Orlando Area Top LGBT Gayborhoods
As I tell out of state clients looking to relocate to Orlando, we really don't have a concentrated "gay ghetto" here...we are pretty much everywhere, which really speaks volumes regarding overall acceptance in the immediate region.
Excluding Kissimmee, Winter Park, Longwood, Apopka, Lake Mary & Belle Isle, which are long established cities, all the other neighborhoods on this list have Orlando ZIP codes; in the case of Dr. Phillips, Baldwin Park, Wedgefield and Lake Nona, which definitely feel suburban or rural, they still have Orlando addresses.
- Thornton Park & Lake Eola Heights. Walking distance to DT Orlando, great little restaurants and bars, great mix of people, gentrified neighborhood with gorgeous bungalows and craftsman style homes on cobblestone streets. Predominantly built post WWI. Upscale and gentrified. Expensive.
- Downtown Orlando. Professional, good looking, educated and active...endless things to do. Ground zero for gay pride events. Many new condo towers since the 1990's. Moderate to expensive.
- College Park. Convenience...shopping, bars and restaurants & sleepy streets lined primarily with post WWII houses. Moderate to expensive.
- Colonial Town & Conway. In my opinion, these areas are ripe for "up & coming" status! Primarily 50's & 60's houses...terrazzo floors found here! Value to expensive.
- Winter Park. Check out Park Ave., then you'll see why it's on my list! Wide range mainly built from 1920's-60's. Moderate to expensive.
- Delaney Park. Designing Women's own Delta Burke has a connection to the neighborhood. This lovely part of town features cobblestone streets, big old houses and a super location to DT Orlando. A bit east is an area called Lake Davis, AKA "Lake Betty Davis" by friends who live in the area. Homes mainly built between WWI & WWII. Moderate to expensive.
- Baldwin Park. Formerly a military base, Baldwin Park is new urbanism at its finest! Easy commute to DT, nice restaurants and bars...very walkable neighborhood. Homes built 1990's+ Moderate to expensive.
- Kissimmee. Yep, our gal pal's and guy's enjoy the laid back atmosphere & affordable prices Kissimmee has to offer. Excellent little ma & pa restaurants from all over, but particularly the islands and South America pepper the landscape. Lots of new but plenty from the 70's and earlier. Value to expensive.
- Dr. Phillips. Many Disney and Universal executives call Dr. Phillips home, and for good reason: easy access to the attractions, airport, DT and Dr. Phillips restaurants, which are fabu! Primarily built in the 1960's-1980's. Moderate to expensive.
- Lake Nona Area. Who doesn't have a friend in the medical, bio-medicine and education fields? From doctors, nurses and other specialties within medicine, to professors and teachers at the VA and UCF Medical School, which are all located here. Suburban, moderate to upscale, green and super convenient to DT, OIA, Atlantic Ocean, Disney and Universal. Some neighborhoods were built in the early to mid 2000's; the area is currently exploding with new construction. If you like numerous small parks and easy access and many conservation/water lots, check out East Park. Moderate to expensive.
- Sweetwater Area. Straddling both Longwood & Apopka, which are both approx. 30 minutes N-NW of D.T. Orlando, this area is heavily forested (old growth) with fairly decent sized lots with homes primarily built in the 1970's & 1980's with some more recent and new construction peppered throughout. If you want a less restrictive HOA with a well maintained aesthetic, check out the Deer Lake Run neighborhood in Apopka. Nearby is beautiful Wekiva Springs State Park, which is LOVELY! Moderate to Expensive
- Lake Mary. Many tech companies are concentrated in this area, which is approximately 30 minutes north of D.T. Orlando, depending on I-4 traffic. Suburban and lovely...but not cheap. Like most areas on this list, Lake Mary is also considered Moderate to Expensive.
- Parramore. This is a recent addition to my list and it's for those who consider themselves pioneers. The area has been troubled with crime and poverty for years, but with gentrification moving west from D.T. Orlando and big investments, like the Orlando Soccer Stadium and the announcement of a new UCF D.T. Campus being built, there's an energy that's percolating and pervasive. My favorite gay bar is here, it's called Stonewall...the owners invested vast amounts of $$$ to expand their venue. Inexpensive.
- Wedgefield. Full disclosure. If I could get my partner to live here, we'd be here...in the Estates Section in the south near #528, not the northern area of the community which is sub-divisions. I grew up in a rural setting, and Wedgefield offers it yet it's only 30 minutes from DT Orlando and 15 from OIA. You'll find 1-10 acre parcels, some heavily forested parcels, well and septic, zoned for horses and deed restricted to prevent trailers and mobile homes. Shopping is not conveniently nearby and it's fairly remote and quiet, which is why my partner won't budge. Moderate to Expensive
- Belle Isle. Looking for a lake home with that "Old Florida" feel while towering Live Oaks & hanging Spanish Moss canopy over the winding roads? You'll find it here. The location is just minutes south of DT and 15 minutes from OIA. Lovely and Expensive.
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