Florida is the third most populated state in the country, a massive sprawl of land stretching along the Atlantic. It is a place many seek out due to its natural beauty, great year-round weather, and numerous attractions. There aren’t many other places in the country where you can enjoy top-notch golfing, great dining options, white-sand beaches, and boutique shopping, but Florida has it all.
Florida is a state with many different areas and cities, all with distinctive looks and feels. From Miami to Daytona Beach, no city in Florida is the same. In this great state with so much to explore, you may not have even heard of some of the best places to live. There are countless great areas, towns, and cities in Florida; let’s explore some of the best options in or near Orlando, Jacksonville, and the Panhandle.
Orlando
Orlando is one of Florida’s biggest and best-known cities, a hotspot for tourists seeking to attend their major theme parks, Disney World and Universal. But Orlando is much more than just theme parks. It is a great, walkable city, with a vibrant culture, top-notch arts scene, and arguably the best food in the state. It has numerous great areas within and nearby towns just outside of it.
Windermere, Oviedo, and Lake Mary are appealing options for those looking to head to Orlando. Windermere is a small town of 3,000 in the Orlando Metro Area. It is a luxury real estate haven surrounded by small lakes on all sides. It is a historical, family-friendly community with some great homes.
Oviedo is a little more removed from Orlando but still in the Metro Area. It is home to almost 40,000 residents. It is a great community with tons of parks, small bodies of water, and some of that famous Florida golfing. Lake Mary is an Orlando suburb that is home to roughly 15,000. It is lined with small bodies of water, a beautiful, walkable little town with a residential feel, great schools, and low crime rates. This makes it ideal for families.
Winter Park and Winter Garden are two more great towns near Orlando. Winter Park is a small, green city of about 30,000. It has great public attractions, including numerous museums and galleries. It also has top-notch parks and is a walkable, friendly community. Winter Garden is a small city a short drive from Orlando’s downtown. It is right along the waters of Lake Apopka and is known for its pleasant setting. It has Farmer’s Markets, brewing companies, museums, and more.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is Florida’s biggest city, a major metro area with a ton to do. It is a place of year-round sun, as much of Florida is, but its Atlantic Coast location makes it the right place to maximize your enjoyment of that weather. With beaches, top-notch eats, and great museums, there’s much to do in Jacksonville. Let’s look at some of the great places to live near this major Florida city.
Ponte Vedra Beach and Atlantic Beach are two waterfront areas that make for excellent places to live. Ponte Vedra Beach is a resort community with gorgeous homes only 18 miles from downtown Jacksonville. Ponte Vedra Beach has some of the best golf in the country, as well as jaw-dropping Atlantic settings. Atlantic Beach is a small city right along Jacksonville, home to almost 15,000 residents. It is filled with luxury homes, residential streets, and private beach access. It is a quiet, oceanfront community.
Orange Park and Keystone Heights are two more places near Jacksonville that make for excellent homes. Orange Park is a quiet town of under 10,000, located on the Saint Johns River. It has a small-town feel but is only a short drive from the big city. Orange Park has a great arts scene and delicious dining options. Keystone Heights is a quiet city located along Lake Geneva. It is on the outskirts of the Jacksonville area, roughly 60 miles from the city’s downtown. It has great hiking and fishing and a tight-knit local community.
The Panhandle
In the northwest area of Florida, stretching along the Alabama and Georgia border down to the Gulf of Mexico sits the Florida Panhandle. The Panhandle is a great area with some of the most incredible beaches in the state. It is a slightly more affordable area than many regions in Florida’s south, like Miami and West Palm Beach, but it is just as great of a place to make a home.
Destin, Miramar Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach are three of the best places to live within the Panhandle. Destin is a city of almost 15,000, but its population swells come winter. Destin is known for its gorgeous white sands and turquoise Gulf of Mexico waters. It has some of the best golfing in the state and great hiking trails along the water.
Miramar Beach is a small area home to just under 10,000, to the east of Destin. It is slightly quieter than Destin but offers much of the same perks with great golfing and sandy shores. Many Miramar Beach visitors claim it is the prettiest beach in the United States, and it is a great area to settle down. Santa Rosa Beach is an exclusive enclave to the east of Miramar Beach. It has some of the most stunning and luxurious real estate in the region and numerous country clubs and golf courses. It has delicious food, great beaches, and rich history.
