The history of Altamonte Springs is nearly the same as the settlements near it.  The town began in the late 1800’s as a sparse settlement and slowly expanded until the railroad built a stop in Altamonte Springs in the 1880’s.  The railroad brought the city many visitors but few lived here the entire year.  On November 11, 1920 the town was incorporated as Altamonte Springs.  The name for the area comes from the Spanish word Altamonte meaning “high hill” for the geography of the settlement.    

The city now calls Cranes Roost Park the center of the city.  Here an outdoor town shopping center was opened and the area is called “Uptown Altamonte”.  This is the center of the business district of the city and hosts many great events entertaining residents daily.  This town center gives shoppers an urban feel and condominiums are being constructed here as the center expands.  

The city hosts many great annual events that are free.  Visitors come from all over the state to witness some of the festivals and the Independence Day festivities draw more than 150,000 people.  The events include:

• Copper ‘N Choppers – Second Saturday in March
• Uptown Altamonte Bridal Gala – Third Saturday in March
• Family Fest – First Saturday in May
• Jazz Jams Uptown – End of May
• Red Hot and Boom – July 3rd
• Jazz Jams Uptown – Middle of June
• Jazz Jams Uptown – Middle of July
• Jazz Jams Uptown – Middle of August
• Halloween at Cranes Roost – October 31st
• Uptown Altamont Art on the Boulevard – Third weekend in November
• Light up the Holidays – First Saturday in December

There are also many other events in Altamonte Springs.  You can witness daily choreographed dancing fountain shows at Cranes Roost Park, go to a free live concert every Friday night at the amphitheater, or catch one of the biweekly free shows of Streetmosphere put on by the award winning International Troupe Cirquemosphere.

The location of Altamonte Springs in the center of Florida means that many great educational institutions are in town or a close drive.  The means you can easily commute to any of the following colleges from Altamonte Springs.  The options in Altamonte Springs are:

• Academy for Professional Bartending Inc
• Seminole Community College – Altamonte Springs Campus

The colleges that are very close are:

• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• Seminole Community College – Sanford Campus
• Valencia Community College
• University of Central Florida
• Stetson University
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Bethune – Cookman College
• Webster University
• Mountain State University
• Orlando College
• Florida Southern College
• Florida Technical College
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Warner Southern College

Besides the expansive list of educational choices available the amount of lakes and parks is just as impressive.  The activities are so expansive that the young and old share in the amount of fun they have.  The list includes:

• Lake Adelaide
• Lake Florida
• Lake Orienta
• Pearl Lake
• Late Lotus
• Lake Maltbie
• Cranes Roost
• Hermit’s Trail
• Lake Lotus Nature Park
• Cranes Roost Park
• Lake Orienta Public Boat Ramp and Recreational Area
• Sunshine Park
• Turnbull Avenue Park
• Merrill Park
• Lake Brantley Sports Complex

All of those places give opportunities for residents to get out of the house and enjoy the beauty Altamonte Springs offers. 

Altamonte Springs is located in the geographic heart of Central Florida.  The city is positioned around a network of major roads so commuting to work is hassle free.  Residents have so many choices when deciding what to do in Altamonte Springs and the major theme parks and airport are only a short drive away.  The growth has turned this small agricultural town into a cultured thriving city that still maintains the quaint feel.

Apopka is a city located 12 miles northwest of Orlando in Orange County, Florida.  The city is part of the Orlando Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area and in July 2008 had a population of 37,935 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  The city has experienced huge growth since 2000 and still continues to grow from the small agricultural town it once was. 

The area had inhabitants long before the Spanish arrived in 1730 but little is known about them.  When the Seminole Indians relocated here they called the area, “Ahapopka”.  This meant potato eating place and the name has stuck ever since but the spelling has been slightly changed.  It was not until after the conclusion of the Civil War that Apopka started growing in population.  In 1882 Apopka was officially incorporated in a one square mile grid from the Masonic Lodge built years before.  In February 1915 electricity was finished in the city and growth took off.  The Masonic Lodge is still in its original location and is the oldest lodge room in the state.  Growing ferns became a way of life in Apopka in 1912 and the city was called the “Fern City”, later this name was changed to “The Indoor Foliage Capital of the World” when other foliage was grown here in large numbers.

Apopka has many events throughout the year tailored to people of all ages.  The main events held by the city are:

• Spring Fling 5K run – First Saturday in March
• Senior’s Fun and Fitness Fair – Middle of March
• Apopka Fair – Second weekend in March
• Easter Egg Hunt at Northwest Rec. Complex – Last weekend in March
• Art and Foliage Festival – Third weekend in April
• Memorial Day Festival – Memorial Day May
• Turkey Trot 5K Run – Second Saturday in November
• Apopka Christmas Parade – First weekend in December
• Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka Christmas Parade – Second Saturday in December
• Winter Wonderland celebration in the park – Second Saturday in December

Apopka also offers many classes and weekly events from movie nights to martial arts classes if you are looking for more ways to get out of the house. 

Another great way to get out of the town is attend one of the great colleges in or near to Apopka.  The choices include:

• Career Training Institute
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• Valencia Community College
• Seminole Community College
• Lake – Sumter Community College
• Jones Business School
• Mid-Florida Technical Institute
• University of Central Florida
• Stetson College
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Any of those colleges are great places to get an education while still commuting from Apopka.

Moreover Apopka has some great outdoor areas for residents.  The city is trying to brand itself with a new motto, “Where the Fun Begins”, and having the parks and lakes in the city makes the motto very true.  The parks offer nature trails to sports fields and the lakes offer places to catch huge bass and get away from stress.  The parks and lakes in Apopka are: 

• Northwest Recreation Complex
• Fran Carlton Center
• Alonzo Williams Park
• Apopka Athletic Complex
• Kit Land Nelson Park
• Doctors’ Dog Park
• Dream Lake Park
• Lake Avenue Park
• Lake Semmes
• Lake Hiawatha
• Medicine Lake
• Carp Lake
• Lake Carter
• Lake Alden
• Upper Doe Lake
• Lake McDade
• Lake Apopka

If the parks and lakes in Apopka don’t give you enough to do outdoors there is the Wekiva Spring’s State Park located just 3 miles outside the city limits.  Here 48 million gallons of spring water bubble up to the surface daily in the main springhead.  This park can be enjoyed by canoeing, swimming, or camping in this natural paradise. 

Apopka is a fast growing city in Central Florida near Orlando.  The city still celebrates it past but prepares for the future.  The schools here are one of the best in Orange County and the surroundings of the parks and lakes make living here enjoyable.  Apopka still maintains a small town fell but has all of the amenities of the bigger cities nearby.

Bay Hill is a small luxury area of Orange County mostly known for the golf club bearing Arnold Palmer’s name.  The golf club offers a private golf course, recreational facilities, full service salon and spa, and premier dining at three restaurants.  The Arnold Palmer Invitational, a PGA tournament is hosted here as well.  If all of that is not enough you are close to all of the major theme parks in the area. 

Bay Hill and Arnold Palmer are synonymous to each other now but it did not start out that way.  The golf course opened in 1961.  The owners invited major names to come down and play on the course and Arnold Palmer was one of the ones invited for the exhibition match in 1965.  Palmer shot a 66 and fell in love with the area and golf course so when in 1970 an option became available to purchase the golf course he and partners took over control of the Bay Hill Club.  Later in 1976 Palmer purchased outright control of the Bay Hill Club and Lodge and it has been his winter home ever since. 

With Bay Hill located inside the city limits of Orlando the events and festivals for residents are nearly endless.  Every holiday is celebrated by the city and the theme parks so you have many choices on each holiday for where to go.  If you enjoy the freedom of choices then you have another reason why Bay Hill is a good choice.

Bay Hill also has many colleges nearby.  Making a short commute to any of these colleges is easy to do.  The nearby major colleges are:

• Valencia Community College
• Rollins College
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Seminole Community College
• Polk Community College
• Stetson Community College

If you are looking for something to do outdoors the Butler chain of Lakes is a great place to go.  The sand bottom lakes provide lots of options when out on the water.  No matter if you are going on a jet ski or out fishing on the boat the lakes are great places to get away to relax.  The lakes also have great parks and trails on the shores.  Taking a walk on the nature trails or just witnessing a sunset you realized the lakes around Bay Hill are some of the best places to go and visit. 

Bay Hill is a prestigious area of unincorporated Orange County.  The communities here are great places to live and the world class Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club gives you a 5 star resort in your backyard.  The size of Bay Hill is small but the possibilities are endless when you live here in this Orlando suburb.

The history of Casselberry goes back to Fort Concord in 1849 but the area did not see much growth till much later.  In 1926 Hibbard Casselberry visited Winter Park and later purchased land to create his own subdivision called Winter Park Ferneries, later changed to Fern Park.  Casselberry and the residents incorporated as a tax-free town to avoid property taxes on October 10, 1940.  During World War II lots of supplies were manufactured here but the city went back to growing ferns after the war ended.  In 1965 the city was incorporated as Casselberry and later in 1976 the city voted to allow property taxes.  

Casselberry holds many events throughout the year that are free to the public and draw residents from all over the area.  The bigger festivals that are unique to the area are:

• Jazz Concert – Third weekend in February
• Country Concert – Second weekend in August
• Colors of India – Second weekend in September
• Autumn Rock and Run 5K – Second weekend in September
• A Weekend of Art, Jazz and Golf in Casselberry – Second weekend in November

Casselberry offers opportunities to get an education in the city as well as many that you can commute to easily.  The colleges in Casselberry are:

• City College
• Golf Academy of the South
• Orlando Institute

The bigger colleges that are close to Casselberry include:

• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• University of Central Florida
• Seminole Community College
• Valencia Community College
• Stetson University
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Any of these colleges are great places to attend and excellent places to receive a higher education while living in Casselberry. 

The city also has some of the best parks and lakes in Central Florida.  There are 17 parks that range in size from large recreation centers to small parks.  Thirty different lakes and ponds make up the great areas to go fishing, kayaking, swimming, bird watching, or anything else you can imagine.  The Triplet Chain of Lakes is right in your backyard and many resident take full advantage of it.  The bigger lakes and parks in Casselberry are:

• Secret Lake
• Lake Cecile
• Lake Annette
• Trout Lake
• Triplet Lake
• Lake Marie
• Lake Concord
• Crystal Bowl
• Lake Kathryn
• Lake Howell
• Anniversary Park
• Branch Tree Park
• Crystal Bowl Park
• Dew Drop Park
• Lake Hodge Park
• Pawmosa Dog Park
• Plumosa Oaks Park
• Rotary Park
• Secret Lake Park
• Sunnytown Park
• Sunset Park
• Veterans Memorial Park
• Wirz Park

These parks and lakes make doing outdoor activities possible.  There are so many choices of what you can do picking where to go and what to do may just be the hardest choice on a relaxing day.

The city of Casselberry calls itself the, “Community Minded City”.  This is evident in how the city provides so many great festivals and opportunities to experience different cultures.  The city parks and lakes are kept in top shape and the local government looks out for the safety of residents.  The city is forward looking and offers a high quality of life.  Casselberry is in the heart of the state and in close proximity to Orlando so residents are able to escape big city life but still able to enjoy it.

The community is unique in many ways from the architecture to the zoning.  The town is not zoned for high density residences so huge buildings with thousands of residents will never popup.  Planners also created a road that connects Celebration directly into Disney World Parks and resorts so locals and guests can get to Disney without having to use the busier main roads.  The city is styled after a 1940’s era town.  A pedestrian shopping area is encompassed by nearly 2,500 homes making up Celebration.   

Celebration was designed with five principles in mind: community, education, health, technology, and a sense of place.  Locals and tourists see all of these whether aware of it at the time or not because they are everywhere in Celebration.  The design includes great outdoor activities that are hard to find elsewhere.  Community parks and playgrounds are numerous, walking and biking trails stretch for miles, a community pool and tennis courts give residents options of places to spend the day.  You can even hit the links at the signature golf course in town.  The atmosphere created here is resident friendly and leaves you feeling safe and comfortable at all times. 

Since Celebration was created the growth has led Disney to give up some control of the town.  Later in 2004 Disney sold the city center to a private investment company yet the area still retains the Disney feel it began with.  In 2007 Celebration won the American Dream Town Award, just one of multiple awards it has won in its tiny existence.  Disney took the ideas that made towns successful and adapted them to create a city that will work in the present and future called Celebration.  Celebration also has Magnet public schools and is only a short drive for the Orlando International Airport making it an attractive area to grow roots.

The events held in Celebration are numerous and worth experiencing.  Some of the events are:

• Celebration Town Center Winter Sidewalk Sale
• Spring Art Festival – First weekend in April
• Celebration Exotic Car Show – Second weekend in April
• The Great American Pie Festival – Third weekend in April
• A Flashback 4^th of July – July 4th
• Summer Sidewalk Sale – Third weekend in July
• Falling Leaves in Celebration Town Center – Month long beginning at the end of September
• Oktoberfest in Celebration! – Second weekend in October
• Alfa Romeo Car Show – First weekend in November
• Now Snowing Nightly in Celebration Town Center – End of November through December 31^st
• Radio Disney Holiday Concert – Third weekend in December

There are many more events including community garage sales, the “Great American Pie Festival”, and twice a year Disney holds a liquidation sale to sell older merchandise.  The festivals draw crowds from all over the state and give Celebration many more reasons for residents to enjoy the area.

The colleges by Celebration include:

• Valencia Community College
• Polk Community College
• Rollins College
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• University of Central Florida
• Seminole Community College
• Travis Technical Center

All of these colleges are great places to attend for an education that you can easily commute from Celebration.  Stetson University has a small hub in the town center of Celebration too. 

As noted before the parks and lakes are speckled throughout the city.  The amount of green space that is available for residents to take walks or bike on it tremendous.  The trails wind all around the city and make access easy no matter where you live.  The lakes are great places to enjoy a day on the water or taking a kayak out on Bonnet Creek fully immerses you into nature.

Celebration is a newer established city that was created to bring together all of the things that worked in cities and remove all that has failed.  The goal was accomplished and the area has received many national awards in recognition for how the city was developed and continues to grow in this same vision as it began.  The dream of having a place with good schools where you feel safe and secure and is an easy commute to Orlando has come true in Celebration.

The history of Clermont begins in 1884 when it was founded.  Later in 1916 it was incorporated and began growing.  The city gets its name from Clermont, France because of the beauty both areas have.  Today the downtown looks nearly identical to the way it was over 50 years ago with the Florida Citrus Tower looking as good as it did in 1956.   

In the beginning of the millennium the orange groves gave way for a huge population boom in the area and subdivisions were built.  Retail stores soon followed and in January 2009 construction began on the largest outdoor shopping mall in Lake County.  This mall is over one million square feet and located right off State Road 50 in Clermont.  The other attractions in Clermont are Holy Land Experience, Citrus Tower, and Presidents Hall of Fame.   

The events held in Clermont are standard of any other city having events for all of the major holidays but the ones that are special are the farmers market and the Light Up Clermont.  The farmers market is held every Saturday in downtown Clermont.  The market has such an array of items for sale that you never know what you will find.  Some of the highlights are: hand rolled cigars, Amish jams, fresh produce bread and baked goods, artwork and handmade crafts, and fresh seafood. 

The Light Up Clermont is held in the historic district on the first weekend of December.  Here the town tree is lighted and the celebration begins with horse drawn carriage rides and caroling in the streets, plus performances on some street corners.  This event is truly unique and you can even purchase handcrafted jewelry and other pieces to give as gifts at this event.   

Clermont has more to offer the area as well.  It is the home of two college campuses and many more are close commutes.  The colleges in Clermont are:

• Lake Sumter Community College
• University of Central Florida – Clermont Campus

The colleges that are a short commute from Clermont include:

• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• Valencia Community College
• University of Central College – Main Campus
• Seminole Community College
• Polk Community College
• Saint Leo University

The amounts of outdoor activities that are possible in Clermont are numerous.  Biking, golfing, boating, fishing, and water sports are all popular here.  When you go to one of the many lakes and parks you will witness people doing all of the above.  There is enough to do that the locals do not have to leave town to stay busy having a good time.  The lakes and parks include:

• Shady Nook Lake
• Center Lake
• Lake Charles
• Crystal Lake
• Sunset Lake
• Lake Sunnyside
• Lake Dot
• Spring Lake
• Lake Minneola
• Lake Minnehaha
• Palatakaha Park

There are many more ponds and waterways in Clermont.  Looking at a map you will see you can’t go far without being close to water.  Additionally nearly all of the lakes also have great parks with facilities in them.

If you are looking for a city in the heart of Florida that is close enough to be near Orlando but retains the small town feel then Clermont is the choice.  The area has experienced growth over the last few years drawing in major retailers and the construction of a massive open air mall.  With such great beauty and a prime location in Central Florida it is no wonder Clermont has been growing.

Davenport is a very popular and fast growing area because it is located so close to the big attractions near Orlando and is between two international airports, Tampa and Orlando.  The statistics for Davenport only refer to the tiny city itself but the Greater Davenport Area in the northeast has experienced major growth recently.  Many homes are being built in large high value developments.  This increase in revenue for the city has helped to keep city services operating smoothly and has not forced drastic cutbacks on services provided to residents. 

The city is small but they still have many great events throughout the year for the residents.  The events are:

• Annual Labor Day 8k race – Labor Day
• Annual Halloween Event – October 31^st
• Davenport Quilt Show – Second weekend of November
• Live Nativity – Beginning of December

The most unique event throughout the year is the Festival of Quilts, Tea and Vintage Vehicles in November.  This is held in the historic district of downtown and draws 1500 people.  The collection of handmade quilts and rare vehicles is impressive.  If you are looking for an event you will find nowhere else this is it. 

Davenport is also a great place to live if you are looking to go to college.  There are many choices all around the area and everyone is an easy commute.  The choices are:

• Polk Community College
• Webber College
• Travis Technical Center
• Florida Southern
• Warner Southern College
• Valencia Community College
• Rollins College
• University of Central Florida
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Saint Leo University

The main attraction on the weekends for those not going to a theme park is Lake Davenport.  Lake Davenport is a great spot for fishing and seeing nature.  The placid water and great biodiversity make visiting this lake a top choice for residents though out the year.  Lots can be done here out on the water or just walking on nature trails on the shoreline can give you great memories

Davenport is a small city but the Greater Davenport Area has grown into a thriving place that is centrally located in the state next to major roads and between two international airports.  The growth here has led to great communities being built just minutes away from Disney and the other attractions near Orlando.  If you are looking for an area that doesn’t have the congestion and size of Orlando then the small town feel of quaint Davenport may be for you.

The area Dr. Phillips is named after the citrus mogul Dr. Phillip Phillips.  His grove consisted of thousands of acres and it was where many innovations were developed in processing and packaging the orange juice.  Dr. Phillips came to Florida in 1894 as a young doctor and began buying up orange groves.  Dr. Phillips gave lots of his wealth back in charitable forms and in 1953 he established the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation.  The foundations mission is to help people in the community and correct the origins of problems.  The foundations motto became, “to help others help themselves”; because this was the idea the charity was created for and still achieves today.

Dr. Phillips today is a huge draw for people because the way of life is great here.  The schools in Dr. Phillips are some of the best in the state and have about 16 students per teacher.  Moreover, the luxury estate homes here are highly sought after and the famous restaurant row lies just minutes away.    

With Dr. Phillips located inside the city limits of Orlando the events and festivals for residents are nearly endless.  Every holiday is celebrated by the city and the theme parks so you have many choices on each holiday for where to go.  If you enjoy the freedom of choices then you have another reason why Dr. Phillips is a good choice.

Dr. Phillips also has many colleges nearby.  Making a short commute to any of these colleges is easy to do.  The nearby colleges are:

• Valencia Community College
• Rollins College
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Seminole Community College
• Polk Community College
• Stetson Community College

If you are looking for something different than the theme parks that are right around the corner from you then you can get away to one of the lakes that Dr. Phillips has to offer.  People are not disappointed when they go to:

• Little Sand Lake
• Big Sand Lake
• Spring Lake

All of these lakes are great places to spend the day out on the boat or on the shoreline having a picnic.  You will see many residents out enjoying the weekends by water skiing, fishing, and kayaking on these lakes.  When on the shore you will see families enjoying themselves and playing games in the great Florida weather.

One of the best places to own a luxury home is in Dr. Phillips.  This unincorporated area of Orlando is very close to the theme parks but still remains a calm area.  The schools here are some of the best around plus the restaurants and shopping are the best in Orlando.  It is no surprise this area kept growing recently when the rest of the market declining.  Dr. Phillips is a hidden gem in Orlando that many are beginning to find out exists.

The history of Lake Mary began when the South Florida Railroad built a stop in Lake Mary in 1887.  Before this the area was not on the map and sparsely settled.  This was an area that grew lots of citrus and the railroad stop allowed the citrus to be shipped out easily.  After the area was more established by the early settlers Lake Mary began getting tourists from northern states.  The area has been drawing tourism ever since but was slow to get incorporated.  It took until August 7, 1973 until Lake Mary finally incorporated into a city.

Lake Mary is home to a number of great festivals and events put on by the city each year.  The city hosts a weekly farmers market too on Saturdays.  Some big events are the Lake Mary car show in the beginning of the year, the St Patrick’s festival in March, the Halloween party and the Christmas activities but when you look at the city calendar of activities you notice every day has something going on so soon an event you like will be happening if you cannot make them all.

For those in the area who want higher education then Lake Mary is a hub with two places in town and many more a short drive away.  The two in Lake Mary are:

• Seminole Community College
• ITT Technical Institute

The ones that are an easy commute from Lake Mary to campus are:

• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• University of Central Florida
• Valencia Community College
• Stetson University
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

In addition to the events Lake Mary puts on there are many other ways to be outdoors and find enjoyment.  The great lakes and parks in this city make you want to enjoy them daily.  Lake Mary calls itself the “City of Lakes” and this is true by the pristine quality water and picturesque parks throughout the city.  Some example of the lakes and parks are:

• Lake Mary
• Lake Como
• Crystal Lake
• Dawson Lake
• Bingham Lake
• Lake Emma
• Splash Park
• Skate Park
• Central Park
• Liberty Park
• Trailhead Park

Lake Mary also has some great sports complexes and a senior center that have many activities going on all the time.  In the August 2007 issue of Money Magazine Lake Mary was ranked the #4 best place to live in America.  Lake Mary was also ranked the #1 best small town in Florida to live.  The area has great communities and highly rated schools that draw in great companies to be based here.  This has let Lake Mary continue to grow when many other areas are having trouble.  The crime rate in Lake Mary is one of the lowest in the state as well.  This all makes Lake Mary an excellent city to live in and still is easy enough to commute to Orlando when needed.

Longwood is lucky to have an ancient bald cypress, called The Senator. When the area was just a mere settlement it was used for navigation.  Today the tree is estimated at over 3000 years old and is the oldest tree in the Eastern U.S. and something that leaves you awestruck.  This tree is Florida’s oldest tourist attraction and is protected in Big Tree Park in Spring Hammock Preserve.    

The first settlers in Longwood arrived in 1873 and started homesteads at Fairy Lake.  The area was named Longwood by E.W. Henck who choose the name after a Boston suburb he helped design.  In 1886 the population had reached 1000 and the area was doing very well.  In late 1894 the area had a great freeze and the orange farmers were badly hurt with many leaving the area and by 1900 the Census recorded the population at 325.  By 1923 the town was thriving again and incorporated into a city.  The area has had a bumpy past but the Space Industry and Disney opening nearby concreted Longwood into a place people want to live.  Today this is especially true as people are trying to move here to take advantage of the great school system Longwood has. 

Longwood is today a city well versed in culture by the festivals and events the city puts on.  The amount of art galleries and museums in the area is high.  The city also puts on many great festivals and having an opportunity to see a visiting orchestra play every few months is also a special treat.

Another great way to get culture is through education and when one has graduated from high school in the great Longwood schools there are many great university options within commuting distance.  The institutions are:

• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Seminole Community College
• Rollins College
• University of Central Florida
• Valencia Community College
• Stetson University
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

There are some other options and smaller trade schools but those are the main ones that are closest to Longwood. 

The recreation benefits of Longwood are amazing as well.  The city has great parks for people of any age to enjoy and pristine bodies of water.  Residents can be found daily using these resources and happy to have such great options to choose from.  The parks and lakes include:

• Arbor Park
• Smallworld Park
• Sandalwood Park
• Highland Hills Park
• Shadow Hill Park
• Magnolia Park
• Raven Park
• Candyland Park
• Reiter Park
• Lake Jane
• Lake Searcy
• East Lake
• Lake Orange
• Lake Wildmere
• Lake Evergreen
• Lake Fairy
• West Lake

 
There are so many recreational opportunities available in Longwood but just a short drive away you can be at Disney World or golfing on one of the over 10 golf courses under 15 miles from the city.  The commute into Orlando for a job is not bad either.  The distance is short and the roads are easy to navigate.  It is hard to know why people only vacation here after experiencing the area firsthand but the smaller number of residents makes the city much more tight knit.