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Home to Walt Disneys famed theme parks, Orlando, Florida is a growing city with diversity. For anyone relocating to Orlando, this information provides a snapshot of the city.

The county seat of Orange County, Orlando is Florida's largest inland city. In 2005, 213,223 people lived in this mid-size city, a 14.7% increase in five years by U.S. Census estimates. In the decade after the 1990 census, the citizenry had grown by 12.7%. Encompassing four counties, Orlando is the hub of "Greater Orlando" with its 1,933,255 people. The average age of Orlando residents was 33.2 years by 2005 census reports. The citys population was made up of 41.7% White non-Hispanic residents, 35% African American and 20% Hispanic. The average household size was 2.3 people. Families made up 54% of city households. Orlando supports large minority populations and has an above average percentage of foreign born citizens for a city in Florida. A large student population can be found in Orlando with the University of Central Florida and its full-time enrollment of 26,717 students. Valencia Community College has another 15,792 full-time students.

People living in Orlando made below average income in 2005. The average household had earnings of $36,699, about $10,000 below the national average. Median family income lagged by over $15,000 with $40,143 yearly. The most common jobs for both men and women were in accommodation and food services, each providing 12% of each genders workforce. Poverty was slightly above average, affecting 15% of the citys people. Greater Orlando had a very low jobless rate of 2.8% in October, 2006. The area economy thrives on the tourism and convention industry, especially with its Disney world attractions. Orlando is one of the busiest for conferences and conventions, home to the second-largest convention complex in the U.S. Manufacturing is another big sector. Because of its location near "Space Coast" and the Kennedy Space Center, many high-tech companies have been relocating to Orlando and the surrounding area. Lockheed-Martin has a large manufacturing facility for missile systems, aeronautical craft and related research. Other notable engineering firms include multiple U.S. Air Force facilities, GE, AT&T, Boeing, HP, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Systems.

With an increase in the job market, people relocating to the Orlando area impacted a dramatic growth in urban sprawl. As a result, housing prices have soared. In 2005, Greater Orlando home values climbed 34% in just one year. By the summer of 2006, homes surged to $254,900 on average, according to the National Association of Realtors. Within the city, the 2005 median home value was $194,300, according to U.S. Census reports. That figure is nearly double what it was five years prior. Orlandos housing landscape is changing, with 31% of the citys homes built since 1990. Renters occupied over three of every five housing units. With 56% of renters spending 30% or more of their take home pay on housing, the average rent was $808 per month in 2005. There is a serious risk for personal and property crime in the city of Orlando. The FBI Crime Index reports Orlandos crime has been about three times worse than the national average since 1999. The city ranked as the 25th most dangerous city in America in 2006, according to Morgan Quitno Press, an independent research and publishing company.

Anyone relocating to Orlando will find a warm and humid subtropical climate. It can either hot and rainy from May until October, or cooler and drier with moderate temperatures the rest of the year. During the humid season, daytime highs average in the 90s with heat indices as high as 110 degrees. During the summer, violent storms will appear, bringing high wind, heavy rain, hail and lightening. The humidity is lower in winter with an average low of 50 in January and highs around 72 degrees. and temperatures are more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. Orlando records an average rainfall of 50.6 inches annually, most of it during the hurricane season. While the city faces a considerable hurricane risk, the area is safer than South Florida's urban corridor or other coastal areas. Hurricanes are likely to weaken before reaching Orlando. The Orlando-area has experienced tornado activity that is slightly higher than the rest of Florida, and 96% greater than the U.S. average.

The Orlando area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions, including the Walt Disney world Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea world Orlando. The Disney resort is the area's largest attraction with its Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney-MGM Studios. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park is in nearby Winter Haven. Disney operates an animation studio at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando. The city is also known as the capital of pop, mainstream and alternative rock music, with music acts like Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, N-SYNC, Backstreet Boys, Creed, and Matchbox Twenty. The NBA Orlando Magic is the citys one professional sports franchise. The Citrus Bowl is also located here, home of the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Florida Citrus Bowl). Orlando is the birthplace of sit-com star Delta Burke.

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Avid travelers are full of wanderlust and refuse to give up their love for exploring the world, even when busy raising a family. And why should they? Traveling with children can be a joy and taking the family on holidays near and far can produce a lifetime of unforgettable memories.

Its true, however, that enjoying a vacation with kids is a bit different than an all-adult excursion. Thats not necessarily a bad thing! Traveling with children requires a bit more thought and you may be slightly restricted as to your choice of destination. But all the other perks of introducing your children to different world cultures far outweigh the sacrifices you may need to make until they grow up and you can venture off on your own once again.

Finding the Best Fit for Your Family

Where you choose to take your family on holiday can depend on lots of factors including your preference of activities, like sightseeing, sporting/active pursuits, cultural opportunities, and so forth. Begin your search for a good holiday destination by considering the things youd like to do while youre away from home. These may be activities you enjoy on a regular basis or things you rarely get to do except when youre on vacation. Are you:

An adventurous family? If so, choose a destination where you can participate in fun and daring activities like trekking, climbing, diving, jet boating, and camping under the stars. (Provided the age of your children can support these activities.) You may be just the right family for an African safari or a trip to South Americas Andes Mountains. Closer to home, your family may be ideal for a camping trip through the National Parks or a whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River.

An artsy, cultural family? If so, select a vacation destination that can provide your fill of cultural activities. Big cities are always ideal, because you can usually find plenty of museums, theaters, concert venues, and such. Try one of the great cities of North America, like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, or Vancouver. Or, if you prefer, choose a wonderful, historic European city, like London, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Moscow, Barcelona, or Budapest. all have something a little different to offer.

A fun-loving family? If so, youll want to travel to a destination where your family can play together from morning til night. Maybe you enjoy amusement and water parks, taking in a local major league sporting event, playing volleyball on the beach, tobogganing through the snow, or taking part in fun and unique local festivals. There are a number of wonderful places for fun-seeking families to visit including resorts like Walt Disney world or the other Disney properties, the wacky beaches of Southern California, or even a quaint ski village in the Alps. The beauty of being a fun-loving family is that you can probably turn just about any vacation into a rollicking good time for all!

Age-Appropriate Holidays

The ages of your kids will help determine where you head for your next holiday. Teenagers can do just about anything.but will they? Be sure you allow your fickle teenager to be a part of the planning so that when you arrive at your destination, theyll be looking forward to participating in the activities theyve read about during the planning process. Be ready to compromise. Your teens first choice may not be yours, but perhaps you can find a destination that has a little something for both of you.

Traveling with elementary school-aged children can be a treat! Unlike their teen counterparts, theyre excited about everything, eager to learn, and willing to try new things. Kids from about age 7 to 12 are the easiest with whom to travel as theyll make the most of their new adventures.

Trips with babies and toddlers can be challenging. Theres so much to plan before you depart and it often seems as if you need to carry the entire house with you on your trip. Remember, unless youre going to a third-world country, you can buy diapers and other essentials when you reach your destination. Pack lightly and choose a simple destination, like a beach, where you can enjoy fun in the sun. all-inclusive resorts, found in places like the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, often have special programs for toddlers and also offer certified in-room babysitting services so that parents can enjoy a dinner or evening alone.

Remember not to push your kids too far. Little ones have a limit. So do teenagers. When youre tempted to do just one more museum or spend just a half-hour more in the sun, consult your kid. If theyve already said theyre tired or hot or cold, call it a day. Your trip will run much more smoothly when your children are happy.

Food

While domestic travel rarely presents a problem when it comes to food even for the pickiest of eaters international destinations where the food is foreign can be a real challenge for parents traveling with children.

Even the well-traveled child has likes and dislikes and you cant expect your child to go without a meal. Thats why its always best to bring along a few staples just in case. Peanut butter is always a good bet, as is cereal, especially the small boxes that fit easily in your suitcase. Crackers work well, too. Any of those foods can be eaten at any meal and their familiarity will provide comfort to a child whos overwhelmed by the foreign-ness of the food on the table in front of them.

Also be sure that the food and water your child is consuming is safe. Kids are more prone than adults to intestinal disorders caused by impure water and other food-related concerns. Theres nothing worse than a sick kid in a foreign country!

Plan Well

Truly, good planning can be the difference between a good holiday and a disastrous one. When youre traveling with adults, its okay to leave things to chance, like a hotel reservation or a train ticket. With a family, however, the more complete your plans, the better.

That doesnt mean, of course, that you need to schedule every minute of every day. Kids are spontaneous and just when you think an activity or attraction might consume 15 minutes of your time, your children may love it and you may wind up spending an hour or two at that particular task. Go with the flow and let your children take the lead. Thanks to them, you may discover things youd have never found on your own!

David Beart is the owner of http://www.professorshouse.com . This site covers a wide selection of topics including relationships, family, cooking and other household issues.