If you’re not into the everyday hustle and bustle of a downtown Orlando, you might want to choose Oviedo. You can get a bit of peace and quiet to help settle your mind after a long work week. If you do want to let your hair down, Orlando is a skip and a hop away. You’re close by to all of the main attractions but that doesn’t mean you gotta literally hear about it in your backyard. Not to mention, this is a great place to raise your kids because of the family atmosphere, parks, and general environment. Forget the noise you’ll receive from more tourist spots in Florida. Enjoy your time in Oviedo.
Schools
One of the first concerns with anything regarding your kids is the educational system. We want our kids to grow to learn some pivotal things to really trailblaze the world as they get older. It’s not just about learning the ABCs but knowing how to do it backwards and in different languages. It’s like getting your black belt but adding varying degrees to it to show off your mastery. One of the great things is that schools in the Seminole county area have a great reputation when it comes to education. In fact, the public schools have built such as strong rapport that they’ve been ranked numerous times in Newsweek as a high graduation rate school. You can take a look at the data from US News and see that the numbers don’t lie. From different schools in the area like Winter Springs High School, Hagerty High, Oviedo High, and Lake Brantley, students have a certain readiness that allows them to be college bound. With the graduation percentile in the late 80s and early 90s, they capture a great program efficiency that ranks them in the top schools of the nation.
Not to mention, Crooms Academy of Information Technology, was ranked in 2011 as one of the most connected high schools due to its emphasis on computer access and technical resources. The world is becoming a huge digital space and kids need to become more abreast to how technology moves the world. This early foundation will help them keep up with the Joneses. The academia in this particular area caters to different child needs. As early as elementary school, kids can enroll in specialized programs or magnet schools in case they don’t want to follow the typical school route in their zone.
Additionally, it’s convenient to the parent once their kids are college bound because there are a bunch of local colleges like Seminole State (Oviedo Campus), Full Sail University, and the big one, University of Central Florida. Your kids don’t have to live on campus because they can do a short commute from home. It’s really convenient and you’ll save tons of money from room and board. They can build their expertise in business, health, and science. Help them to create their destiny so that they can get out there in world and really make an impact.
Attractions
Even though Oviedo isn’t a big tourist attraction place, it’s luckily located near enough so that you can reach your destination. One of the biggest things to view in Orlando is Walt Disney World. You can never go wrong with a family trip there because this spot has a bit of everything for each of your members. Whether you’re there for an extended vacation and really want to view what’s offered. Or you simply take a day trip, you can just have fun and be on your way back to Oviedo. There are great theme parks like the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot Studios, etc. For those that are more into sports, there’s a whole ESPN Wide World of Sports, which hosts different amateur events throughout the year. Take a look at what’s offered at this wonderful place. Take advantage of some special offers for your adventures at Walt Disney.
Another great attraction to visit is Universal Studios. Are you more into thrills and a bit of a mature movie vibe? This is the place you need to be to get your fix! With a good emphasis of movies and rides, you’ll surely get an incredible adventure. For the Harry Potter fans, there’s a great 3-day weekend event at the end of January. Go to Q & A sessions, panels, workshops, and even photo ops. Some of the actors from the movie attend this event on a yearly basis. It’s a great way to get on contact with the fans. They have great events like Mardi Gras in February where you can get a taste of New Orleans culture without actually having to go out of state to get it. Being at one of the resorts is very convenient because you can take a water taxi or a shuttle bus free of charge to the main theme park. If you don’t know where to get started, there are tons of packages available to help you find out when you should go. Go to the main Universal Orlando website where you can sign up for special offers.
If you want something a bit more local and less of a tourist attraction, you can always go to Center Lake Park. This is a great thing because there are different events at the amphitheater from concerts and your own events. If you’re planning the next big cookout or you have a birthday coming up, you can actually reserve a spot in the Cultural Center. You’ll find that this is a great location that will allow you to create great memories with your family. Just imagine you are having a great wedding and you’ll be next to the water as you get some breathtaking photos that you can cherish for the rest of your life. You don’t have to travel to another city to get great comfort and care when it comes to events that matter. For more details on this, you can head to cultural center information to know the specifics.
Restaurants
You can’t live in a spot without great food items. Food is as much a part of the culture like language, dance, and music. There are some very interesting places you should check out on your free time.
One of the top destinations you should check out is Black Hammock Adventures. This is not only a place to eat, but it’s a full-on adventurous place for you and your family. If you like a bit of fun on the water, why not take an airboat ride. You can even get a deal where you get back to the bar and get a discount or 3 dollar tab towards a drink. You don’t have to do a 30-minute ride. You can actually make it an hour and travel all across the Lake Jessup and Bird Island. This is a not little treat to start your weekend or wind down your evening before you head out on the town. The interesting thing is Black Hammock is exciting without all of the airboat rides. They have some nice delicacies that really gives you a sense of the culture in Florida.
For example, you can try out the gator bites which you could have flavored in a blackened, cajun, buffalo, or even Florida sauce. This literally makes your taste buds get a nice bite on the tongue. Some of the other staples include: catfish nuggets, frog legs, and escargot cassolette. You certainly get a bit of the country mixed in with class. Additionally, the boat ride to Bird Island allows you to see a lot of wild species of birds. You may even catch deer, wild boar, and marsh rabbits inhabiting the water from time to time. Food, drink, and a boat ride on the water? You can’t beat that in a day. For more details, visit Black Hammock Adventures.
Maybe you want something a bit more down to earth. A little Southern hospitality is in order. Whether you enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you should visit the The Townhouse Restaurant. This has everything you need to fulfill that old school vibe. The place has been around since the 1950s and continues to grow while keeping its tradition alive. It serves some of the best in breakfast items for a fair price. You don’t have to worry about going to a fancy Sunday brunch when you can come here and be treated like more of a friend. Another great thing about the menu is it changes weekly. Items that may be here one week are completely different another time. This makes the menu that much more dynamic and you’ll get a good array of food items to choose. Every Friday and Saturday night, there’s some good local music for you to enjoy your dinner and your drink. If you plan family lunch or early dinner, your little ones can eat for free after 4pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. It’s good way to save some money and get you out of the house to spend time with your family.
Festivals and Events
There are quite a few events in the area that don’t require you to travel to far to have a good time. Always check out the Cultural Center for some solid events. Some things you can check out include the following: Bark and Brew (a dog and craft beer event), Movie in the Park, and even a version of Mardi Gras. You get a great mix of relaxing events and the more out there kind of engagements.
The big event in Oviedo that happens every March is Taste of Oviedo. One of the things that makes this special is the Citrus and Celery cook-off. Of course, citrus is a Florida staple just because of the climate and it’s known for oranges. However, celery is a bit of a different case. Celery actually helped to modernize Oviedo and was a great economic stride in order to build train tracks for traveling. There was a celery boom that certainly kicked off a great financial increase in the town. That allowed them to become the celery capital of the world in the 1940s, which led great prowess. The purpose of the event is showing how creative you can get with these fresh ingredients. You’ll find everything from cakes, pies, curry, salads, and even quiches made with a citrus and/or celery feel. Just a small fee allows you to be part of the 100 taste testers who will help judge the competitor that reigns supreme in this year’s contest. For more information on this competition, you can head to the official Citrus & Celery cook-off. If you thought that was exciting, wait until you hear about the Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout!
The BBQ Blowout is on its 5 year now and continues to grow rapidly. It’s the perfect spring time event to kick off right before the summer hits. From the early afternoon into night, you’ll be able to get a taste of some excellent bbq while listening to great music right outside Oviedo Mall. This is the perfect event to start your Memorial Day weekend especially if you don’t want to venture off to another state or country for that matter. Additionally, it’s for a good cause because some of the proceeds goes to the Helpful Hands foundation, which helps children and families in dire straits. So why not get some tasty bbq and help a righteous cause at the same time?
Investing in Oviedo is like putting your money toward a good community. It’s an old-time feel where when the community is prosperous, everyone is the same. It has a good mix of the old and the new while keeping its identity on straight. Whether you want to settle down and raise kids, or you are looking for a spot close by near all of the excitement, you have a lot of choices in your hands. Take advantage of what’s offered in this rich town and have a great time doing so with your family.
