My husband has just been given an "opportunity" to move to the Orlando office of his firm. We have been in Dallas for the last 12 years and are native Texans. Please tell me what is in Orlando. Have only been there once to Disneyworld. The other option is possibly Boston. Any thoughts on Boston. We have one junior high aged daugeter. I know this isn't specifically a travel related question, but I'm hoping for some info from some knowlegable Fodorites!

I used to visit the Orlando area approximately 3 times a year when my family had a place in Winter Park...Orlando is flat and spread out...there is no scenery to speak of...many strip malls, chain restaurants, etc....I enjoyed trips to Lake Eola (right in the middle of Orlando) where we would rent a "swan" type boat and paddle around and across the small lake...the relatively new Doc Phillips area of Orlando has very lovely homes and good schools...many of the Disney and Universal Studios execs live in that area...the area is in the general vicinity of the parks, but not right on top of them...and of course there are very nice markets and malls in the area...Orlando's central location gives you easy access to many other interesting areas in the state...drive about 70 minutes west and you're in Tampa...90 minutes north and you're in St. Augustine...anyway, Orlando is still growing...as for Boston, I've only visited a couple of times, but it is vastly different from Orlando...rich in history and culture...many things to do and see...do you like the cold weather? It's probably something you should think about because although Orlando has seen its share of cold days, it doesn't compare to Boston's...if you have a specfic question about Orlando post a reply and I'll answer asap...hope this helps.

Sheryl- I have lived in Florida all of my life, and east central florida for the past 15 years.We do not live in Orlando but near the Melbourne beach area.It is a quick 1-1/2 drive to Orlando for us and we go often. We have season passes to both Disney World and Sea World/ Busch Gardens. This is a very good investment if you will be so close. Your teenager will probably love it. Also Orlando has a huge selection of restaurants of all types, dinner theaters to see, museums, the Orlando Arena/TD Waterhouse center- where you can see basketball games, go to conferences, see plays and attend concerts. Speaking of concerts- there are always people playing at both the House of Blues and the Hard Rock with big names all the time. If that is not enough, you can drive about 1-1/2 in either direction N or S and see two totally different beach environments. If you or your husband enjoys college football, you will be very close to UCF. Other outdoor activites could include airboat rides, part of FL is still swamp area, horse back riding, mini golf, or the real deal, Disney has like 7 golf courses, not to mention the trillion others around the city. I hope some of this has given you an understanding of central FL, if you have any specific questions feel free to email me.

Silly me for not proof reading. I obviously meant to say east or west to the beaches.

Sheryl, I've lived in the Orlando area for over 40 years, since I was in grade school. The summer's are still murder for me...just plan on the air conditioning staying on May thru Sept. Right now the weather is wonderful, windows are finally open. A lot is written about the Dr. Phillips/Windermere area where the execs and sports figures live but very high priced and you're so close to International Blvd. and the tourist traps. We've always lived in the northeast sector, near Winter Park and towards UCF and the Seminole County side. This area is nothing like the southwest area. Older, more established homes and not so many tourists, although the traffic is horrible all over. The beaches are so close which is a real plus. The one thing we don't like about transplants are the ones who move here and complain all the time, comparing Orlando negatively to their hometown. Our attitude is, why are they here if they hate it so much? I guess your choice is to put up with the summers in FL or put up with the frigid winters in Boston. Good luck.

Sheryl....good luck with your decision! We were transferred away from Dallas after having lived there 17 years, and I still miss it, most especially the great people, and world class shopping. There's a heck of a lot more to do here though (we are in Tampa now) and could not go back. Son still lives in Valley Ranch--Tx was home to him and after he graduated TX Tech, he returned to the Dallas area to live....so I visit often as I can!

When we left Dallas we had two choices. My husband works for Hyatt...we could have gone to Savannah to run that hotel, or to Boston to open the new Hyatt at the airport. We chose Savannah, having lived in Boston before and knowing how we hated the length of the winter and the cost of living. After Dallas prices, you'll find sticker shock anywhere you go, but Boston is far worse than this area. (We've been transferred again...Savannah to Tampa). It was SO expensive in Boston--both housing and taxes. But....beautiful too. Basically, Boston weather just weighed too heavily on us. After Texas, days and days of overcast skies weren't something we wanted to face again. FL has more of the sunny days you are used to. Summers are ungodly here, but really a toss up as to which is worse, Dallas summers or Fl summers. The temps are lower here, but the humidity higher.

Our kids went through the Plano school system and I'm delighted we didn't have to contend with schools either here or Savannah. Don't know how Orlando is, but most of my friends here have their kids in private school. Our daughter was in 1st grade when we moved to Plano from Boston, and believe it or not, she was behind the Plano schools!! It was a great school system.

Again, good luck with the move. You WILL love being near the water, no matter where you end up.

I've lived in the Boston area for most of my life (brief stint in Canada). As much as I love it there are some definate downsides. The cost of living is high. Housing is very high and much of the housing stock is old and in need of updating - not old interesting but just old and worn out. New homes are steep or located in towns far from Boston. Many of the school systems are not up to par but are improving. On the other hand, Boston has character, tradition, culture and history. Many great restaurants, art musuems, events every weekend. We have the ocean, the Red Sox, many colleges. There is an air of permanence to the entire area. There is permanence without stagnation. Lots of new things coming out the colleges. Weather is tolerable. Winter is cold but its not Buffalo.

Orlando strikes me new, temporary, lacking in structure. Nobody has a sense of personal history there (everybody there tells you where they are from). But housing is inexpensive, new, beautiful. I'd kill to have a 2800 sq ft house for under $250,000. Lots of beautiful malls. Weather is good except for the summer which is way too hot.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. Spend a week in each place before you decide. A week won't tell you a lot but you'll start to get a sense of things.

I am a Bostonian but don't live in the city. I have to admit I think I am a northern snob. I have visited Orlando many times and had great times but I can't imagine ever living there. Besides the heat and humidity factor it is just so ugly and boring. All of the cement, plaza after plaza, chains, no character, no varied terrain. The only reason I can think why someone would want to live in Orlando by choice (not beacuse of family or being transferred for a job) is to work for Disney or Universal. Here in Boston I can go 2.5-3 hrs. away by car and have a choice of the rocky coast of Maine, the white mountains of NH, the green mountains of VT, the national seashore beaches of Cape Cod, the islands of Marthas Vinyard and Nantucket, Providence, or even vacation in my own backyard either in the city or Cape Ann. Sorry, but it is a no brainer to me.

I live in Orlando and can't really recommend it as a GREAT place to live (although it's certainly inexpensive), but there's no way I could handle a Boston winter! (Or the cost of living!)Can't you get a third choice?

Its really 2 extremes. Either contending with the snow or the heat. Being from Texas I think youd pick the heat. I have been through some heavy blizzards in my day and I would take the heat and humidity any day

Like most people are writing, they are two totally different lifestyles. Both have advantages and disadvantages depending on your preference for weather, culture, types of things you and your family like to do and your financial situation. I've visited Boston a few times and it's my favorite city, not sure I could endure the cold winters but I'd take it over south Florida anyday. My husband and family are here so that's why I don't leave. Orlando is much more laid back, with all different socioeconomic levels. It depends on what you are looking for at this point in your lives. Orlando is probably closer to Texas lifestyle than Boston would be.

Barbara,

Please go back and reread your message. Do you really intend to sound that harsh?

"it is just so ugly and boring... no character, no varied terrain. The only reason ...is to work for Disney or Universal. Sorry, but it is a no brainer to me. "

That isn't a whole lot of constructive information, just a bunch of misguided, judgmental stuff. I wonder if your opinions are based on vacations to Universal and Disney?

I am not going to try to sell Orlando to anyone - I can't say that I love it. But as a native Floridian I do think there are a few redeeming features to the state! As already mentioned, the proximity to the beaches are good. Also Orlando is full of lakes, with many beautiful homes built around them and many recreational facilities.

I would like to point out that you won't find many (any?) 2800 sf houses for under $250,000 around here. As with most suburban sprawl areas the housing prices vary with distance from the central areas, but even with 45 minute commute I don't think you could find houses at those prices. Some of the older areas within 15 minutes of downtown are running about $160/sf, unrenovated. The actual downtown residential neighborhoods are even higher. And in Winter Park (NE of downtown Orlando) it is common practice to buy a house for $250,000-$300,000, only to tear it down and rebuild.

But still cheaper than Boston!

Dear Sheryl,

If you are still considering your move. They are different styles of living. As a Realtor, the population of Florida grows significantly by the month. I've had customers relocate from Boston, primarily weather, taxes, cost of living. The feedback I get is the salaries are 1/2 to 2/3 of what they were in Boston.
The things I like about Orlando, I live in Jacksonville, N FLorida. Winter Park,
The Morse Museum a large collection of Tiffany Glass. The historic area, old depot, park and shopping of Winter Park.
The traffic is awful, good to learn the back streets. Close to St Augustine and Tampa. Orlando's entertainment venue. International airport. Sylvia