Spring Break Escape

Wild Nature, Big Attractions, and Local Flavor

issimmee, Florida, is the perfect destination anytime, but especially ideal for that Spring Break vacation. It sits just south of Orlando, but its identity extends far beyond its proximity to all the major theme parks.

ICONiC ATTRACTiONS

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, one of Central Florida’s longest-running airboat operators, offers Coast Guard–approved airboat tours through the headwaters of the Everglades, including 30-minute daytime rides, sunset tours, and nighttime wildlife excursions. Guides highlight the ecosystem, identify wildlife, and share the region’s history, making it an accessible and educational way to explore Florida’s wetlands and great for photography.

Later, I visited the classic Florida attraction Gatorland, a 110-acre wildlife park that’s been in Central Florida since 1949. Known as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” the park features thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with a boardwalk and observation tower, daily wildlife shows, and the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line that soars above the habitats. They focus on conservation and education while maintaining the retro Florida character that has defined it for decades.

A great evening destination is Disney Springs. This was a first for me, and I loved it as it offers a completely different atmosphere. This open-air dining, shopping, and entertainment district near Walt Disney World Resort includes more than 150 venues, from chef-driven restaurants and live-music bars to specialty shops and waterfront lounges. It’s designed for wandering, sampling, and discovering something new each visit.

LOCAL FLAVOR

Kissimmee’s food scene also reflects the area’s cultural diversity. The Latin Food Trail highlights locally owned restaurants representing Puerto Rican, Colombian, Cuban, Dominican, and Mexican cuisines. Dishes such as mofongo, empanadas, and arepas are common along the trail, which includes bakeries, food trucks, and full-service restaurants. My favorite place to dine is Columbia Restaurant. It offers Spanish-Cuban dishes from Florida’s oldest restaurant group, founded in 1905.

GRAND ACCOMMODATiONS

Kissimmee is also known as the Vacation Home Capital of the World®, with entire neighborhoods designed for short-term rentals in sprawling, thoughtfully designed homes. Communities such as Reunion Resort or Encore Resort at Reunion offer multi-bedroom homes with private pools, game rooms, and themed bedrooms. It’s perfect for Spring Break, with many neighborhoods offering additional amenities such as water parks, clubhouses, and fitness centers, making them popular with families and multi-generational groups. You just have to see this to believe it.

Together, Kissimmee’s natural areas, long-running attractions, diverse dining options, and vacation-home communities create a destination that appeals to a wide range of travelers, during Spring Break or anytime of the year.

ExperienceKissimmee.com