Where to Stay

[ianellarby]

Hi, we are looking to stay in a villa in the Formosa Gardens area. It is very important to us to be able to walk to restaurants and shops.Can any one suggest a community that fits the bill? A lot say they do, but when i google street them it seems a bit mis leading.
Hope you can help.

[CERICROWLEY]

There are a few communities that are within a reasonable walking distance of a few shops and restaurants, however you have to realise that Orlando and the surrounding residential communities are geared towards being able to drive. The highway 192 is approx just of the top of my head is 20 miles long.

On the odd occasion it is fine to walk to a local restuarant, I have done it myself to our local restaurant. but I like to have a wider choice and visit many different restaurants.

[erowlands]

We are located in the Formosa Gardens area, whilst we have walked to the shops and restaurants nearby (some 10 mins) we find that most of the year it is too hot to bother during the day,we drive it!!!
I am sure that many fellow owners will let you know if they are close enough to walk to shops.

Eric

[Helen0705]

We've stayed at Formosa Gardens a couple of times and although you could walk to the nearby plaza (depending where on Formosa you stay) I agree with Eric. It's normally too hot !!! But if you fancy a stroll in the evening its a great place to stay.
The plaza itself is great - there's an Outback , Giordanos , Dairy Queen , a Chinese restaurant , mini golf , supermarket . Also very closeby is a Fridays and a Carraba's.
Also a camera shop and a kind of dollar shop - the place for Disney pens and keyrings etc !

[caroline]

We've just returned and saw a very silly pair of tourists walking along the 54 looking like a couple of overripe tomatoes - boy must they have suffered later[msnsad] - many of the roads that lead from the communities to the restaurants etc don't have a pavement/sidewalk and therefore it can be very dangerous to walk along them especially once it gets dark.

[ianellarby]

Folks, thanks for the concerns thats why i posted my subject. We will be in Florida November time and the walking would be evening time anyway so the reference to "silly tourists" is not necessary nor appropriate. We have been to Florida several times before and stayed at both ends. We are just looking for villas that ARE within walking distance to shops/restaurants etc. Formosa Gardens seems to be the most convenient? Thanks.

[fiona]

We too are located in the Formosa Gardens area and yes you can walk to the restaurants and shops, although if you want to do any shopping I would recommend you take the car as lugging anything heavy back is not fun! However we see plenty of people walking up to the Formosa Gardens Shopping Plaza, often those with buggies. If you are going in November I cannot think it will be a problem, it's not for the faint-hearted in the heat of the summer, which is what Caroline was getting at. Btw for a big food shop I would suggest you go a 5 min drive up the 192 to Publix which has a far greater choice than the one at FGSP and at much better prices.

Floridians do not tend to walk unless in the city centers, and in their heat who can blame them? So it might be wise to be wearing lighter coloured clothes so you would be visible when crossing the roads - just as a precaution.

[Majik]

The community of Hunters Creek is with in walking distance to The Loop shopping centre (google for website). A 10 minute walk will get you to many shops, restaurants and a cinema.