Things to Do in Kissimmee, Florida with Kids
We’ve just got home from a Christmas trip to Florida! It was incredible to visit somewhere that goes so all out for Christmas {Florida has to be one of the fun places!} yet to have the beautiful bright blue skies, warmth and tropical palms all around. I’ve been sharing our trip on Instagram but wanted to write some blog posts for ease of reading back and planning at a later date if you’re looking to go…
First up: we flew into Tampa airport {flights were better prices/times compared to Orlando but Orlando would be closer} and then spent a few days in Kissimmee. Whether you’re planning a trip to the theme parks, Disney and Universal are all a stones throw away, or not - we didn’t on this trip, Kissimmee in central Florida, next to Orlando, has so much to offer for all ages and interests and makes for a great base.
* I was hosted by Visit Kissimmee for 1 night/2 days of our trip but all opinions are my own.
Stay //
Kissimmee is known for amazing villas if you want to self cater and have some space and downtime from the theme parks. It’s the vacation home capital of the world. But for shorter stays consider The Inn at Celebration , a beautiful Floridian classic hotel set in one of my favourite places in America. Celebration is an absolute picture perfect town built by Walt Disney and full of nature. We loved staying here for its walkability as it’s right in the town and set on the lake with stunning views. The rooms were super comfortable, it’s all recently been renovated and it really shows with the decor, the light lobby and gorgeous terrace area.
Good to know;
Whilst there are no child focused parts of the resort as such, it’s a lovely, restful base in a great location that we all enjoyed and there’s a splash pad just a few minutes walk away if you need to cool off.
It’s only a 10 minute drive to get to the Disney parks from here
There’s a 24 hour well equipped gym.
Parking is free on the streets around celebration so we didn’t need to valet park.
The breakfast menu is amazing, order the Açai bowl - it’s huge so great to share! And the kids pancakes are great too. We spotted alligators and turtles in the lake whilst sitting on the sunny terrace eating breakfast, much to the kid’s delight!
Visit //
Celebration is always worth a visit for the sweet town with absolute dream, picture perfect American streets and houses. We’ve been previously around Easter & May but at Christmas it really goes up another level. Every night in from the end of November until around Christmas time it ‘snows’ three times a night by the main big tree in the middle of the town. It’s magical for children but also feels like a funny juxtaposition seeing palm trees and snow together. The houses are all decorated so it’s worth taking a light walk or there’s a mini road train ride you can take from next to the tree in the Christmas village.
Don’t miss Kilwins ice cream parlour, the splash pad and a walk around the lake.
There’s a weekly Sunday farmers market
It’s well worth hiring bikes for a couple of hours on a self guided tour, we did this a few years back before having children and loved taking them in a trailer this time. The bike hire is right next to the lake by the Inn at Celebration and you scan a QR code to pay and unlock a bike. There are maps but we just free styled around the boardwalks, lakes {past the villas with the huge impressive water slides and treehouses into pools!} and streets. You’re likely to see lots of nature, we had to stop to rescue a turtle from our path and spotted an alligator swimming! There are signs everywhere but just in case you’re not aware, don’t go near to any waters edge in Florida.
Visit:
Boggy Creek airboat tours. I initially thought you’d need to go a couple of hours south to the Everglades to go for an airboat ride but there’s a lake just 40 minutes away from Disney/Celebration to get to see the real Florida. An airboat ride is one of the best ways to experience Florida’s wild side—gliding across the water, spotting wildlife, and learning about the local ecosystem along the way. We saw alligators, giant snails, turtles and lots of birds. It’s exciting without being scary, and perfect for kids and adults alike.
Things to note:
it can be breezy whizzing over the water so take layers,
they provide ear defenders since the propellers are noisy.
Kids get life jackets to wear.
Our ride was 1 hour long. I personally wouldn’t have wanted any longer. Raffy, 4, was really nervous to start with but then loved it! My 6 year old found it all super fun.
Don’t miss the gem/fossil mining after, it’s an extra but 2 kids can share one bucket with their own equipment. And there’s a butterfly walk through, some lawn games & baby gators to see. It’s in a really beautiful spot next to those trees you picture in the Deep South full of air plants dangling down.
Visit //
The Gaylord Palms resort & convention centre, just 5 minutes from Celebration, is an institution. I remember my parents taking us there to see the alligators in the atrium lobby and pirate ship. It’s worth going for a drink or meal there. This time we visited for ICE!, an exhibition carved from more than 2 million pounds of colorful ice. We did laugh though as we’d gone to Florida for the warmth and were stood freezing inside the 9-degree f tent (yes, 9 degrees in Florida!) but we marvelled at the life-size sculptures of Rudolph and Santa’s sleigh.
You get given a blue parka as you go in although we should have switched our sandals for trainers! Don’t miss the chance to whoosh down the giant ice slides, for kids and adults. It also had a whole alpine village built inside and snow flow tubing slides, you can meet Santa or go to the elf workshop. {an extra charge, bookable in advance}. Do be aware and budget in for the fact that there are quite hefty parking fees here to visit though.
As mentioned above we didn’t combine it with any of the theme parks this time but you’re only 5 minutes from Disney in Celebration and fun places like Disney Springs. I’d love to go back for longer next time and if we’d have had more time then Legoland was also on my list.
You can find out more about the incredible attractions that Visit Kissimmee have here.
