Orlando

Orlando is the third largest city in the State of Florida and as such is home to many influential, well healed people. Therefore, it is no surprise Orlando has some of the very best private country club properties in the nation located throughout its metro area.

Isleworth Golf and Country Club

• Recognized as one of the Top 100 Platinum Clubs of the World, Isleworth Golf and Country Club spans 600 acres along Central Florida’s Butler chain of lakes. Their 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer is consistently ranked among the top golf courses in the country. An impressive 89,000 square foot Mediterranean style club house is the focal point of the property. Inside, members will find numerous dining experiences led by a professional team of chefs. Outside the clubhouse sits a large infinity edge resort style pool and children’s splash pad. The tennis center features six Har-Tru clay tennis courts, one Plexi Cushion court, and one Padel court. A fitness center and spa provide state of the art entertainment and the community’s seven miles of lakefront shoreline provides endless opportunity for water activities.

Interlachen Golf and Country Club

• Interlachen Country Club is a private, invitation only club founded in 1983 and has been awarded a Platinum Club of America distinction. Its crown jewel is the 18-hole championship golf course Joe Lee designed golf course which was redesigned by Steve Smyers in 2007. Interlachen Country Club has a first class tennis facility consisting of 10 Har-Tru courts and state of the art ball machines. Recently renovated in 2015, the club’s new resort style pool features a zero entry into a lagoon style area as well as 6 lanes for swimming laps. There is a free standing 2,600 square foot fitness center, regulation croquet lawn, and three dining venues also on the property.

Lake Nona Golf and Country Club

• Lake Nona Golf and Country Club has the honor of having Platinum Club of the World and Platinum Club of America designations. The golf course is an 18-hole championship course designed by Tom Fazio known for its secluded wooded canopy on the front nine and beautiful lake vistas on the back. Members enjoy a 40,000 square foot clubhouse with an 18-room lodge, resort style lakeside pool, and water based recreation on the club’s three lakes. The club also hosts six tennis courts and a high tech fitness center.

The Country Club of Orlando

• The Country Club of Orlando is one of the oldest and largest clubs in the state of Florida. On its 166 acres you will find an 18-hole Donald Ross designed golf course, 12 tennis courts, junior-Olympic size swimming pool, wellness and fitness center, and main clubhouse with dining facilities.

Tuscawilla Country Club

• Tuscawilla Country Club is an exclusive family-oriented private country club. Its 18-hole championship golf course designed by Joe Lee has a southern plantation feel due to the gently rolling terrain and Spanish moss draped Live Oak trees. The club features 6 Har-Tru clay tennis courts and the junior-Olympic size swimming pool has 6 lanes for lap swimming. An onsite restaurant and staffed fitness center round out the clubs offerings.

Orlando has become a foodie haven with a large and varied dining scene. Gone are the days of predictable theme park fare. The city is now packed with award winning restaurants and acclaimed chefs.

Orlando has it all and more when it comes to shopping, from mega-malls and outlet centers to quaint downtown boutiques and farmers markets. Foreign tourists keep Orlando’s malls and shopping destinations thriving as they pack their suitcases full of designer brands that often cost double the price in their native countries. Anywhere you go in the city you are sure to find a little retail therapy just around the corner.

The Mall at Millenia is the premier shopping destination in the city. At 1.2 million square feet, The Mall at Millenia is home to over 150 stores, services, and restaurants including high end designer brands like Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, SAINT LAURENT, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and many others.

As Florida’s largest outlet shopping mall, Orlando International Premium Outlets features over 180 stores such as Calvin Klein, Coach, Nike, Tory Burch, Polo Ralf Lauren, Steve Madden, kate spade New York, and others.

The Florida Mall offers over 250 retail, dining, and entertainment options. This mall has several exclusive stores such as American Girl, The Disney Store, and the Crayola Experience in addition to its prominent department and anchor store brands like Macy’s.

Park Avenue is located in Winter Park, a tree lined suburb just north of Orlando’s main metropolitan area. Here you will find more than 140 stylish boutiques and cafés. The area also holds special events including art shows, concerts, car shows, and fashion shows.

Orlando, being the tourist Mecca it is, has a seemingly endless list of things to do. People from all over the world come here to explore the city’s famous attractions like Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. However, as a resident of Orlando there are many other ways to spend your time outside of theme parks and other mega attractions that bring so many tourist dollars to the area.

The Amway Center in downtown Orlando is home to the Orlando Magic NBA team. From late October to mid April fans can take in a professional basketball game. The center also hosts various concerts, shows, and sporting events throughout the year.

Multiple theatre and performing arts venues call Orlando home including the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Dr. Phillip’s Center for the Performing Arts, The Garden Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre, and many others. These venues host a myriad of plays, musicals, comics, concerts, and dance.

The Orlando Museum of Art presents 10-12 exhibitions on-site and 13 exhibitions off-site a year. They also offer award winning art enrichment programs, gallery tours, lectures, studio classes, and community outreach programs.

The Orlando Science Center is an award winning science museum that has brought science to life for over 60 years. The center features four floors of interactive exhibit halls, labs, workshops, theatres, and an observatory.

There are no beaches in Orlando, however, a 60 mile drive to the east will get you to Orlando’s closest beaches in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Boating in Orlando takes place in the many lakes throughout the area. Known for their calm, warm waters they are popular areas for watersports such as tubing, wakeboarding, and water skiing.

Fishing in and around Orlando is all freshwater. This part of Florida is known for big Largemouth Bass, BlueGill, Croppie, and Shell Cracker.

Orlando schools are controlled by Orange County Public Schools. Niche.com gives the school district a B rating and has it ranked as the 23rd best school district in the state. Orange County Public Schools have 200,674 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 51% of students are at least proficient in math and 52% in reading. Several notable private schools include The First Academy (Christian), Lake Highland Preparatory School, Bishop Moor Catholic High School (Roman Catholic), Faith Christian Academy and Preschool (Assembly of God), Good Shepherd Catholic School (Roman Catholic), Orlando Christian Prep (Baptist), and St. John Vianney Catholic School (Roman Catholic).

The City of Orlando has a total of 24 golf courses with 1 being municipal. Within a short 20 mile drive you will find another 43 courses of which 35 are public and 0 municipal.

Orlando’s only municipal golf course, Dubsdread Golf Course, is located minutes from downtown Orlando. It is the oldest public layout in central Florida featuring narrow fairways and heavily bunkered, “postage stamp” style greens.

One unique feature of Orlando is how many meticulously maintained golf resort properties call the city home. Shingle Creek Golf Club opened in 2003 and went through a redesign by Arnold Palmer Golf Design in 2016. The 18-hole par 72 course features undulating fairways with interconnecting waterways and large, rolling greens.

Falcons Fire Golf Club is known as one of the best public golf courses in Orlando. Rees Jones designed this championship golf course which stretches over 7,000 yards from the back tees.

Champions Gate Golf Club features two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by renowned golfer and architect Greg Norman. The International Course at Champions Gate is a unique “down under” style of coastal links from Normans home country of Australia. The National Course is a typical “Florida Golf Resort” style with mature Oak, Cypress, and Pine groves nestled amongst spring fed lakes.