Things to do in Kissimmee
Visit Kissimmee for a trip filled with sunshine, theme parks and outdoor excursions
Just 30 minutes from Orlando and Bay Lake, this family-friendly city in Osceola County, Florida offers abundant opportunities for adventure. Kissimmee is still close to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, but it also offers off-the-beaten-track adventures and a charming downtown. Get sky high in a hot air balloon, zip-line excursions, water sports on Lake Tohopekaliga and Everglades-inspired excitement at every turn. Other options include hiking and picnicking in the city’s many outdoor parks, plus Cocoa Beach is 1 hour away. Top it all that off with nearly endless sunshine and you get an unforgettable vacation filled with adrenaline.
Old Town—Not Just For Shopping
Kissimmee’s Old Town offers quintessential charm with a chance to shop, admire the colorful buildings and enjoy a tasty meal. What sets it apart, however, is that you can also get catapulted high into the sky at 100 miles per hour on the Old Town Slingshot ride—one of many thrilling rides in the area. On Saturday nights, catch the weekly classic car cruises, when the brick streets of Old Town serve as a parade ground for pre-1975 hot rods, street rods and antique cars. Get your toes tapping to the live music from oldies bands performing on Old Town's main stage.
Flying Through the Swamps
If you’re a thrill seeker, book an airboat tour to experience the closest you’ll get to a magic carpet ride over some of the wildest, most untouched swamp scenery in the world. Airboats don't actually fly, of course, but the time sure seems to fly by when your family zips over the pristine headwaters of area swamps. On the 1-hour-plus airboat swamp tours, you'll see Florida the way it used to be sans houses, roads or traffic. You'll glide through mysterious swampland and see incredible wildlife—alligators, deer, bald eagles, wild boars, whooping cranes and more—in their natural habitat. Airboat swamp tours operate out of Kissimmee Lake or Lake Tohopekaliga, each about 20 minutes from downtown.
Park and Picnic
With all the thrills and chills available in Kissimmee, your family will enjoy a little down time—and you can find it in spades at the dozens of wilderness preserves and lakefront parks in the area. Expect modest entrance fees, and pack a picnic. For white sands and fishing, try St. Cloud Lakefront Park near beautiful East Lake Tohopekaliga. Picnic under the pavilions, hike the winding paths, toss in a fishing line or play at the Splash Pad—or simply do it all. Head for the north end of Shingle Creek Park if you're ready for something more serene—it's a tranquil park in a citrus grove.
Take Flight and Soar
If you seek a different perspective on Kissimmee, soar up into the wild blue yonder in a Kissimmee whirlybird or plane. Board a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter or even a World War II Fighter Trainer to get an aerial view of Walt Disney World, Epcot, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and the beautiful Butler Chain of Lakes. You'll have lots of aviation tour companies to choose from, each offering different rides, and some that even let you take the controls. All offer a family-fun experience you'll be talking about for years.
Up, Up And Away
If you like the idea of a bird's-eye view of Kissimmee but can't stand that aircraft noise, you're in luck. Get a lift on a hot air balloon and soar thousands of feet in the air, wafting above the city in relative silence. You'll get a splendid overview of Central Florida's orange groves and swampland, and your family may even be lucky enough to spot some wildlife. Depending on the company you pick, you may be issued flight certificates and champagne when the adventure is done.
Hiking Kissimmee
With its expansive wildlife preserves and subtropical lush landscapes, Central Florida is a hiker’s paradise. Take in fascinating vistas while trekking the Kissimmee section of the 100-mile Florida Trail that takes serious hikers through Florida cattle country and the Kissimmee River floodplain. You can also look for herons, whooping canes and bald eagles along the Great Florida Birding Trail, a network of 500 trails that crisscrosses the state. In the Kissimmee area, you'll hike through many of the city's famous preserves and parks, like the Disney Wildlife Preserve, Gatorland, Forever Florida and more.
More to Explore
Best Restaurants in Kissimmee
Haitian, Dominican, Caribbean and Italian—you’ll find it all.
Boating on Lake Toho
This fishing hot spot is full of trophy-sized bass and nature watching for all.