There's a community called "little_details" that could also help you. If you're looking to write about a location that you've never been to before and you want the FACTS about what that place is really like, you can post a question asking about it there. It's very useful, and your questions are not limited to merely details on locations, you can ask about ANYTHING.

And when I write, it's usually a combination of reality and my own creations. For instance, if I were in your situation, I would suggest writing about a real location (because that'll be easier for you when describing it) with an orphanage that you've created yourself. I would not use the real name of the orphanage.