| History
At the height of the Seminole Wars in the
1830’s, the US Army established Fort
Gatlin to protect settlers from Indian
attacks. The Civil War saw an influx of
growth and development that included cattle
and cotton. The town of Orlando was
incorporated in 1875, named after Orlando
Reeves, a guard at the first fort.
Today, Orlando incorporates outlying
neighboring towns such as Winter Park,
developed as a winter home in the 1860’s
for wealthy northerners, Kissimmee,
Altamonte and Winter Gardens. In the
1880’s, the South Florida Railroad comes
through, starting a land boom for
developers. Despite a major disaster for
citrus crops in the Great Freeze of 1895,
tourism to Central Florida was established.
Walt Disney wasn’t the first person to
build a tourist attraction. Dick Pope, Sr.
is credited with that with the opening of
his 1936 Cypress Gardens. (reopened in 2003
as the Cypress Gardens Adventure Park).
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park opened in
1971, followed by Sea World in 1973, and
then Universal Studios in 1990.
Central Florida continues to grow,
attracting families to enjoy its warm
climate, attractions, shopping and dining
venues and hotels. It’s also become a
center for business conventions and meetings
that allow attendees to bring their
families, combining business and pleasure.
Disney also features cruises from Port
Canaveral in conjunction with its land-based
attractions.
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Orlando
Real Estate Guide
The
Orlando real estate market is influenced by the
many wonderful attractions, easy access to the
ocean, high-tech jobs and good home values.
If you are looking to buy real estate in
Orlando you will have your choice of new or
established homes and condos.
A tourist city, Orlando is also a family
city whose residents enjoy art, museums, opera,
plays and other cultural events.
In the
early 1900s Orlando was transformed from a rural
citrus growing area to a major city and its
population doubled. The Orlando real estate
market was off and running.
In the 1920s a building boom occurred and
the Orlando Public Library and the Municipal
Auditorium (now Bob Carr Auditorium) were built.
Another building boom followed World War
II and new suburbs, roads and shopping centers
were built.
In 1956 the forerunner of the Lockheed
Marietta Company began operations and many more
job opportunities have begun since then.
Then
came Walt Disney World in 1971 and the Orlando
real estate market enjoyed another great boom
period that turned the city from a sleepy
backwater town into a world-class tourist Mecca.
Orlando is now recognized as one of the
world’s most popular vacation site.
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| Culture
& Arts
As
a city built with families
in mind, Orlando is home to
some very impressive
cultural offerings aimed at
families. Several local
theaters have performance
series aimed at young
audiences, while the Orlando
Ballet and the Orlando
Philharmonic Orchestra both
offer family series
featuring shorter,
kid-friendly performances.
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| Theme
Parks
As
home to a collection of
world-class theme parks
including Sea World Orlando,
Universal Orlando Resort and
Walt Disney World Resort,
Orlando is a place where
fantasy meets reality –
everyday
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| Nightlife
When
night falls, the fun is just
getting started in Orlando.
Have the time of your life
at Orlando’s hottest
nightspots. Sip a signature
martini at an ultra-lounge,
sample exotic vintages at a
wine bar or hit the dance
floor at a nightclub, see
your favorite performer in
concert, take in a show by
Cirque du Soleil or the Blue
Man Group or laugh the night
away at a comedy club.
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| Shopping
In Orlando, you can do it
all with our upscale malls,
outlet stores and much more.
Search for that
one-of-a-kind gift in our
antique districts and
upscale boutiques along
charming oak-dotted streets.
And, Orlando’s themed
shopping villages and theme
park entertainment complexes
provide a shopping
experience that will appeal
to even the most
retail-resistant men and
kids.
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| Golf
True
golfers know that golf is
more than a sport … it’s
a way of life. And, in
today’s hectic world,
taking some time for
yourself to indulge your
passion for the links
probably doesn’t happen as
often as you might like. An
Orlando vacation is the
perfect time to escape the
pressures of day-to-day
life, so leave the cell
phone in the hotel room,
grab your clubs and head to
one of our 176 area golf
courses.
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| Spas
Imagine
feeling your cares slip away
under the skilled hands of a
massage therapist. Your body
– and spirit – will
thank you for deciding to
spend a little of your
vacation getting rejuvenated
at one of Orlando’s 16
resort spas. Whether you
need to work out the kinks
before a tee time, want to
refresh tired theme park
legs, or re-hydrate skin
that got a little too much
Florida sunshine, you will
find just the right
treatment to add a special
level of pampering to your
vacation.
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| Outdoor
Adventures
There
are so many ways to explore
the outdoor beauty of
Orlando. Get a bird’s-eye
view of the area from a hot
air balloon ride or a hang
glider. Set off on an
airboat or kayaking
adventure to explore the
area’s lakes and rivers
for alligators and native
birds. Drop a line in a bass
fishing hot spot or saddle
up for an eco-safari on
horseback. Or choose the
adventurous pursuits of auto
racing, scuba diving,
water-skiing or cruising on
a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle.
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