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Kissimmee is located in Central Florida about twelve miles east of the home of the most famous rodent in the world and south of Orlando. Retirees began being attracted to the area in the 1950's and the opening of Walt Disney World made this area a world renowned vacation destination.
Mickey Mouse, one of the world’s most lovable creatures, makes his home in Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World. Staying in a vacation rental home or condo in Kissimmee and its suburbs, such as Davenport and Haines City, makes access to Disney World, as well as Sea World, Cypress Gardens, Universal Studios and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center, easy and fast.
Some of the areas major attractions:
Cirque du Soleil® La Nouba™
Discovery Cove Orlando
Downtown Disney
Gatorland
Richard Petty Driving Experience @ Walt Disney World® Speedway
Ripley's Believe It Or Not!® Orlando Odditorium
SeaWorld® Orlando
Skull Kingdom
Titanic, Ship of Dreams -The Exhibition
Universal Studios®
WALT DISNEY WORLD®
including Magic Kingdom Park, MGM Studios,
Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and EPCOT Center
Wonderworks
Nearby attractions:
Cypress Gardens
Kennedy Space Center
But you will find Kissimmee has much to offer on its own. From cattle ranches and bass lakes to the historic downtown district, Kissimmee is a unique treasure for residents and tourists alike.
Old Town Kissimmee is a living nostalgia. The city was founded in 1878 and many buildings in the downtown area have been well maintained. Markinson's Hardware claims to be the state's first retail hardware store. Unique shops, restaurants, amusements and cobbled streets impress the tourists. Historic downtown is the oldest and the largest shopping area and offers nightlife, as well.
Dining out in Kissimmee can mean enjoying cuisine from around the world or attending one of the dinner shows such as Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction, Capone’s Dinner and Show and Medieval Nights Dinner and Tournament.
Super attractions and famous characters surround Kissimmee, but it also has many special places for nature lovers. Lake Kissimmee State Park, which is 5,000 acres, includes a reconstructed cow camp of the 1870's. History comes alive with re-enactments of cattle herding and the ways of life in the 19th century. There are hiking trails, a fishing pier, observation towers and lakes which are home to ospreys, cranes and alligators. Wildlife, including the bald eagle, are easily spotted in the park.
Golf is a favorite recreational activity for those days when you aren’t at the theme parks. You’ll find dozens of public golf courses of varying skill levels in Kissimmee and surrounding areas. If you have an angler in the family, Kissimmee offers some of the best freshwater fishing in the world. The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is recognized worldwide for its trophy largemouth bass and proudly holds several bass tournament world records. Other outdoor recreational opportunities include hiking, nature tours and airboat adventures.
Last but not least, Kissimmee is home to one of the largest rodeos in the country. The Silver Spurs Rodeo is now housed in a state of the art indoor arena and will hold the 119th Silver Spurs Rodeo of Champions in February, 2007.
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