When most people think of Orlando, they think of Walt Disney World. In fact, to the rest of the world, Orlando is an afterthought–a sideshow to the Happiest Place on Earth.

However, Orlando has more to offer to homeowners than simply being close to Disney World or Universal Studios. In fact, people living here rarely venture to Lake Buena Vista, where the theme park is located.

It’s generally a nice sunny day, except in June through September when you need to bring your umbrella with you for the afternoon drizzle. The winters are mild so you can generally wear a light jacket when you go outside.

A nice thing about Orlando is its Bike Share program, which saves you the trouble of owning and storing a bicycle.

While most visitors identify Orlando with its famous theme parks, there are actually a lot of nice local venues here. Among the destinations you can go to be entertained are the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Mad Cow Theater, Bob Carr Theater, and SAK Comedy Club.

Living in downtown Orlando puts you close to a lot of places that you can visit. Nearby you can find restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, food trucks, sports venues, and retail shopping.

Neighborhoods in Downtown Orlando

Just walking distance from the Central Business District is South Eola. There you can find bars, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and even a small lake with a fountain.

South Eola offers a place where you can live close to the heart of the city, be right where the action is, and have a backup plan when you want to escape from it all. Orlando’s farmer’s market is held here every Sunday and you will find both residents and tourists alike converging here.

Another very close neighborhood is Thornton Park, which is just four minutes away from the Central Business District. It’s just one block away from South Eola. You will find homes here that are built as far back as the 1900s but there are plenty of brownstones, as well. On Sundays, there’s a farmer’s market that displays fresh local produce and other items. As it is just walking distance from South Eola, you are close to the lake and the fountain there.

In Ivanhoe Village, you will find lining its streets artists, museums, antique dealers, watering holes, and hidden gems.

In the neighboring Lake Cherokee Historic District, you will find some structures that date back to the 1870s, which isn’t that much older than when Orlando was founded, which was in 1838. You will find the Historic District nestled in the middle of Summerlin Avenue, Orange Avenue, East-West Expressway, and Gore Street. Still standing proudly today is the Peleg Peckham – Dr. Phillips shingle-style mansion that was built in 1893 by Col. Peleg Peckham. It was later remodeled by citrus magnate Dr. Phillips.

Nearby College Park’s streets are named after famous campuses like Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. The community has retained its small-town feel even if it’s located in downtown. One location of note in College Park is the bungalow where Jack Kerouac (a famous author) stayed between 1957 and 1958.

There are also plenty of suburbs in Orlando that are very near downtown, but also provide you a break from city life.