What makes Orlando one of the best places to live, visit, and explore? The Best of Orlando category takes a closer look at national rankings, studies, and “best of” lists featuring Orlando, Florida, then adds local context from across Central Florida and Southwest Orlando. From retirement and pet-friendly living to coffee, dining, staycations, and lifestyle, these articles explore why Orlando continues to earn national attention and what those rankings can mean for people considering a move in the area.

Why Was Orlando Ranked the #1 Best City for Coffee Lovers?

Orlando, Florida, was ranked the #1 best city for coffee lovers in WalletHub's 2026 study of the 100 largest U.S. Cities. Orlando stood out for its number of coffee and tea shops with free Wi-Fi, affordable highly rated coffee shops, and the most donut shops per capita. The ranking reflects the broader coffee culture seen across Central Florida, including independent shops in Windermere, Winter Garden, Oakland, Clermont, and Minneola. 

Why Do Local Coffee Shops Matter to Community Life?

Whether it's plentiful restaurants and dining, mom-and-pop shops, local farmers' markets, or events, there is so much that makes a town or city feel welcoming. More than a word, community evokes a…

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Why Was Orlando Named The #1 Place to Retire?

With Florida's tax advantages, year-round recreation, warm climate, world-class attractions, easy travel, and a wide range of communities, Southwest Orlando offers an ideal lifestyle that matters most to many retirees. So, it should be no surprise that Orlando was recently named the #1 place to retire in the U.S. by WalletHub. Let's take a closer look at what makes Orlando a top choice for retirees.

What Makes Southwest Orlando a Great Place to Retire?

Southwest Orlando Golf CommunityLocation and lifestyle are two of the top reasons people choose Southwest Orlando for their retirement home base. Its Central Florida location makes it easy to travel throughout Florida to the east and west coasts for beaches and cruise ports. Port…

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A Local Guide To Dog Parks, Pet-Friendly Dining, And Communities Across Southwest Orlando

Blog Author: Jen Durben | The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty

Waterbrooke Community Dog ParkRecently Orlando was named the #4 pet-friendly city in the U.S. by WalletHub. They compared 100 of the largest cities across 23 key metrics, including veterinary care costs, dog-friendly restaurants per capita, and dog parks per capita. Orlando stood out in the pet health & wellness category, as well as the number of veterinarians per capita, and dog-friendly restaurants per capita. 

Orlando’s latest pet-friendly ranking puts the spotlight on something locals already know: Southwest Orlando makes it easy to enjoy everyday life with a dog, from parks and trails to neighborhoods built…

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Why Was Orlando Ranked the Best U.S. City for a Staycation?

Blog Author: Jen Durben | The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty

This is no surprise to locals of the Orlando area. There are so many reasons why people call Orlando home, and truth be told, it's pretty cool to live in one of the top vacation destinations in the world. So, when we read that Orlando has been named the #1 Best Cities for a Staycation, we nodded along in agreement. WalletHub's study analyzed more than 180 U.S. Cities, looking at over 40 indicators of real lifestyle factors, including recreation, food & entertainment, and rest & relaxation. Let's take a deeper dive into what locals already know: that living in Orlando means the vacation feeling doesn't have to wait for…

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