Kissimmee is a city located on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in central-east Florida. A great vacation spot, Kissimmee lets visitors enjoy everything from amusement parks, dinner theater, and trendy nightlife to boating and hiking. Regardless of where you stay in the city, you’ll be within driving distance of lakes and forests. Here are a few top Kissimmee vacation rental locations to consider.
1. Neptune Road, Kissimmee
Neptune Road lies on the northeast side of Lake Tohopekaliga and Kissimmee. Dotted with small communities and open spaces, it’s the perfect place to settle down with the family for a few days of relaxation. Splurge on a lakeside rental, and bring along the family boat. Take it out in the mornings for some fishing, or strap on a pair of waterskis. Head to the Oak Street Extension Preserve to explore a wetland habitat and do some hiking. Situated only a few minutes from the downtown area, Neptune Road still features all the amenities of civilization from shopping to dining out.
2. Pleasant Hill, Kissimmee
The Pleasant Hill, Kissimmee neighborhood stretches along the east side of Lake Tohopekaliga. Waterside communities with large yards and lush growth make this a mini paradise. Relax by meandering along the lakeside or kayaking through the water. You could easily spend an entire vacation exploring Makinson Island and Paradise Island. However, you can always rejoin civilization a few minutes away and enjoy a hot meal at Arepas El Cacao Kissimmee or Tijuana Flats.
3. City Center, Kissimmee
If you want to enjoy the nightlife, historic downtown areas, and a range of activities, stay in the City Center. Dakin Avenue provides a range of awesome restaurants from 3 Sisters Speakeasy to Willy’s Wieners, depending on your mood. Be sure to stroll historic downtown, which boasts Lanier’s Marketplace and Lakefront Park. The former contains 18,000 square feet of antique stores, galleries, and boutiques. The latter is 25 acres of nature trails, monuments, and playgrounds. Visit at dusk for a movie in the park. Take a day trip to Universal Studios or Walt Disney World, both of which are only a half-hour drive away.
4. North Bass Road, Kissimmee
North Bass Road lies west of the City Center, allowing you to stay out of the bustle of downtown life while still staying within driving – or even walking – distance of all the action. Perfect for young children, this area contains the Give Kids the World Village, a storybook-themed resort. Many of the vacation rentals are on or nearby stocked fishing lakes, giving you a place to kick back and relax. Capone’s Dinner and a Show delivers a fun night out with Italian-American food that everybody enjoys and a 1930’s themed show.
5. Four Winds, Kissimmee
If you don’t want to fight the crowds at the big lakes, stay at Four Winds where you have access to Lake Cecile. Boat, kayak, and swim in a semi-private area. Take a scenic drive along Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, keeping your eyes peeled for some of the area’s best eateries, such as El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant. Medieval Times, another dinner and a show venue, lies on this road. Enjoy Old World fare and a jousting tournament. Your kids get to cheer for their own knight.
6. Florida Christian College, Kissimmee
To the east of Town Center is Florida Christian College and the surrounding neighborhood. This area includes Osceola Heritage Park, which always has something going on from concerts and sporting events to rodeos, and East Lake Tohopekaliga. Explore the lake’s wetlands on Wicked Airboat Rides, and stop for dinner at Boggy Creek Restaurant. Your kids can roam free around Austin-Tindall Regional Park with its ponds and large grass lawns, which are perfect for an impromptu game of tag.
7. Buena Ventura Lakes
Tiny lakes and ponds thread through the Buena Ventura Lakes neighborhood. Take advantage of all the water and go swimming, or – better yet – kayak through the canals. Both Archie Gordon Memorial Park and the 65th Infantry Veterans Park give you plenty of green space to explore. Take a picnic lunch, and relax while the kids get out all their energy. Both Lake Toho and East Lake Toho are only a few minutes away. Split Oak Forest Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area, a short drive to the east offers horseback riding and hiking and biking trails. Nestled between Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane, the area also presents opportunities to observe birds and wildlife in their natural habitat.
8. Campbell
Campbell lies west of Pleasant Hill and east of Upper Lakes Basin Watershed and Lake Marion. Surrounded by nature, the area offers water sports, exploration, and hiking. This wildlife corridor is frequented by all sorts of animals from the rare black bear to white-tailed deer. Pull out your birding book, and take the kids on a treasure hunt for different types of fowl.
9. St. Cloud
St. Cloud lies between Lake Tohopekaliga and East Lake Tohopekaliga with Fish Lake smack dab in the middle. You don’t have to go far to reach a body of water and do some serious swimming and boating, or you can try your hand at fishing at Fish Lake. Leave the kids with a sitter in your vacation rental, and relax at the Remington Golf Club.