Kissimmee, known as the heart of Florida, features a distinctive fusion of small-town charm and the dynamic excitement of world-famous entertainment. Just a few minutes south of Orlando, Kissimmee finds itself in the middle of everything that is Florida, making the best of what Florida has to offer easily within reach. With a unique combination of outdoor adventures, amusement park attractions, and authentic small-town ambiance, Kissimmee provides an off the beaten path kind of fun, with limitless variety to satisfy any vacationer.
From cow-town origins, Kissimmee offers a chance to experience a different way of life, where rodeos, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing and hiking are the standard. Visit historic downtown Kissimmee, filled with antique shops, restaurants, a drug store, shopping, and a classic look at the local community. Enjoy the serenity of local parks, fishing and fun at the lakefront on Lake Toho, and unrivaled golf on one of Florida’s most celebrated courses.
If you're looking for an arts and culture community, Kissimmee has several galleries and museums. Check out the Kissimmee Sculpture Experience, which allows visitors to admire and interact with more than a dozen colorful and unique works that enhance the already picturesque tree-lined streets. Strolling through Downtown Kissimmee, visitors and locals alike can view murals depicting the city’s heritage that adorn several of the buildings. With a rich history of top-notch community theater, check out the performances at the Osceola Center for the Arts.
Kissimmee also offers themed mini-golf courses, go-kart tracks, and dinner show attractions. Get up close and personal with a 500-pound, 11-foot long alligator at Gatorland, or get a thrilling bird’s-eye view of Kissimmee’s sights and scenery with a hot air balloon ride. Live large at Kissimmee’s Old Town, an entertainment destination like no other. With restaurants, rides, specialty stores, karaoke bars and dance floors, Old Town attracts visitors from around the world, many who come to see the Saturday Nite Cruise, a 17-year-old tradition of classic cars cruisin’ the main streets of Old Town.
And for a sense of the Kissimmee community and a different spin on traditional tourist fare, plan your visit to coincide with one of the numerous cultural festivals and special events hosted by Kissimmee throughout the year. In addition, many major sporting events and big-name performers and entertainment come to Kissimmee’s Silver Spurs Arena and Osceola Heritage Park, so be sure to check the line-up for concerts and other shows and events.
Including overnight condos and rental homes, Kissimmee hosts an impressive array of hotels and lodging, accommodating the millions of visitors to the Central Florida area every year. Many hotels and motels offer free transportation to the attractions.
For more information, visit www.visitkissimmee.com.
Photos courtesy of Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Getting Around:
Although Kissimmee has many forms of area transportation, renting a car will allow you more freedom to travel to surrounding areas. Along the 192 tourist corridor you will find brightly colored Guidemarkers that will help you find many of the area's points of interest. Many of the hotels have guest service centers where you can get information on getting around town or you can visit one of the many visitor information centers along 192. You can also get free area maps and information at the Kissimmee-St Cloud Official Visitors Center.
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