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messerdouglas t1_j6284k6 wrote

How would compare Orlando to PVD? I'm considering moving to both cities

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Disastrous_Table_669 t1_j663ghw wrote

Random bits of my impressions that may or may not be helpful

Orlando:- Tiny downtown area that feels like a real city. I didn't spend much time here but a friend rented an apartment in a high-rise and it was really cool and trendy at the time (we were in our early 20s) Most of "Orlando" is actually tons of suburban sprawl, neighborhoods and strip malls, for miles and miles. Lots of places to eat and things to do, but you have to work to find local places amid all of the franchises.

- Despite have 4 lanes of traffic on major roads somehow the roads are ALWAYS congested with traffic. Orlando drivers tended to be wildly unpredictable - either too slow or downright dangerous drivers. Also, you probably need a car.

- People were generally friendly. The weather is always warm, sometimes too hot, and very, very humid. Lots of rain daily. Every building is air conditioned though.

That was 2013-2014 so things may have changed since.

Providence:- The part that feels like a city proper is also pretty small, but overall less franchises. More local places. Lots of art. Universities have a big influence here, so lots of students and artists and events going on (not as much as New York or Boston though, but more than I was able to find in orlando) Lots of old historic buildings, if that's your jam.

- The food scene is small but really, really good. I moved here from Boston and Providence blows away the restaurants from the bigger city.

- You get 4 seasons, generally (this year the winter is super mild). Summers can be hot!- People here tend to be friendly but you get that New England vibe from them, folks are busy and more curt. However you have less "Florida Man" type people than Orlando (that can be a pro or a con depending on what you value)

- There is a decent bus system although a car would be more convenient usually. It's actually a bikeable city. It's very drivable. Rhode Island drivers are strangely almost as wild and bad as Orlando drivers, to my dismay, so watch out for that. Also the roads are under construction all the time, forever.

Providence is a weird place but in a fun, artsy, local kind of way.
Orlando is weird in a "I'm screaming and everything is on fire" kind of way.

Definitely agree with u/anoncamcam that PVD hasn't bounced back since Covid so it's a little sleepier here, and also that there are probably much better places in Florida to live. Unless you're a Disney adult I guess, in which case Orlando is still bad, you'd want to move to Kissimmee instead.

Edit - I saw in your comment below that you're looking for a diverse place. Orlando is super diverse, heavily hispanic / latino but with people from all over.PVD is more white for sure, but there is also a large hispanic / latino population, and the universities bring in a lot of diverse and international students, although not sure how many of them stick around after graduating. I'm white so I can't speak much more to the experience of POC here, although my partner is south-asian and she's been enjoying living here so far.

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anoncamcam t1_j6536z0 wrote

Im from FL and I would not recommend Orlando but I guess it depends on what your goals are. There are just much better places in Florida to move to than Orlando. :) I live in downtown PVD and I like it overall but I do feel the city has really struggled getting the scene back post Covid. And in my opinion it has lost the soul to the city.

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messerdouglas t1_j654cwa wrote

Yeah I think most cities are struggling with the same problem since COVID. What areas of FL would you recommend outside of Orlando? I have family in New Smyrna Beach but it's mostly all white people there, although I'd still like to be fairly close to them if I move there.

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Lys0L t1_j67dw1c wrote

I just moved here from St. Petersburg FL. Tampa/St. Pete, in my FL native opinion, is the best area to live in FL, and it's not particularly close in my mind either. I was just ready for something new, but I love that city, always will.

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