Kissimmee, Florida is a family friendly destination known for its proximity to world-famous attractions, outdoor adventures, and a variety of recreational activities. Walt Disney World Resort is located just minutes from Kissimmee, and the Universal Orlando Resort is similarly situated so that visitors staying in Kissimmee can easily travel to it. Outdoor trails wind past Kissimmee Lakefront Park, and airboat tours take visitors on a thrilling adventure through the Everglades. Explore the many dining, shopping, and entertainment options in the Kissimmee area. Sometimes called the “vacation capital of the world,” Kissimmee is a place worth visiting. Contact Gray Line Worldwide today to learn more about traveling to Kissimmee, Florida!
Tour Expert, Gray Line Orlando
Old Town Kissimmee has been a staple of “Old Florida” nostalgia for over 30 years. A lively district with restaurants, boutiques, and attractions, Old Town is filled with retro architecture and classic carnival rides. With more than 70 shops, the community’s highlights include the Old Town General Store (stocked with Americana-themed merchandise), Black Market Minerals (specializing in gemstones and handmade jewelry), and The Groovy Store (featuring retro items from the 1960s and 1970s). Dining options include Shoney’s Old Town, El Cilantrillo, and dozens of pizza and fast food venues.
A beautiful public park on the shores of Lake Tohopekaliga (often shortened to Lake Toho), Kissimmee Lakefront Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities and amenities for visitors of all ages. With walking trails, a one-mile paved sidewalk along Lakeshore Blvd, and fishing piers, guests can engage in the kind of fun they’re interested in. Boat rentals are available at Big Toho Marina, which is also equipped with ramps and a bait shop. Colorful playgrounds are scattered along the lakefront, and picnic pavilions are frequently used for gatherings, outdoor meals, and birthday parties. Don’t miss the 50-foot tall Monument of States, a structure made from stones collected from every U.S. state and a symbol of national unity.
To explore the Florida Everglades in a thrilling way, book an airboat ride! Airboats (also called “swamp boats” or “bayou boats”) are flat-bottomed watercraft that use an aircraft-style propeller for propulsion. Since they have no moving parts below the waterline, airboats glide over shallow waters and marshes without disturbing delicate ecosystems. Many guided tours will include commentary from experienced captains and wildlife sightings of alligators, otters, and bird species. Excursions typically run both in the daytime and evening, and many providers cater to families, which makes an airboat ride a great way to bond and explore the area.
Often dubbed the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland was founded in 1949 as a 110-acre park that showcases a large collection of alligators and crocodiles. With thousands of alligators calling the park home, guests can watch live shows, including the Gator Jumparoo, Alligators: Legends of the Swamp, and Up-Close Encounters. The Screamin’ Gator Zip Line lets guests glide over the park across five zip-lines while the park’s petting zoo provides a more intimate way for visitors to engage with animals. Gatorland cares for rare white alligators, which are born with genetic mutations that affect their pigmentation. Only about 100 to 200 albino alligators exist globally, which means that Gatorland is a critical location for keeping these creatures safe.
If you aren’t planning to hit the Disney parks, Disney Springs is the next best (and free!) experience. Technically located within the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Disney Springs is a shopping, dining, and entertainment district with four themed areas: The Marketplace, Town Center, The Landing, and West Side. With over 150 retail outlets – including the flagship World of Disney store, the largest place in the world to purchase Disney merchandise – and 69 dining establishments, guests of all ages will be busy for hours. Attractions like the Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar and Splitsville Luxury Lanes are also popular with residents and visitors alike.
Shingle Creek Regional Park is a sprawling 1,000 acre urban oasis that serves as the northernmost headwaters of the Florida Everglades. With multi-use trails that span the 23-mile creek, visitors can explore by foot or bicycle while water lovers can paddle kayaks and canoes. In the park, make a visit to Steffee Landing, a replica of an 18th-century American pirate ship available for waterfront dining and exploration. Similarly, Pioneer Village is a living history museum showcasing life in 1800s Florida. Complete with restored buildings and live reenactments, the village introduces guests to what life was like during Florida’s past. Finally, anglers can take solace in the dedicated fishing pier and easy access to canoe and kayak launch sites.
The home ground for the Osceola Magic, the Silver Spurs Arena offers a fun venue for fans of basketball and the NBA G League. As the developmental team for the Orlando Magic, the Osceola Magic were 2021 NBG G League champions and 2024 Eastern Conference Champions. The arena regularly hosts various sporting events, concerts, rodeos, and other live performances. Holding roughly 11,400 people, the stadium is accessible via public transportation. Grab tickets for the Silver Spurs Rodeo, an event showcasing various rodeo contests, including bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, and barrel racing.
A prominent shopping destination near Kissimmee, the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets is an upscale retail center situated just one mile from Walt Disney World Resort. Opened in 2000, the mall was part of a trend towards offering discounted luxury products in a shopping environment that combined outdoor and indoor elements. With over 160 outlet stores, the mall is home to international brands and designer names, including Burberry, Prada, and Tory Burch. Considered one of the most upscale of its kind in the United States, the establishment also holds the distinction of being the only luxury outlet center in the Orlando area.
Located in Kissimmee proper, Celebration Town is a Walt Disney Company property built in the 1990s. It has been hailed as one of America’s prettiest neighborhoods due to its classic Southern town architecture. Guests can visit Celebration Town Center where a variety of boutique shops and restaurants dot its tree-lined streets. Popular dining options include the Celebration Town Tavern, which is known for its New England style seafood and Americana classics. The town holds several events that visitors can participate in, including the Father Daughter Dance and the Celebration Holiday Home Tour. Grab breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company and purchase a souvenir from Gypsy Moon Market before you go!
Part of the larger Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Orlando is a multifaceted entertainment destination with roller coasters, immersive scenery, and interactive activities for the whole family. Based on popular Hollywood movies, Universal Studios Orlando’s attractions span the gamut from The Harry Potter films, Terminator franchise, The Simpsons, and more. Made up of the Universal Studios lot proper, the location also includes Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which is home to Marvel Super Hero Island and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you’re visiting in the summer months, don’t miss a trip to Universal’s Volcano Bay, a water park that uses unique TapuTapu technology for scheduling ride times.
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