Opa-locka, FL 1,228 Apartments for Rent

What do Amelia Earhart, a German zeppelin, and 2 Fast 2 Furious have in common? Opa-locka, Florida.

To be exact, Amelia Earhart took off from the Miami airport (conveniently close to Opa-locka), but the zeppelin and Vin Diesel have both touched the same ground. With that, Opa-locka is a neighborly community in Miami-Dade County. Despite the rumored crime activity, it is a pretty decent community where cheap but attractive apartments and rental homes are still available. The city works hard to keep its residents happy, and prospective members would do well to visit their website. One of the bonuses of Opa-locka is the many kinds of public transportation available that will take you anywhere – literally! You are just a hop, step and jump from great shopping, quality restaurants, nightlife and, most importantly, the beach. When it comes to leisure and shopping, the Fort Lauderdale area is one of the best spots in Florida. Opa-locka is situated near enough to the ultra-metro area of Miami, but far enough to steer clear of the rat race, making for the best of both worlds.

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Moving to the City

Before you search for apartments in Opa-locka, it's a good idea to scope out the area you want to move to. Search the internet for information on living costs, apartments and job availability. If it's going to be a short-distance move, you might want to drive there and stay for a day to familiarize yourself with the area and experience it firsthand.

Opa-locka is a small community of about four-square miles, and although it does not have distinct neighborhoods it has quite a colored past. The city Opa-locka was initially designed in 1926 using an Arabian Nights theme and constructing many buildings in the Moorish architecture style. If it is your dream to ride the dunes with Charlton Heston than Opa-locka might get you in the mood. Unfortunately though, a past hurricane destroyed some of the beautiful structures, but you can still find great examples like the Opa-locka city hall.

Sharazad Blvd: One of the benefits of living in Miami-Dade County is that most rental homes are in the Sharazad Blvd. area and situated next to plazas and shopping districts, most of which are within walking distance, so you can simply walk where you want to go. The most expensive (and safest!) apartments are those closest to the coastline. These include apartment complexes and condominiums with all the amenities such as pools, gyms, two bedrooms, attached wash house. You're also very close to Sherbondy Park, where you can toss a frisbee, lay in the grass or just enjoy being in the tropical climate.$$$

NW 135th ST/NW 22nd Ave: This area is south of the Sharazad Blvd. neighborhood and you are more likely to find a good deal on a rental apartments. So, if budget is a prime concern, then you will want to scour these blocks and snag the best deal. This area is mainly populated by one and two bedroom apartments. $$

Opa-locka and Environs

Opa-locka, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami have great transportation links, which makes it easy to zip from one to the other. If you plan on living in this area, you will find that traveling to and from work, school or shopping can be a pleasant experience. Opa-locka, Lauderdale Lakes and Palm Aire are all on US-1 and en route to the main bus depot, where bus routes from at least five different areas converge. You can catch a bus straight to the Ft. Lauderdale International Airport from Opa-locka, as it is only 17 miles away. The only downfall of public transit is it might not be so appealing when temperature and the humidity start to rise.

Bike is also a great option here and bike paths are marked on most roads. Also all buses have bike racks for people who want a rest from pedaling, or who have long distances to travel. Cabs are available 24/7, but the cheapest way to travel is by bus. They are always 15 to 30 minutes apart and get you to the most popular shopping districts and help you conserve the most energy!

The one word I would use to describe South Florida is convenience. Convenience stores, convenient shopping, dependable transportation and pleasant dining.

Living in Opa-locka

Opa-Locka is a small city but has a lot of character and quite an interesting past. It is also a priority of the city of Opa-Locka to work on improving it's amenities for its residents. With wonderful parks and a new recreation center in store, moving to Opa-Locka is definitely no sacrifice!