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For many people, when they first think of Orlando, Florida, they think of theme parks, mainly Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. While these are great places to visit in the area, if you are planning on moving to Orlando, Florida, you may wonder what else the area has to offer. Here are five reasons Orlando is a great place to live.

Universities

Whether you have a teenager who will soon be going to college and wants to live at home to save money, or you are considering returning to school yourself, there are several universities in and around Orlando. The University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, is the second largest university in the United States. The Florida A&M University College of Law is also located in Orlando. Several other colleges and universities have campus locations in or around Orlando as well.

Golfing

If you enjoy golfing, Orlando is a great place to live. There are well over 50 golf courses in Orlando and the surrounding cities. While the majority of the courses are 18 holes, there are several 9-hole courses as well. One popular 18-hole course is at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, which is owned by Arnold Palmer and which hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

While regular golfing is an enjoyable activity for many adults and older children, smaller children, and some teenagers and adults, might enjoy miniature golf more. Luckily, there are opportunities for that in and around Orlando as well. For example, Hollywood Drive-in Golfgives visitors the fun of miniature golf mixed with a drive-in theater theme. Neon lights even make the miniature golfing experience possible late at night. Pirate’s Cove gives visitors a pirate-themed golfing experience. Other enjoyable miniature golf courses are also available in the area.

Professional Sports

If you are a fan of professional sports, you are in luck. Orlando has several professional teams. For the basketball fan, there are the Orlando Magic, who play their home games at Amway Center. Soccer fans have both a men’s professional team, the Orlando City SC, and a women’s professional team, the Orlando Pride, to watch. While Orlando does not have an NFL team, they do have a professional arena football team, the Orlando Predators as well as a women’s professional football team, the Orlando Anarchy. Several semi-pro and minor league teams also call Orlando home.

Exciting Museums

While there are many museums in Orlando, two stand out as places people want to see for sure when they are in the area. At Ripley’s Believe It or Not, you can do things such as, see shrunken heads, experience crazy illusions, and measure yourself compared to the world’s tallest man. Because there are only a few Madame Tussauds worldwide, you will want to see the one in Orlando. While you may never get to meet your favorite celebrities personally, at Madame Tussauds, you can get photos with wax sculptures of your favorite stars, both living and dead, including Audrey Hepburn, Vin Diesel, Madonna, Jimmy Fallon, and many others.

Theme Parks

While the theme parks are not the only things to do in Orlando, no list of the city would really be complete without a mention of the area theme parks. Walt Disney World is really a combination of several theme parks. The parks include rides, entertainment, food, tours, animals, and other adventures. If you plan to visit the parks regularly, you will likely want to purchase an annual pass. Much like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort is a combination of several parks. You can enjoy a roller coaster ride inspired by one of your favorite movies, ride the Hogwarts Express, enjoy a fun show, and much more.

Of course, there are many other things you can do in Orlando and the surrounding area, including indoor skydiving, indoor kart racing, and The Escape Game. If you need help finding a great moving company for your move to Orlando, contact us.

If you’re planning a move to Louisville, Kentucky, you’re in luck! This city is a quick-moving, fun-loving place to settle down, and there‘s no end to the activities you can explore here. As the biggest city in Kentucky, it offers a Southern flair with some urban momentum–and some very famous cultural events (we’re looking at you, Kentucky Derby!). How’s the lifestyle, though, and what should you expect when moving? See below for tips and information to help you be in the know for your successful move to Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville is welcoming:

You’re moving to a city that welcomes newcomers into the fold. For an introduction to the social scene, find the official site for making connections and getting involved right here. The government’s checklist for moving tips and registrations can be easily found and digested here–including your guide to city maps, site locations, driving and parking guides, and more. You’ll want to get your vehicle, pets, and parking permits registered, and should be able to take care of all quickly through that guide. In addition, with the plethora of local events and activities, you’ll be on your way to meeting new friends quickly.

Louisville has a thriving culture of entertainment:

Everyone knows about the Kentucky Derby, (described by Esquire magazine as the “largest party in the South”), but the opportunity to visit Churchill Downs year-round and partake in true Derby-day spirit isn’t the only special culture activity Louisville has to offer. Louisville also hosts the largest Beatles festival in the world, a summer Shakespeare festival, bourbon festival and much, much more. Louisville’s art and music scene has also been growing, celebrating the independent arena as well as mainstream; with a variety of music festivals available for residents and a multitude of museums to explore on Museum Row from science to baseball to art, it’s hard to miss the celebration ofculture in Louisville.

Louisville has a rich history in culture and sports:

If you’re moving to Louisville, you should be aware of the sports to enjoy there aside from horse-racing. College basketball, in particular, is a big part of the local lifestyle. In fact, the Kentucky Wildcats have regularly been a standout team in the annual, nationally popular NCAA March Madness tournaments. For more sports-rich history, you can even take a trip to the Louisville Slugger Museum, which has been creating Louisville Slugger bats since the 19th century and continuing into today. You’ll be living in the former home of heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, as well.

For a touch of nature, you can easily visit the Ohio River for fishing or boating, or spend a day in one of the many parks that fill the area of Louisville, where you can partake in biking, golfing, athletic team sports, and more.

Louisville is a mainstay of the American whiskey industry:

Louisville is the mother of about one-third of all bourbon in the country, sometimes called “Bourbon Country,” and its pride is celebratedwith the Urban Bourbon Trail, a similar version of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. On the trail, you can visit trendy new bars and drinking spots,and also stop in historic hotels and bars that once served famous figures like Al Capone and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Whatever activity or sight you choose as your first introduction to Louisville, you’re sure to have a great time and meet some new people. This city is a mix of history and growing culture all at once, making it a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling place to be. For more information on moving to Kentucky and getting situated, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

 

Savannah brings to mind pleasant pictures of umbrellas on sandy beaches, cruising on a boat through waving marsh grasses and the ultimate pleasure of Southern cooking. Barbecue and potato salad aside, though, Savannah usually means plantation style homes reminiscent of Tara, the slow Southern way of life and adorable accents. Not many people think of Savannah when they think of big industry, but they should. In fact, entrepreneurial enterprises constitute one-third of the businesses in Savannah. Not many people recognize the military presence in Savannah, either, but they should. If you’re being transferred to Hunter Army/Air Force Base, there will be plenty of work for family members should they decide to seek it. Savannah is also home to pretty spectacular scenery as well as amazing attractions.

Where to Live

Moving to guides wax rhapsodic on the wonders of the South Side of Savannah. To be fair, the most imaginative and best quality modern homes are to be found there. The trouble with the town is that it is packed. This means that its two main arteries, Highway 204 and Interstate 95, are also packed. It is recommended for those moving to Savannah to live on its outskirts and commute to work. These outskirts are located in Bryan County and Effingham County, where many members of the military and professions live. In Effingham County, residents will take Highway 21 to Savannah, while in Bryan County, Highway 204 will be your path to town.

The benefits of living in Bryan or Effingham Counties encompass wide open spaces, fresh air unaccompanied by industrial and automobile fumes, good hospitals, shopping and food, better quality schools than those in Chatham County, and much less pressure on an already stressed infrastructure, despite Savannah’s best efforts at bypass road-building. It is quiet outside Chatham County, without noise from traffic, marauding bands of youths with the bass thumping in their cars or sirens blasting at all hours.

In Bryan County, you will want to check out the communities of Eden, Faulkville and Ellabell. These communities use Highway 280 to reach I-95 into town. Effingham County offers newcomers the quiet towns of Guyton and Springfield for their consideration. Both use Highway 21 to get to Savannah. Both offer excellent schools, hospitals, food and shopping. Commute times depend on how far outside Chatham County you choose to reside. Most people find their commute to be from 20 minutes to perhaps 45, depending on traffic and time of day. We know the military isn’t always a 9 to 5 matter.

What about the Scenery?

Some of Savannah’s most majestic scenery is best viewed from the deck of a paddle-wheeler like the Georgia Queen. Since most modern cities were born on the water, it stands to reason that the water would be the best place to view a city. You’ll hear how Savannah was founded as well as pertinent points about River Street, The Waving Girl and Forts Jackson and Pulaski.

On the ground, however, are some of the most stunning green spaces in the state of Georgia. Forsyth Park in downtown Savannah was established in the mid-1800s. Its fountain is based on the fountain in Paris, France and was copied for use in Peru. Only Daffin Park in central Savannah exceeds Forsyth Park’s acreage. For the newcomer to Georgia, the state’s trees dressed in trailing Spanish moss is an amazing sight. Skidaway State Park offers new residents acres and acres of trees dripping Spanish moss right beside the river. There is plenty of room for a picnic followed by a game of touch football. Fishing in the river is equally relaxing. If you’ve been transferred to Hunter Army/Air Force Base and wish to view a real live plantation, then you’re in luck. Wormsloe Plantation is the home of one of the original settlers. Now a ruin, it was built in the 1700s. Visitors may view a movie describing the settlement’s beginnings in addition to walking around grounds whose beauty will leave you breathless. It isn’t Tara, but an avenue of ancient oaks (complete with moss) will lead you to the museum.

Anything to Do in Savannah?

Give a Southerner a reason, and he’ll throw a parade, party or festival. Since Savannah was founded, many nationalities have been represented there. On River Street in October, for example, Oktoberfest and TAD of Savannah are opportunities for newcomers and residents alike to sample exquisite foods and other products from different areas. People come from all over the world to watch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the second largest in the nation. The Wearin‘ o’ the Green is fair game for everyone on that day. Drink green beer, eat green eggs and ham (even if you’re not feeling “green” that day, Sam I Am) and wave green pinwheels as you dance along River Street. Food isn’t all there is to Savannah, though, as you will see when you take haunted tours, hear the stories of the old homes in Savannah and tour the original buildings on one of Savannah’s many streetcar tours.

Move to guides are good for basic information, but when it comes to moving, you need an expert. We’ll tell you lots more fascinating things about Savannah when you contact us to learn more about it.