Winter Garden, Florida

Most of the residents in Winter Garden are families that have taken advantage of the new growth in the area. From the increased job market and diverse business opportunities to the relative great real estate values, Winter Garden's demographics have shifted over the past few decades. Years ago, a majority of residents were over the age of forty, the new median age is under 35. Younger residents, particularly the under 30 singles, seem to prefer the faster-paced, urban lifestyle of nearby Orlando, whereas thirty-somethings with families seem to enjoy the quiet and clean neighborhoods of Winter Garden with all of its community amenities.

Winter Garden has a few pubs that the locals here love to frequent. For sports fans, there is the popular Benchwarmers Sports Bar, wannabe pop-stars will love the raucous energy of Saturday karaoke nights with DJ Terri at Chit-Chat's Bar. Outside of these local beer-drenched dives, patrons will have to head east into Downtown Orlando to hit the preferred bar scene.

There are no nightclubs in Winter Garden to speak of, and if there were, most people would just go to Downtown Orlando anyways. Drinking and partying and dancing isn't about the booze or the music, but about meeting people, and nearby Orlando just has more of them (who are into that sort of thing). If you're single, a partygoer, a bar-hopper, a clubber, or all the above, Winter Garden is not for you. If you prefer the quiet, domesticated life, where you're waking up around the same time the party people are going to bed, then Winter Garden is for you.

As far as restaurants go, Winter Garden has a plethora of multi-ethnic cuisines to choose from. Winter Garden Pizza Company is a great little family-style pizza parlor in the heart of the community. There is also the highly rated Thai Blossom. There are also many favorite area restaurants are accessible on SR50 (W. Colonial Drive) including the International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Beef O'Brady's, American Pie Pizza Company, and more. Plus, you have the choice of practically every type of fast-food joint you can think of along this busy strip.

Winter Garden is unique in that it is a small town (17 sq. miles) that has become a growing center of business and community in West Orange County, with neighborhoods that boast moderately priced single-family homes, safe streets, town squares, and a welcoming environment. The quality of living in Winter Garden has increased over the years with higher quality contemporary homes being built in the area.

Apartments, condos, and townhomes for rent in Winter Garden are decently priced for their size and locale. A 2-bedroom averages under $900/month; that's an incredible price for being just on the outskirts of a major metropolitan area like Orlando (where the same there can and will run you over $1,000/month for a comparable area). Sure, some of the cheaper places aren't that nice, but as always, you get what you pay for. Some of the lesser apartment complexes are run down and in need of refurbishment, but for many families migrating to the area, they'll most likely stay away from these dodgy establishments.

Winter Garden may be small (pop. approx. 24,000), but there is a lot of heavy road traffic. Being at the center of the four major highways (SR50, 429, 408, and FL Turnpike), congestion and accidents are frequent around these entry and exit points. Coupled with Florida drivers' propensity for poor driving and high speed limits here equals disaster on the roads. Daniels Road, which cuts through Winter Garden's newer developments, can also get congested during peak traffic hours, generally in the morning work and return home drive times. There are also many giant vehicles that fill up the lanes, and you will notice that turn signals obviously do not apply to those drivers, so be careful!

Parking is not so much an issue in Winter Garden unless you are trying to park in the town square or finding a space during a festival or similar event, or if you live in an apartment complex that does not enforce parking for tenants. All single-family homes have garages and/or driveways, which is much safer for families with young children.

My only advice would be to see if there are any homes for rent, as the prices for home rentals rival that of some of the apartment complexes in the area, and unless you prefer to have the amenities of an apartment complex, or oppose the upkeep of a house, this will be the best value in this area. Sometimes owners looking to rent out their homes due to the fallout of the housing economy will only look to rent it out for the price of their mortgage, which means if you get lucky, you may be able to score a sweet deal on a great home for rent. Sometimes, you may even get the option the buy.

There is much to do in this little town. In addition to the newset shopping centers with new movie theaters, there are nearby parks, which are great for outdoor activities. For those who enjoy hiking or bike riding, check out the West Orange Trail. There are several lakes surrounding the area as well. A popular place for teens is the West Oaks Mall, whilst the older crowd will enjoy shopping at Webb's Antique Mall located right down the street.

Downtown Winter Garden is peaceful and relaxing, evocative of that small town charm it is known for. If you like a relaxing stroll around in the sunny breeze, you will enjoy it here. The Village area near Daniels Road with small enclaves of neighborhoods that are continuing to grow is also a preferred area for families.

One thing that I really like about Winter Garden is that they have a lot of mom 'n pop stores around. I like supporting the independent businesses as opposed to the big conglomerates, and you support your local community by shopping with the little guys. In Winter Garden, there is a variety of independent grocers available including Trevino's Grocery, Kelly's Food Service (which offers online ordering...awesome), Bravo Food Store, and Stop1 Grocery. There are also the usual Target, Sav-A-Lot, and Publix supermarkets.

There are several gyms and fitness clubs in the area, but nothing beats the local YMCA when it comes to the variety of activities that engages the entire family. For those looking to hit the gym sans kids, you can enjoy Lifestyle Family Fitness, or Curves women's gym.

From Wachovia to Suntrust to Regions and more, Winter Garden has access to many different banks including the locals such as Mercantile Bank, Republic Bank, and Bank First. Everything can be found conveniently located along SR50 (W. Colonial Dr.) or throughout the streets of the town square.

Areas that used to be orange groves are now bustling with families and new employment opportunities. Winter Garden is in close proximity to Downtown Orlando and one of Central Florida's largest employers, Walt Disney World. There are many industries thriving in the Winter Garden area including health care providers such as the recently built Health Central, retail giants Wal-Mart and Target, as well as the other Orlando area attractions, the hospitality and tourism industries, smaller retail stores and boutiques (see Winter Garden Village), and service industry.

Winter Garden is a part of the Orange County public school system. Students here are zoned for Dillard Street Elementary, Tildenville Elementary, Whispering Oak Elementary, Lakeview Middle School, and West Orange High School. There are also some private institutions including the Crenshaw School, which supports K-12.

College-bound students can attend Westside Tech or are only mere minutes away from Valencia Community College's West campus on Kirkman Road.

Single-family homes range from the low $200's to the mid $300's; this could be a steal considering its neighboring area of Windermere where the median home price can run into seven figures! Usually these newer homes can be found on the south side of SR50, near all of the major highways, and around the new Winter Garden Village. Homes on the north side of SR50, still retain the small town vibe, and tends to be a bit cheaper.

Winter garden's crime rates have dropped somewhat over the past few years. The city's police force has increased, and with the influx of new businesses and people moving to the area, inevitably there is going to crime in a growing area. It is however, a relatively safe place to live, when compared to neighboring Orlando. Winter Garden does have its share of crime, but my guess is because of its close proximity to the dangerous Westside of Orlando (Pine Hills area). In the newer parts of West Orange County, the city and the surrounding area are considerably safer. As with anywhere, pay attention to your surroundings and you should stay safe.