austin
bALTIMORE
charleston
bOSTON
dallas
denver
durham
las vegas
los angeles
miami
new orleans
new york
orlando
philadelphia
phoenix
portland
reno
san diego
san francisco
seattle
reno
tucson
washington dc

Orlando

A natural paradise with magic everywhere
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.

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 am and 9 am, and from 4 pm until 6 pm), but it's busy throughout the day. You'll be competing for road space not only with other residents, but also 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 Mickey 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 can even 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.

Orlando Transportation

Airports
Orlando Executive Airport
Orlando International Airport

Ground Transportation
I-Ride Trolley
The I-Ride trolley service serves the International Drive Resort Area.
Lymmo
Lymmo is a free bus service in downtown Orlando.
LYNX
The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (better known as LYNX) provides bus service in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties.

Rail Service
AMTRAK
Provides nationwide service.

Bicycle Paths
Bicycle Paths
Provides bicycle lanes, paths, and trails throughout the city.

Orlando Attractions

Orlando may be the Town that Walt Built, but its appeal overshadows The Mouse these days. Aside from its three mega-parks — Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios — Orlando offers the excitement of simulated skydiving, witnessing a Space Shuttle launch, swimming with dolphins, and driving a racecar at 145 mph. For a tamer time, try the area's beaches, gardens, museums and theaters.

Orlando Shopping

Orlando's reputation as the theme-park capital of the world may be matched by its offering of world-class shopping venues. From upscale malls to factory outlet centers, from theme-park paraphernalia to beautiful antiques, Orlando has it all. If you love to shop, you'll love Orlando.

Shopping Centers
Altamonte Mall
Chelsea Premium Outlets
Downtown Disney MarketPlace
Eagle Ridge Mall
Florida Mall
Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores
Pointe*Orlando
Renninger's Antique Center
Mall at Millenia
Mercado
Universal City Walk
Waterford Lakes Town Center
West Oaks Mall

Orlando Nightlife

Even after theme parks close, Orlando keeps the action going with everything from hotel bars to swinging dance clubs, but the four main areas of nighttime activity center around Downtown Disney, Disney's Pleasure Island, Universal Studios CityWalk and downtown Orlando's Orange Avenue. Disney certainly knows how to throw a party, as visitors flock to the House of Blues, Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba, and Comedy Warehouse. Universal, too, packs partiers into nightclubs like Bob Marley and the Latin Quarter. The Social, a live music club, and Tabu, a dance club, shake up downtown Orlando and appeal to professionals, locals, and tourists alike. Plus, downtown's SAK Comedy Club draws rave reviews for its stand-up and improv shows. Many resorts and hotels boast top-notch bars and lounges of their own and make for an ideal night, as proven by glitzy Top of the Palace Lounge on the 27th floor of the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa. Other hip possibilities include Houston's in Winter Park and Bahama Breeze on famed International Drive.

Orlando Healthcare Facilities

Orlando hospitals serve a diverse population in the metropolitan, suburban and rural areas of Central Florida. From small community hospitals to large medical centers, these facilities provide a wide range of medical services and treatment. The healthcare facilities in the Orlando area include:

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women
Florida Hospital Altamonte
Florida Hospital Apopka
Florida Hospital Celebration Health
Florida Children's Hospital
Florida Hospital Deland
Florida Hospital East Orlando
Florida Hospital Fish Memorial
Florida Hospital Kissimmee
Florida Hospital Orlando
Florida Hospital Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine
Florida Hospital Winter Park Memorial
Kissimmee Memorial Hospital
Leesburg Regional Medical Center
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
Orlando Regional Lucerne Hospital
Orlando Regional Medical Center
Orlando Regional South Seminole Hospital
Osceola Regional Medical Center
Sand Lake Hospital
South Lake Hospital
St. Cloud Hospital

Orlando Nursing Resources

American Academy of Nursing
Florida Associations and Professional Organizations for Nurses
Florida Board of Nursing
Florida Department of Public Health
Florida Nurses Association
Florida Registered Nurses License Renewal

Orlando Weather

There's only about 20 degrees difference between the winter and summer temperatures in Orlando; it's the humidity that makes the summers feel hotter than they really are. On humid summer days, a "heat index" of approximately 8 degrees is added to the temperature reading to compensate for the effect of humidity. That revised temperature is a much more accurate indicator of how hot the day is. The hottest day on record for Orlando is 100 degrees, but the city usually tops out in the low 90s during the summer. You can look forward to relief from the heat with Orlando's balmy winters, which average high temperatures in the 70s.

Orlando Weather Forecast, FL

Orlando Topics

Healthcare Facilities

Nursing Resources

Weather

JOB SEARCH UNIVERSAL APPLICATION TRAVELER SPACE CITY GUIDES ABOUT TRAVEL ABOUT THIS SITE CONTACT US SITE MAP