Kissimmee, Florida: If you go to Central Florida just for the theme park attractions, you’ll miss out on many fun adventures in this nature lover’s paradise.
Kissimmee is located at the gateway to theme parks with family attractions and Florida activities that visitors can enjoy in natural settings. Try ziplining above an alligator-filled swamp, exploring an obstacle course through the forest, or paddling through ancient cypress trees. No matter where you decide to go exploring in the Kissimmee area, you’re sure to cherish memories of sunny Central Florida.
Gatorland: Alligator Getaways
In Florida, abundant wildlife thrives on the state’s warm, year-round climate. Perhaps Florida’s most famous animal is the American alligator. At Gatorland, visitors can see more than 2,000 of them, from hatchlings to adults measuring more than 4 meters in length, as well as crocodiles, snakes, giant tortoises, big cats, and a wide variety of birds.
Hop on the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line and see Gatorland’s top attractions from above, including the alligator breeding swamp, as you fly over the area at speeds of up to 30 mph and from heights of up to 7 floors. All five courses were voted “America’s Best Zipline” by AOL Travel.
Try Gatorland’s new attraction, Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure. Buckle up in the swamp buggy, a 12-foot-tall open vehicle, and enjoy the eccentricities and songs of your tour guide as you ride along country roads to see alligators and a cast of wacky characters.
Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park: Exploring a canopy in the forest
Forget about terrain obstacle courses. Instead, take on aerial trails with nearly 100 activities, including swings, nets, ropes, and suspension bridges, in a 15-acre forest at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park. Start with easy obstacles, then feel the thrill as the course gets higher and higher through the pines. Save the best for last with a 130-meter-long zipline through the forest canopy.
Do not be afraid; complete training is offered. Adventurers are secured with harnesses to safety lines, and courses are graded based on height or skills needed. Additional courses are offered for children, and younger children can enjoy the trails located at the base.
An exciting ride on one of the zip lines at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park
The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek: Scenic Tours
At the head of the famous Florida Everglades, you can kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard through the picturesque waterways.
Learn about the history, wildlife, and ecology of the area on the Cypress Forest Guided Eco-Tour offered by The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek. The center’s certified instructors guide groups of kayakers through the picturesque canals amid a forest of cypress trees rooted in the water. Listen to birdsong and spot alligators, snakes, and turtles along the way.
After a stroll on the water, enjoy a picnic, and head out on land excursions along several hiking and biking trails.
Splashing around on a kayak tour from The Paddling Center at Shingle Creek
How to get
Take a flight to Orlando International Airport (MCO), where you can rent a car, or hire a travel service to take you the 25-minute drive to Kissimmee. When you arrive, you’ll be just 10 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, 20 minutes from Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld ® Parks and ResortsTM Orlando, and 50 minutes from LEGOLAND ® Florida Resort. You can choose from more than 70,000 accommodation options, including more than 50,000 vacation rental homes.