Ocoee is a charming suburban area on the west side of Orlando. It has a rich albeit somewhat tumultuous history and is home to a culturally diverse population of over 35,000. Ocoee is a great place to live if you are looking for a relatively safe area with plenty of shopping and entertainment opportunities, a healthy, eco-friendly culture and a fairly high standard of living. The following peek into this unique small city can help you see if Ocoee real estate is right for you.
Ocoee offers plenty of healthy eating choices. The city's farmer's market is open every Friday from 4 pm to 8 pm. It is held downtown to make it easy for residents to not only buy fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and baked goods but also other items that are sold in the historic downtown area. Biggs Organic Farms has a Community Supported Agriculture program that allows interested individuals to pay for half share or full share membership and in return receive boxes of 100% organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Alternatively, you can buy fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the farm's online store. Tours are available on certain days and the farm has an organic school gardens project that teaches local children about organic farming.
Lake Meadow Naturals is yet another farm in the local area. The farm's store sells grass fed beef, natural chicken, wagyu, and heritage pork, lamb, goat, bison, natural cheese, eggs, produce and natural honey. Children are allowed to come at certain times and help collect the eggs. Tom West Blueberries, which grows various types of blueberries as well as citrus fruits, allows residents and visitors alike to come and pick blueberries when they are in season. Alternatively, you can buy the fresh blueberries at local grocery stores.
It is not hard to get in shape and/or stay in shape if you live in Ocoee. There are fourteen parks in this suburban area and many of them offer sports courts and exercise facilities for young and old alike. Central Park offers lighted baseball fields, a basketball court, a volleyball court, and football field. There is also a boardwalk area for those who enjoy a leisurely stroll. Palm Park has a scenic walking path for walking, jogging, and running and Vignetti Park offers several lighted sports courts for those who only have time to exercise in the evening or at night.
The Jim Beech Recreation Center is ideal for families that want to play sports or work out together. The center, which is run by the city government, offers daily, monthly and annual membership passes to city residents who are sixteen years old or older. Jim Beech Recreation Center has a fitness room with cardiovascular machines and weight equipment, a pool, and a playground for children. Additionally, it offers various basketball and volleyball programs.
There are also plenty of private gyms and fitness centers in the city. These include Zero Gravity Fitness, Jazzercise, Curves Health Club, Foxy Fitness Studio and Pole, and an LA Fitness Health Club.
Ocoee is also a great place to kick back and have fun on your own or with family and/or friends. West Oaks Mall on the eastern side of Ocoee has well over one hundred different stores to shop at, along with a fourteen screen movie theater, a food court, a carousel and children’s play area. The mall regularly hosts expositions, seasonal events and other entertaining activities for young and old alike. Additionally, the city itself also organizes festivals and other fun events throughout the year. These include the Central Florida Film Festival, Food Truck Friday, Moving Night, Founder's Day Festival, and Spring Fling.
The McKey Street Downtown Ocoee Shopping Area is yet another good place to shop, have a bite to eat and enjoy some local entertainment. This part of town has a historic feel and ambiance and is home to thrift stores, consignment stores, furniture repair shops, antique shops, and more. Downtown restaurants offer many types of food, including ethnic cuisines, barbeque, subs, and sandwiches.
Parents with kids and teens will also find plenty of entertainment venues right in town. Extreme Laser Tag is one of the best laser tag facilities in the Orlando area and offers not just laser tag but also shooting games, dance machines, arcade games, air hockey and more. Free Wi-Fi is provided so parents can work while the kids play. Fit Kidz Express is a unique mobile bus that offers fun kids fitness activities for toddlers and young children. Free introductory classes are available so parents can see if their little ones enjoy the events and want to sign up. Fun activities include T-ball, soccer, gymnastics, and basketball.
Ocoee is undoubtedly the place to call home if you want to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and take part in fun activities and events on a regular basis. The numerous parks and sports courts make it easy for you to exercise on your own or with a group of friends, as do the city's many gyms and indoor fitness centers. It is not hard to buy healthy, organic food as there are several great farms in the city as well as a farmer's market with an abundance of locally grown produce to pick from. Additionally, the city's large mall and scenic downtown area provide plenty of shopping and other entertainment opportunities for residents who would rather not make the 12 to 14 mile drive into downtown Orlando. While Ocoee does have its downsides, the city's residents do know how to enjoy life and stay healthy.
