The history of the Orlando area dates back to the height of the Seminole Wars in approximately 1838. It was at this time that the U. S. Army built Fort Gaitlin south of the present-day city to protect settlers from Indian attacks. By 1840, a small community named Jernigan had sprouted up around Fort Gaitlin. The community was beginning to expand northward by 1856 and officially changed its name to Orlando.

The most interesting part of Orlando's history centers around the origin of its name. One story says that Judge James Speer, who worked heavily toward getting the city designated as the county seat, named Orlando after a man he had once employed. Another version is that Judge Speer named the city after Shakespeare's character in "As You Like It." A third version has a Mr. Orlando traveling to Tampa with a caravan of oxen. On the way, he died and was buried. Thereafter, people would come by and say, "There lies Orlando."

The final and most common story involves the army. A sentinel named Orlando Reeves was guarding a camp during the Seminole Wars when he spied a "log" floating toward him-a common Indian ploy. He fired his gun to warn his fellow soldiers, but was killed as Indians began to fire arrows, ambushing the camp. According to the story, the south side of Lake Eola was the chosen site of Orlando's grave.

The communities of Bay Hill and Doctor Phillips enjoy the same temperate weather that the city of Orlando enjoys. Central Florida's subtropical climate is one of its biggest attractions, with a pleasant 72.4 degrees as its average annual temperature. The beautiful landscape, the mild climate and the incredible attractions lure huge numbers of tourists and new residents annually, as well as numerous celebrity residents.

Arnold Palmer is the best-known resident of the community of Bay Hill and he proudly calls Bay Hill Club and Lodge his home course. The club hosts a PGA Tour tournament called the Bay Hill Invitational. The tournament's list of winners -- including such greats as Fred Couples, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson -- reads like a "Who's Who" of golf. Bay Hill is a private club, but members and guests of the beautiful 65-room Bay Hill Lodge can play the "Herculean" 7,207-yard course. Non-golfers will find plenty to relish at Bay Hill as well. The lodge's salon and spa offer top-notch ways to relax and its meeting facilities are an unparalleled venue for business matters.

Doctor Phillips and Bay Hill's younger residents have access to quality education. Orange County Public Schools is the fourth largest school district in Florida and the 14th largest in the nation. Schools such as Bay Meadows Elementary School, Chain of Lakes Middle School and Dr. Phillips High School offer students superior education from the beginning of their educational careers. Dr. Phillips High School, for instance, has been recognized with Five Star School awards and the Golden Apple Award. In terms of higher education, residents can choose from the University of Orlando, the University of Central Florida, Winter Park Tech or even the National College of Oriental Medicine.

Orange County offers residents plenty of recreational opportunities. There are more than 55 parks and recreation areas within the county including the Tibet-Butler Preserve, which promotes environmental education through the Vera Carter Environmental Center; Magnolia Park, where kids can have their faces painted and make arts and crafts during Wacky Wednesdays; and the Hal Scott Preserve, which includes miles of unspoiled wilderness next to the shoreline of the Econlockhatchee River.

If you don't find enough entertainment in Bay Hill and Doctor Phillips, you can always venture into Orlando, where you can find the top five theme parks in a list recently composed by Consumer Reports. Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando all call the city home. If you're not up for a theme park, you can try a Mango Sugar Glo massage at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, take in an Orlando Magic basketball game or shop for bargains at Belz Designer Outlets. Orlando also has a wide sampling of the best cuisine in the world, including the Melting Pot, Emeril's Orlando, Roy's Orlando and the Palm Restaurant. Culture is easily found in the form of the SunTrust Broadway Series and the Festival of Orchestras, which presents "six internationally acclaimed orchestras" during the fall.

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