Living in Lake Nona

LAKE NONA

LIVING

IN LAKE NONA

BY KATHERINE FOOTE

When I first moved to Lake Nona in 2017, I knew that it would be an incredible place. With all of the plans for the Lake Nona Town Center, I was really excited to watch it grow. Now, in 2021, the footprint of Lake Nona has expanded drastically, and I am more excited now than ever to see what's next.

One of my favorite things to do within our community is to check out new places to visit, eat, and explore. So, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite things around town; let's go!

EXPLORING LAKE NONA TOWN CENTER

As I mentioned already, The Lake Nona Town Center is one of the ever-evolving locations in Lake Nona that I've loved visiting and watching it grow. My favorite thing about the town center is that it's a one-stop shop for all of your recreational needs. Seriously, when I say that I visit for date night, the farmers market, AND my hair and facial appointments, I mean it. While I can walk from my house, I usually opt to drive, primarily because of the unpredictable Florida rainstorms. Plus, there's SO much parking it's effortless to park, explore, and drive home. A FOODIE'S DREAM COME TRUE

As you may already know, I'm a big foodie. It's incredibly important to me to have fun, tasty, and trendy restaurants nearby to visit with my boyfriend, friends, or visiting family. I'm happy to report that the options in Lake Nona are incredible — and there's more coming! Some of my absolute favorites are Chroma, Maki Hibachi (the best sushi in Lake Nona, hands down), and Park Pizza. If you're planning a date night, be sure to check out one of my latest blogs, The Best Date Night Spots in Lake Nona, on www.creativelykatherine.com.

STAYING FIT AND HAVING FUN

One of my favorite ways to relax, explore, and spend time is through exercise and active hobbies. From heading to the gym in the mornings to playing a round of golf at a nearby course, I always love to find ways to stay active and try new things.

In Lake Nona, there is a wide variety of options to stay busy and active. The Lake Nona Performance Club recently opened up in the heart of the Lake Nona Town Center. This 130,000-square-foot facility has everything that you need to stay active and to meet your local com-

munity. While I typically stick to weights and cardio and the occasional spin class, they have endless amounts of amenities for you to enjoy, like an extensive rock climbing facility, virtual golf, a meditation spa, and more.

Another of my favorite spots is the Nona Adventure Park. You may be wondering, "Katherine, do you wakeboard?" And while the answer is no, I absolutely love stopping by and enjoying watching those who do. Plus, they have an Aqua Park, which looks like a set from the ABC show Wipeout. And as someone who has experienced the Aqua Park first hand, I can assure you that wiping out occurs often.

TRAVELING AND ADVENTURING

When it comes to travel, there really isn't a better spot to live in Orlando than Lake Nona. With only a 10 minute drive to the airport, traveling has never been easier. Whether you're looking to hop on a flight for a quick weekend away or you're hosting friends and family, it really makes everything that much easier when you're close to the airport.

Plus, the proximity of Lake Nona to the rest of Orlando is fantastic. You can easily get across the city to spend a day at the theme parks or even the beach!

OUR COMMUNITY

I know this sounds cheesy, but something that I really love about living in Lake Nona is the sense of community. When my boyfriend, Chase, and I moved here from Maryland, we didn't know many people. Thanks to our great community in Laureate Park and Lake Nona in general, we've met so many great friends and continue to explore on a regular basis. The Lake Nona community does a great job hosting local celebrations and events, like the incredible fireworks show for the 4th of July each year and even random celebrations like the Pineapple Festival that they recently hosted. It's a great community, and it's in a great location to be able to explore the rest of Orlando. That's a wrap on a few of my favorite things about the Lake Nona area. If you are planning your move to the Lake Nona area and are looking for recommendations or advice, please send me an email or message me on Instagram @katherine_foote. I'm here to help in any way that I can!

If you're already lucky enough to call yourself a Lake Nona resident, let me know on Instagram your favorite things about living in Lake Nona—I'd love to know. l

Follow Katherine's Blog, Creatively Katherine: www.creativelykatherine.com and on Instagram: @katherine_foote