Hello there, new(ish) Orlandoan! Firstly, we applaud your choice in fine print and online periodicals. Secondly, we bet your head is spinning just a little bit as you try to get off and on I-4 Ultimate, making your way around town. No worries, we still miss exits ourselves to a worryingly regular degree.
To ease you into your new home in the City Beautiful, here is a housewarming — who can afford those though, really — gift in the form of our Newcomers Guide. It’s full of handy tips and tricks and inside info for finding a new spot to eat or drink, passing a summer day (rainy or otherwise), finding your new favorite band, getting away from the tourist traps … or fully embracing them. Go wild!
Here’s what you can find in this year’s edition of our beginner’s guide to living in Orlando: a handy neighborhood map (because Orlando honestly is a city of distinct ‘hoods); a rundown of annual events that locals flock to; summer activities for both rainy and sunny days; a deep dive into the state of live music destinations around these parts; a primer on bars and watering holes to fit many a taste, price and tolerance level; and how to eat like a local and a local who happens to be vegetarian or vegan — it’s as much a foodie city as it is a magical kingdom, these days.
There’s truly something for everyone in these pages, penned by our deep-Orlando scribes — so keep it at hand as you immerse yourself in the City Beautiful. Welcome again, and we’ll see you next week.
This article appears in Jul 3-9, 2024 and Newcomers Guide (2024).