The city of Pembroke Pines began as Dairy farm land that began to be developed shortly after second world war, as servicemen returned home looking for nice places to settle. Pembroke Pines’ path to what it is today is unusual in that was was pretty gradual at first. Instead of being incorporated as a city right off as many others had, it first became a village, then a town before finally becoming a city in 1960. It also endured a legal battle or two over boundaries before reaching this status as well. Despite these small and humble beginnings (the city was originally about a square mile), the 1990′s brought a huge boom as residents began leaving Miami-Dade in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. Today, the city has earned several awards citing it as a great place to live and many of its schools have also received 5 Star Awards.

Crunching the Numbers

As of last year, the population of the city stood at about 146,000 residents, a 6 percent increase over the last count. In Pembroke Pines, Hispanics make up the majority of the population, with about 41 percent of residents belonging to this group. The average age of a Pembroke Pines resident is around 36 years old, making them a couple of years younger than the Florida average and about 36 percent of rental homes have children under the age of 18 living in them. Residents of Pembroke Pines can expect, on average, to earn about 15,000 more per year than people in other area of Florida. Home values are higher in Pembroke Pines as well. If you’re debating between Miami apartment rentals and units in Pembroke Pines, there are many buildings to choose from.

Fun and Educational

As far as entertainment goes, Pembroke Pines has you covered. Many free events take place at the South Regional library, located on the BC South Campus. They have movies, workshops and even a writer’s club and poetry club. Events and movies change on a monthly basis to add variety. There was also a tech fair where kids were able to see a bomb disarming robot in action as well as things like the nook and all the other new electronics out. There are also plenty of parks close by as well as regular fairs that happen near the library’s grounds. Besides that, the city has a schedule of workshops, events and meetings to attend. Check their website at http://www.ppines.com to get more information. They also have a wealth of resources for residents choosing Pembroke Pines over Miami Condo rentals.

An Afternoon Out

If you’re looking for good shopping, you don’t need to look any further. Pembroke Pines is home to the Pembroke Lakes Mall, which features a wide variety of clothing stores, electronics, music, movies and more. They also feature a food court for those long days at the mall. In addition, there are plenty of targets and Wal-Marts in the area. For food, there is everything from Chilli’s to Longhorn Steak House and more. There are also plenty of fast food places, too, such as McDonald’s, Miami Subs and Checkers for those looking for a fast meal.

What was once a 1950′s Strawberry patch has grown into one of South Florida’s newest (and fast growing) cities. Wellington is named after the man who owned that land back in the 1950s and very slowly grew over the next few decades until the city was officially incorporated in 1995.

By the Numbers

When deciding whether or not you want to move into the rental homes of a certain area, a lot of people like to know more about the make up of the city, population and other demographics. Who lives here? Is the community diverse enough? Are there are enough families in the area? Maybe you’re looking for a place that’s made up of older residents. Well, here are some some facts to help you make your decision. Wellington is made up of over 50,000 residents, with the population having nearly doubled in the past decade. Most of the population of Wellington is made up of Caucasians with Hispanics making up the second largest group. The majority of Wellington’s population is also made up of married couples, with about 47 percent of households having a child or children under the age of 18. The average age of Wellington residents tends to be in the late 30′s, a couple of years younger than Florida’s average. From an economic stand point, Wellington’s average income is quite a bit higher than Florida’s average, so is the value of homes in the area and the cost of living.

Fun and Games

Wellington is an active community filled with events for its residents. There are movie nights, free concerts, comedy shows and much more. They also have many regular meetings where the community can gather to learn about important issues and have their say. These are soon to be held in brand new city hall building, which is scheduled to officially open to the public in January 2011. The city also keep its residents informed via twitter and facebook updates. If you would like to sign up for those, or get complete calendar listings, please visit the website at http://www.wellingtonfl.gov. Also, there is the Binks Forest Golf Course, which has been called one of the more unique courses in Florida. In addition, there is a lot of Equestrian activity in the area. You can also enjoy many nearby museums, an annual fair and near by Lion Country Safari.

Shopping, anyone?

Finally, you may be wondering what kind of shopping and dining exists in the area. One of the biggest shopping area there is The Mall at Wellington Green. It is open from 9 AM until 10 PM and features a wide variety of shops to choose from. From clothes, to health and beauty to books, electronics and more there is something for almost everyone. The official website, located at http://www.shopwellingtongreen.com/, gives a complete listing of all these stores. They also give information about upcoming sales and contact information. Finally, Wellington has a large selection of restaurants to choose from. There is Chinese (China Tokyo), American (TooJay’s Gourmet Deli) and Mexican food (Pyrogrill), among others.

Some interesting history is practically expected from most South Florida cities. After all, most of them have one! The Village of Bal Harbour is no exception. It only began getting settled in the 1920′s, but ended up playing a huge part of the second world war. The planners behind the city decided to hold off on their work for awhile and give the US government use of the land for a very cheap price. Soon, there were barracks, rifle ranges and prisoner of war camps all over what is, today, the village of Bal Harbor. After the war was over, the Government showed its appreciation by allowing the barracks to stay and be converted into Miami apartments for rent. After all the delays, planners wasted no time in getting these units ready and moving people in so that the city could be incorporated. It finally happened in the late 1940s.

Bal Harbour by the Numbers

So what kind of people live in the rental homes of Bal Harbour? Well, it’s not a very diverse community, with over 70% of its 3,000 plus residents being Caucasian. About 40 percent of households in Bal Harbour are made up of families, which gives it a lower average then most other places in South Florida. In addition, the average age of residents is in the 50′s. There’s some good news on the income front, as Bal Harbour residents have a higher average income than the rest of the country.

Fun in the Sun

Most activities in the area have to do with the water and outdoors. The city has a park that residents are allowed to make use of up until dusk each day. The park also includes a recreation center for residents and is available for rental for special events. If you’re looking for a day out on the water, there is the nearby Blue Waters Charters and Haulover Park Marina. These companies take customers out for fishing and boating day trips. There are also free Pilates classes on the beach, holiday events and kid’s camps. Check the visitors section of http://www.balharbourgov.com for a complete listing of all the events that are held there each month. They also have plenty of resources listed for people new to the area.

Exploring the Village

So, now you’re probably wondering what shopping in available in the area. Here, there is the Bal Habour Shops, which has a large variety of shops to suit most needs. There are book stores, Electronics stores and Personal Care stores in addition to the usual clothing stores in malls. You can get nails done at The Nail Spa at Bal Harbour or stop for some food and drink at Sante Fe News and Espresso. The site above has a full listing of all these stores and their phone numbers.

Even if you decide to choose one of the many Miami condos for rent out there, Bal Harbour is still an interesting place that is close enough to visit. Make sure no matter where in South Florida you end up, you take full advantage of all the area has to offer.

Ever heard of Floranada? You may not know the name, but you most likely have been there at some point if you live in South Florida. How? Because that was the original name of Oakland Park back when it first got started. Sadly, a hurricane struck in the 20′s, causing damage so extensive, the town was eventually forced into bankruptcy. It was settled again around the end of the same decade, only this time residents chose the name we know today.

Crunching Numbers

When you’re choosing rental homes, you want to know as much about the area as possible so you can be sure that it will be a good fit for you and your family. Here are some things to keep in mind as you consider Oakland Park. The population in Oakland park is over 33,000 people according to the latest information posted. The largest group living in the city are Caucasians, making up over half of the total population. The next largest group are Hispanics, making up a quarter of the population. If you’re a parent, you’ll be glad to know that around 25% of the city’s population consists of families with children under 18. Oakland Park Elementary serves the children of the area and has been named an historical building, dating back to the 1920′s. One other thing to keep in mind is house values and average income are lower in Oakland Park than in the rest of the state.

What to Do?

So if you were going to choose Oakland Park rentals what is there to do? The city doesn’t appear to have a large amount of activities listed, but they do have a lot of opportunities for community involvement. There are unsafe structures meetings, community beautification meetings, and some volunteer opportunities. The city’s website has a full schedule where you can keep up with any changes at http://www.oaklandparkfl.org. One really interesting thing, however, is the holiday event they have. It’s called An Evening with Santa and snow, sleds, crafts and more. They even allow parents to register their children for a special call from Santa himself. The child just has to be between the ages of 3 and 7 and live within the city to be eligible to get a call. Best of all, the event is free. The city also features Easterlin Park, which allows visitors to bring their dogs.

Food for Thought

So now that you know what the place has to offer, what about shopping and food at the end of the day? Oakland park has many of the same cuisines as the rest of South Florida. They also have Thai, Barbecue and German. These include Thai Spice, Flomingos and By Word of Mouth. If you choose Oakland over some of the Miami Condo Rentals out there, you will also be close to the annual Oktoberfest celebration, The Boulevard Shopping Center and The Shoppes of Oakland Forest as well as many of the same big name retail stores you see in other areas of South Florida.

If you’re looking for Miami condo rentals, North Bay Village just might be for you! Over the past decade, the city has almost exclusively focused their energies on constructing high rises. Still, there is a decent variety of single-family residences in the area for people relocating to check out as well. So, what is North Bay Village and what advantages does it have to offer you over other areas?

Under the Sea

Until about 70 years ago, the place that more than 8,000 people now call home each year was almost entirely underwater. Only a very small island was above sea level. Various dredging and filling projects lead to the area we have today, a series of several islands that once attracted some of the biggest celebrities out there.

The Basics

North Bay Village is unique in that there isn’t a snowbird population there. Its residents live on the island the entire year instead of just keeping homes there to escape the Northeast winters, so if that is what you’re looking for North Bay will probably not be a good fit. Families with minor children make up around 20% of the village’s population, while the average age of a resident falls in the mid-late 30s. The majority of North Bay’s population of Hispanic or White, with household incomes averaging about 39,000 a year. Tired of tons of construction everywhere you go? North Bay could be a nice break. Except for 3 years last decade, there is only one building constructed there a year, with many years seeing no construction at all.

Out on the Town

So what fun activities and services does North Bay have to offer the resident of its rental homes? It’s a pretty quiet place, but there are some things going on. North Bay sponsors an annual toy drive for needy children. In addition, they hold an annual Halloween party called Happy Haunts. It features a haunted house, entertainment and costume contests. You can see when events get added to the calendar by going to http://www.nbvillage.com/. The city also has a variety of committees for youth services, the arts and other interests. If you’re looking for a night out regularly, there’s Arturo Sandoval Jazz Club and Pasta Live, which is a karaoke place. Nature lovers will appreciate Pelican Harbor Seabird Rescue Station. It’s a place where visitors can walk among the birds as they are nursed back to health after injuries or other problems.

Retail Therapy

Shopping’s another consideration when deciding between North Bay (or anywhere else) and the many Miami apartment rentals you’ve probably already looked at. North Bay has plenty there, including a store for art lovers called Art and Pottery on the Bay. There are also a large variety of clothing stores, game stores and antique shops within 2 to 3 miles of the center of North Bay, so everything is conveniently located. Finally, we have restaurants. North Bay doesn’t have quite as much variety listed, but there are some good places ranging from Asian to Deli to South American Cuisine. These include the Oggi Cafe, Barchetta Ristorante Italiano and the Jumbo Buffet.

During your search for rental homes in South Florida, you may be thinking about checking out the city of Tamarac. Like much of South Florida, it is close to a lot of action and has some interesting history to it. Here are some fun facts and important information you will need when making your final decision.

Some Fun Facts About Tamarac

While there were already homes in the area, a single business man was actually responsible for helping the city to become what it is today. He was the one who bought up much of the land and gave the area its name (his business, Car-A-Mat, spelled backwards). Today, it is a thriving and active community of over 60,000 residents with a significant part of the population being married couples and families.

Fun in the Sun

People who choose Tamarac over the many Miami apartment rentals out there are people that like the outdoors and are active, as evidenced by all the great outdoor events and activities that go on here. There are a wide variety of gyms in the area as well as parks, beaches and gardens. Here, people take part in golf, sailing, surfing, diving and and fishing. The city is also very close to museums, Theaters and zoos. Besides that, the city itself holds occasional musical performances.

Reaching Out

One other nice thing about the city is its commitment to serving its residents needs. They hold monthly hearing screenings as well as free minor eyeglass repair. In addition to this, they also have monthly services to assist veterans and families dealing with children that have behavioral issues. You can get a full run down on all of these by visiting http://www.tamarac.org/. The city also has multiple social networking accounts to keep residents informed and connected.

Bon Apetit!

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With all the of the activities that Tamarac has to offer, you’re going to get hungry before too long! You’ll be happy to know that are dozens of restaurants to choose from. They serve everything from American cuisine to more exotic dishes. Some of these include Caribbean, Italian, Middle Eastern, Delis and Mexican food to name a few. There’s Milano’s Bakery, Pho Hoa Restaurant, Smoothie Jungle and Carl’s Seafood and Jamaican CSN.For people looking for fast food, there’s also a Char Hut in the area.

Retail Therapy and Spiritual Guidance

Finally, many people who are looking to move to a new area wonder about the shopping situation and where the places of worship are. One shopping center in the area is the Oakland Shopping Center. There is also 3 Lakes Plaza, Camino Square and Shops of Tamarac, among others. Between all of these places you are sure to find what you need. As for churches, Tamarac has the Saint Andrews Catholic Church, The Church of God, and Woodlands United Methodist, among others.

Picking a new home is tough. Keeping all this information in mind will make your decision of whether to move to Tamarac or go with Miami Condo rentals easier.

The city of Aventura (Spanish for “Adventure”) was named after a comment one of the original developers made. What started as a group of Miami Condos for rent built over what was once swampland would soon become a busy city with plenty of high-end stores to choose from.

Humble Beginnings

Despite the fact that Aventura is its own city since, its fire rescue services are supplied by Miami-Dade and most official addresses in the area are still considered Miami addresses. They do, however, have their own police department, which was founded in the late 90s.

If you’re looking for rental homes in Aventura, you are probably wondering about the weather there. Like much of South Florida, Aventura has fairly mild winters and hot summers that are often cooled off by breezes and rain. Residents can expect quite a bit of rain during the summer, with the winter being much drier.

Just the Facts

Another thing people want to know when looking for a place to live is the city’s demographics. There are around 30,000 residents living here, according to the latest information available and many of these are single people are couples with out children. In fact, only around 12% of the homes here have a child living in them. Despite that, there are quite a few events in the city for children.

Let Aventura Entertain You

So what about entertainment? Shopping? The city’s official website has a full listing of events, meetings and government office closings on the website, http://www.cityofaventura.com/ There are a wide variety of musical events held every month, as well as a winter camp and Residents can also get important announcements via the city’s twitter account.

As far as shopping goes, Aventura is home to the Aventura Mall, an upscale mall featuring over 2 million square feet of stores on 3 different levels. Besides having plenty of clothing stores such as Macy’s, a food court and other shops, the mall also features a 24-screen movie theater. Aventura also has the Mall at 163rd Street. This shopping center has gone through many changes since it opened in the 1950′s. Now, a large part of the space is taken up by a Wal-Mart Supercenter, an Office Depot and a Ross. In addition, the city also has Loemann’s Fashion Island, The Promenade Shops and The Concorde Plaza. There is also a wide variety of jewelry stores and art galleries to explore as well as some book stores.

Fine Dining

Finally, what about the food situation? Aventura, like many Florida cities, has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, serving not only American cuisine but foods from other cultures as well. They have Asian food, Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood and more. Some of the highest ranked places based on visitor polls are Bourbon Steak, Mortan’s of Chicago, P.F Chang’s China Bistro, La Estancia Agentina and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.

If you are looking for an area with plenty of shopping, a small population and lots of music, consider visiting Aventura when looking for Miami Apartments for rent.