winter Park, College Park, or Colonialtown. I like the lakes. I like how everything is new and clean and kept up. I love coming home to a beautiful, organized, efficient airport (most of the time). I love the restaurant selection, International Drive, palm trees, landscaping, the Kennedy Space Center, proximity to Tampa, Miami, St Augustine, etc. I like all the exposure Orlando has, big city amenities, concerts and events year round. I love the thunderstorms, torrential rain, sun, humidity. The only time I don't enjoy the weather here is when there is a cold snap and plants need to be covered. I think it is a great place to live but it is not for everyone.

[blueoktober]

Originally Posted by ajacques

I think its intresting that there's only a few posts. I was born and riased here and I'm struggling to find things I like about this city..hell about this state. I hate theme parks and I can't swim; that cuts down ALOT of what this state has to offer. The city is getting stinkier every year and I HATE the heat - its f***ing disgusting. Its hard to find job; particularly if your not bilingual (i'm not bitter; I have a great job but trust me there are few). The education system is atrocious and the people...don't even get me started. I'm 24; lived here 24 years; and well...here's my "what I like about orlando" list:

1.) Thorton park, winter park, the few art districts thrown in here and there.
2.) Never have to shovel snow
3.) My spots that make life livable for me here: Stardust, dandilion, drunken monkey, Parliment House, Pho Hoa,
4.) Fringe - I go every year.
5.) Film Fest - This year we had a real film fest! We have one every year but the selection & schedual is usualy horrible.

Actually this year was the worst Film Fest on record. Even by Enzian's account. There was not one major selection or exclusive premier to this year's fest as there always has been.

Maybe the people who didnt respond are just TIRED of saying the same thing over and over and no matter what is said, someone like you comes along and starts being negative. It gets REALLY old.

So old in fact most people who love Orlando are out LIVING their lives and give up on trying to defend the place to a bunch of chicken littles.

In fact, I think I am just about done too. You can all sit and wallow in your own misery. Tis a shame this forum has turned into a therapy session for those who aren't happy.

[idr591]

Originally Posted by blueoktober

So old in fact most people who love Orlando are out LIVING their lives and give up on trying to defend the place to a bunch of chicken littles.

Don't give up completely. My family is moving to Orlando to be closer to our extended family. We both have (great) jobs lined up, and it's nice to read some positive things once in awhile. I realize that Florida is not for everyone (I grew up in South Florida), but I do believe that anyplace you live is going to be what you make of it.

Thanks for this thread; it's good to read some positives.