- How do you pronounce Ocoee FL?
- O-co-ee, Florida
If you’re looking for a getaway from Orlando, look no further than Ocoee, Florida. Not only does it boast some of the purest water in the area, but it’s also close to Orlando with many things to do nearby.
This suburban town has dozens of lakes and no annual snow. No matter what your travel plans are, you’ll be sure to find something to enjoy in this charming town.
And you’ll be glad you did, too. There’s so much to choose from as well, so if you’re shopping around for just the right place for providing all that you need to know about Ocoee Florida and beyond!
Read on to find out why Ocoee is the perfect destination for you.
What is Ocoee, Florida Known For?
Ocoee is a growing city in Orange County, as the third-largest city in Orange, after Orlando and Apopka. It has more than 30,000 residents and its own shopping mall.
Located near the state-of-the-art hospital, Ocoee is home to several major employers.
The city is connected to major highways, including the Florida Turnpike and the new Western Beltway.
Ocoee’s median home value is currently over $300,000, which is comparable to the average in the state of Florida.
The real estate market has been growing in Ocoee in recent years, and homebuyers won’t have a hard time finding the perfect home in this neighborhood.
It’s an ideal option for those who are interested in living in Ocoee but don’t have a lot of money to spend.
Ocoee is a suburb of Orlando
Ocoee is a suburban city located approximately 12 miles west of Downtown Orlando. This growing community is covered with natural beauty.
It offers the convenience of suburban living with great recreational opportunities. The city also has excellent shopping along West Colonial Drive and at West Oaks Mall, as well as other retail outlets dotted throughout the community.
Its population of approximately 50,000 is a good match for the area’s growing business community.
Ocoee’s population has increased considerably since the 1990s when State Road 408 was completed connecting the two communities.
The Ocoee Massacre, which occurred on Election Day 1920, has a storied past. The community suffered a great loss on that day, but it has since recovered.
In 2019, a historical marker was unveiled in downtown Orlando to commemorate the victims of the massacre.
Ocoee is a suburb of the city of Orlando, Florida. With more than 30,000 residents, Ocoee is the second largest city in Orange County, just behind Orlando.
The city is also home to a state-of-the-art hospital, and several major employers.
In addition to the community’s excellent location, Ocoee is easily accessible from the Florida Turnpike, State Road 50, and the new Western Beltway.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, Ocoee has many resorts. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of the many examples.
The area is also home to a wide range of restaurants and bars.
The town is mostly residential, with the most comfortable months being November, April, and March.
The most unfavorable months are August and November.
This town was founded as a small agricultural settlement and became a popular vacation destination when the first Walt Disney World opened in 1971.
Today, it is an excellent location for outdoor recreation and cultural experiences.
Lakes in Ocoee Florida
If you are looking for a place to enjoy the outdoors and take in the beautiful scenery, you may want to check out one of the many lakes in Ocoee, Florida.
These bodies of water are perfect for fishing and can be a great way to get a feel for the surrounding area. The city of Ocoee is home to some of the most beautiful lakes in the state.
One neighborhood that has plenty of lakefront properties is Willows On The Lake. These large homes were built around 2004 and are located right by the lake.
The community is well established, with construction starting around that time. Maponics provides the exact boundaries of the community, but they are subject to change.
Enjoy Orlando Attractions While Staying in Ocoee Florida
If you’re in the mood for a little getaway from the city, Ocoee is a great place to stay. You can enjoy the city’s many attractions while still having a quiet, country-style vacation.
If you’re traveling with children, Ocoee is a great location for them. There are plenty of activities for young and old alike, and you can easily plan a fun-filled family vacation in this town.
There are countless attractions for children, including the famous Magic Kingdom.
This park spans over 107 acres, featuring six fantasy lands and an animatronic Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Guests can enjoy morning-to-night entertainment and a chance to interact with Disney characters. This attraction was created by Walt Disney himself and opened its doors in 1971.
Today, it remains one of the world’s most popular family attractions.
Ocoee is home to several outdoor parks, including the award-winning Bill Breeze Park.
This park features beautiful scenery, a baseball field, and perfect spots for fishing. There are concessions throughout the theater, and there are plenty of comfortable seats for all ages.
If you have kids, you can plan a movie date at the West Orange Cinema. It has been around for decades, and it still manages to retain its old-world charm.
When visiting Gatorland, you may want to make an afternoon trip to the theme park. While Gatorland is not as large as Disney World, it’s fun and easy to see in an afternoon.
There are many activities for kids to enjoy, including the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line. If you’re traveling with young children, the KidsTown area will be a big hit.
You can save money by becoming a member of the American Science and Technology Center.
For your shopping needs, there are several malls in the Ocoee area. The Plantation Grove Shopping Center, Best Buy, and Rainbow Shops are some of the local retail establishments.
You can also find local businesses such as Spencer’s, The Children’s Place, and Crawford Tire Service Inc.
If you’re looking for a unique gift, Ocoee has plenty of retail outlets.
While staying in Ocoee, Florida, you can explore a working farm. The lakeside area has plenty of farm animals and thriving farms.
The farm market at Lake Meadow Naturals offers local foods and fresh meats. You can even buy fresh eggs, honey, and bread.
If you’re interested in seeing animals, you can also visit Bountiful Farms, which also has an outdoor bistro and a farmers market on Wednesdays.
Nearest Public Beaches to Ocoee Florida
The nearest public beaches to Ocoee Florida are located on the Gulf Coast.
You can also check out the Canaveral National Seashore and Cocoa Beach. These beaches are also nearby and are very popular among travelers.
However, if you don’t have much time to spend on the beach, you can always take a trip to New Smyrna Beach or Cocoa Beach.
1. Canaveral National Seashore
Canaveral National Seashore is located in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It stretches from the north end of New Smyrna Beach to the south of Patrick Air Force Base and includes the barrier islands along the Atlantic seaboard.
The National Park Service oversees the management of this area. The primary purpose of this park is to preserve a section of the Florida coastline that has unique biological and historic significance.
There are two units in this park; Canaveral National Seashore is located entirely within Volusia County in Florida and it is managed by a park superintendent who reports to the regional director for the southeast region.
The other unit, Playalinda Beach, which is entirely within Brevard County, is managed by a park superintendent who reports to the regional director for the southeast region.
This park features extensive dune systems with coastal hammocks and maritime forests found in natural settings.
There are also wildlife refuges that are home to many species such as sea turtles, manatees, bald eagle,s and indigo snakes.
This site also preserves military history with DeSoto Point Military Remains
Canaveral National Seashore is an ideal place for a quiet retreat. It features the longest stretch of pristine shoreline in Florida. You can also swim, fish, kayak, or just walk on the sandy shore.
There are picnic areas and covered pavilions for your enjoyment.
This beautiful park also offers free live music. If you have little kids, you can take them to the park’s playground.
2. St. Pete Beach
St. Pete Beach is home to the most recent of Florida’s coastal communities and is located at the southern tip of Pinellas County on the Gulf of Mexico.
It offers beach-goers a variety of attractions including:
- Waterfront dining establishments
- Watersports
- Marinas
- Resorts
The area has been noted for its boating activity and ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States by Money Magazine.
Its popularity with tourists has led to rapid development and an increase in population over the years which has made St. Pete Beach a popular vacation destination.
The distance from St. Pete Beach to Ocoee is approximately 100 miles. You can expect to spend about 1.5 hours driving to reach the coastal city from Ocoee, Florida.
Plan to make one hour’s worth of stops along the way. You should visit attractions and check out the scenery along the way.
3. New Smyrna Beach
If you’re looking for a public beach close to Ocoee Florida, you’ll want to head to New Smyrna Beach. This 13-mile stretch of white sand is located on the Atlantic coast.
New Smyrna Beach is a great city by the sea, with a wide variety of activities, and a thriving arts scene.
It’s also got some pretty unique things to do—from the “dinosaur” tree in Ponce Inlet to the iFly skydiving simulator, you’re guaranteed to find something interesting.
And when it comes to dining and entertainment, New Smyrna Beach has everything from seafood shacks to fine dining restaurants.
For an even more comprehensive list of all, there is to do in New Smyrna Beach, check out this page and discover your favorite things to do in the area!
Locals enjoy the surf breaks here, but if you’re in the mood for something a bit quieter, you should head to this public beach instead.
4. Cocoa Beach
The nearest public beach in Ocoee, Florida, is Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach is located 45 minutes from downtown Orlando.
The town is known for its family-friendly atmosphere, beautiful natural landscape, and world-class surfing conditions.
Cocoa Beach is a fun town with a lot of delicious food options, but it can be tricky to find the right place for your tastes. If you’re looking for something casual, Crave Coffee Company’s got you covered.
The coffee shop has plenty of seating and delicious pastries, but they also have a rotating menu of savory breakfast and lunch items throughout the week.
I’ve tried the crepes, which were great, and my friend swears by their sandwiches. They also offer outdoor seating so you can watch the world go by on A1A as you enjoy your meal.
If you’re in the mood for something more upscale with a great ocean view, Florida’s Seafood Bar & Grill is where it’s at.
The food is absolutely amazing—I’ve never been disappointed with anything I’ve ordered there—and the service is always top-notch.
You’ll want to make reservations for this place because it fills up quickly, but once you get a table, you’ll be able to enjoy a wonderful meal while taking in views of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.
No trip to Cocoa Beach would be complete without stopping in at least one barbecue restaurant, and my favorite place is Slow & Low Bar-B-Que. This place has everything from slow-cooked and smoked pork, chicken, ribs, and beef.
You can enjoy the surf lessons and shelling. This beach is also home to 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
For those looking for something a little different, you can visit the Florida Surf Museum and Cocoa Beach Pier. There are also a number of shops and restaurants in the area.
5. Vero Beach
Vero Beach is a coastal city in Indian River County, Florida. It is part of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located on the Atlantic Ocean, 70 miles southeast of Orlando.
Vero Beach was originally ranked 3rd best beach town in the U.S. by the travel website TripAdvisor.
Vero Beach has experienced a boom since the 1990s due to its popularity as a beach destination, its rural atmosphere, and the growth of the space industry nearby.
Downtown Vero Beach features many shops, restaurants, and pubs that overlook the Indian River Lagoon, including a live theatre located in an old movie house.
There are several parks around town, including Riverside Park. The city’s newest park is Veterans Memorial Park, which opened in June 2014 on US1 just north of downtown next to the Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area.
It includes monuments for veterans from each war since World War I until now and includes a pier across from the Inlet where fishing is allowed. The city also has several marinas and campgrounds along the lagoon and ocean.
Vero Beach is also home to an annual art show featuring hundreds of paintings by local artists.
6. Anastasia State Park
Anastasia State Park is a 1,600-acre Florida state park located across the Atlantic coastal plain from downtown St. Augustine.
Anastasia State Park is a gorgeous state park with a long, pristine beach and a shady trail that runs through an old oak forest.
It’s also one of the most popular beaches in Florida and has been named “Best Beach in America” by several different publications.
I’ve been going here since I was a kid, and it’s always one of the first places I recommend to people who are visiting the area.
There are wide stretches of white sand, dunes shaped like miniature mountains, and small creeks that run out to the ocean.
The water is always clear (and there are no sharks), so you can see all the way down to the bottom when you’re in shallow water.
When you walk along the shore, there are shells of all different shapes and sizes mixed in with the cool, granular sand—just be careful where you step!
The shells will make your feet sore if you walk on them barefoot (which we did constantly when we were little). It’s easy to avoid stepping on them—they’re usually piled up near the waterline or under rocks.
A lot of them have holes worn into them by years of erosion—the water washes away at the soft interior shell until there’s nothing left but a hard exterior shell.
7. St. Augustine Beach
St. Augustine Beach is a quaint little town on the coast of Florida, with a small-town feel despite its close proximity to Jacksonville.
In season, St. Augustine Beach is thronging with tourists who come for golfing and shopping, as well as for the entertainment of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park.
The city gets its name from an early Spanish explorer who was searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth; he found it in this very spot!
The beach has public access as well as several nice parks, including Fort Matanzas National Monument, which has tours and activities about its fortification during the Spanish invasion (note: there are no longer any alligators living in the fort).
There are also plenty of hotels and restaurants in St. Augustine Beach that make it easy to stay longer than you’d intended!
Do Vacation Rentals in Ocoee Have Internet Access?
If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Ocoee, you’re going to want to check out some of the top Ocoee internet-enabled accommodations.
These accommodations will be well-equipped with all the amenities you’ll need during your stay, including high-speed internet.
The majority of Ocoee vacation rentals also come with air conditioning and private patios or balconies.
If you’re looking for an internet connection, you’ll be happy to know that Ocoee’s weather is usually mild and pleasant most of the year.
Vacation rentals in Ocoee may not be allowed in all areas. Not all areas of Monroe County are approved for this type of rental. However, if you are considering a vacation rental, check with the town’s building code.
In Conclusion
If you are vacationing in Ocoee, Florida there are plenty of fun things to do. Florida has the largest population of beach lovers from out of state.
You will find beaches here are warmer than in the north. The most popular destination for vacationers is Orlando, this location is known by families all over the United States.
Universal Studios is a popular park and one that all children will enjoy.
If you’re thinking about visiting this town, you should know that it’s lovely, but it is small. I found the best way to experience it is by just getting out there and wandering.
You’ll find some amazing food and natural sites along the way, and you may even feel like you’ve forgotten where you are and why you went there.
Regardless of how you decide to spend your time there, remember that your visit is dependent on Mother Nature–so make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast before making flight plans or setting off on a road trip.
So, what are you waiting for?
Come to Ocoee and experience all the benefits of a Florida town!