Kissimmee, Florida

Reading Time: 6 minutes

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Geographic Coordinates: 28.304100, -81.416900

Climate: Warm and humid summers, mild winters with occasional cold snaps, frequent thunderstorms in the summer months.

Population: 399929

Language: English

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Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, USA. Its proximity to Walt Disney World Resort makes it a popular destination for both tourists and locals. The city has a population of more than 70, 000 people and covers an area of around 21 square miles. Old Town is one of the most visited attractions in Kissimmee where visitors can enjoy classic car shows and live music performances on weekends. There are also unique boutiques, Souvenir shops, And restaurants that serve delicious cuisine from all over the world.

Lake Tohopekaliga or Lake Toho is another must-see attraction in Kissimmee that spans over 18, 800 acres. Visitors can go fishing, Boating, Kayaking or paddleboarding on this beautiful lake. There are also several parks surrounding Lake Toho that provide picnic areas and playgrounds for families to enjoy. Kissimmee’s historic downtown area showcases charming architecture dating back to the early 1900s. Visitors can take a stroll along Broadway Avenue where they will find antique shops, Art galleries, Cafes and restaurants offering local cuisine.

For those seeking adventure outside of theme parks there are several eco-tourism opportunities available such as airboat rides through swamps or horseback riding on trails through scenic landscapes. Kissimmee’s location makes it easy for visitors to explore other nearby attractions such as Universal Studios Orlando Resort or SeaWorld Orlando Theme Park which are both less than thirty minutes away by car. Overall, Kissimmee offers something for everyone from families with children looking for fun-filled days at theme parks to couples seeking romantic getaways surrounded by natural beauty.

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1. Walt Disney World Resort
2. Universal Studios Florida
3. SeaWorld Orlando
4. Old Town Kissimmee
5. Gatorland
6. Fun Spot America Theme Parks
7. Osceola County Stadium
8. Museum of Military History
9. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
10. Green Meadows Petting Farm

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1. Tourism: Kissimmee is known for its proximity to popular tourist destinations such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. The tourism industry is a major contributor to the local economy.
2. Healthcare: There are several hospitals and medical centers in Kissimmee that provide healthcare services to residents and visitors.
3. Retail: Kissimmee has a thriving retail industry with several shopping malls, outlets, and specialty stores.
4. Education: The Osceola County School District operates several schools in Kissimmee providing education to students from kindergarten through high school.
5. Construction: There is ongoing construction of new residential and commercial properties in the area.
6. Agriculture: The surrounding areas of Kissimmee have a significant agricultural presence with citrus groves, cattle ranches, and other farms producing crops such as strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes among others.
7. Manufacturing: There are some manufacturing companies located within the city limits that produce products ranging from electronic components to food products.
8. Transportation: Transportation is an important industry for the city due to its location near Orlando International Airport which serves as a hub for multiple airlines connecting people across the globe.

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1. The Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and Fair is an annual event that has been held in Kissimmee since 1944. It is one of the largest livestock shows in the state.
2. The Great Florida Cattle Drive was a commemoration of the state’s cattle-driving heritage. In 1995, a group of cowboys drove a herd of cattle through central Florida, ending in Kissimmee where a festival was held to celebrate the event.
3. Osceola County Courthouse is one of the oldest buildings in Kissimmee, built-in 1890 and served as the county seat until 1970.
4. John Young Parkway was named after astronaut John Young who grew up in Orlando and flew on six space missions for NASA.
5. Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre is named after former Orlando Mayor Bob Carr and has hosted many notable performers over the years such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Duke Ellington.
6. Bubba Watson, professional golfer born and raised in nearby Bagdad but attended high school at nearby Milton High School before attending Faulkner State Community College.
7. Patrick Murphy grew up in South Florida but attended law school at Stetson University College of Law located near downtown Kissimmee before becoming a U.S Congressman.
8. Tom Terry has been forecasting weather for Central Florida as Chief Meteorologist for WFTV Channel 9 News located just south of downtown Orlando since 1991 including many severe weather events that have impacted Kissimmee over those years such as Hurricane Charley (2004) & Hurricane Irma (2017).
9. Joel Berry II played college basketball at North Carolina from 2014-2018 before being drafted by Los Angeles Lakers with their second-round pick during NBA draft night on June 21, 2018; he is now a professional basketball player.
10. The Silver Spurs Rodeo is an annual rodeo held in Kissimmee since 1944 and is one of the largest and most prestigious rodeos in the country.

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1. Osceola County Historical Society Pioneer Village
2. Kissimmee Lakefront Park
3. Monument of States
4. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
5. Old Town Kissimmee
6. Museum of Military History
7. Warbird Adventures
8. Houston Astros Spring Training at Osceola County Stadium
9. Bob Makinson Aquatic Center
10. Kissimmee Air Museum

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1. Florida Fire Frogs were a minor league baseball team associated with the Atlanta Braves that played in Kissimmee from 2017-2019. They competed in the Florida State League.
2. From 1985-2016, Houston Astros held their spring training at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee and won two National League pennants and one World Series championship during this time.
3. Orlando City B was a soccer team that played for one season (2017) at Austin Tindall Regional Park in Kissimmee before relocating to Montverde, Florida.
4. USSSA Pride is a professional women’s softball team located in Kissimmee since 2009, renowned for having multiple Olympic gold medalists on their roster and winning seven National Pro Fastpitch championships.
5. Central Florida Gliders is a track and field club based out of Kissimmee that has produced numerous state champions and national qualifiers over the years.
6. The high school football team for Osceola High School is called Osceola Kowboys; they have had great success on the field including multiple state championships.
7. Founded in 2008, Osceola Roller Derby is an all-female roller derby league competing locally as well as nationally against other teams around the country.

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1. Osceola County Fair: a 10-day event featuring carnival rides, live music, livestock shows, and more.
2. Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort: a celebration of the famous New Orleans festival with parades, live music, and Cajun cuisine.
3. Festival of the Arts at Epcot: a month-long event showcasing visual arts, culinary arts, and performing arts from around the world.
4. Latin Food & Wine Festival: an annual event featuring Latin-inspired cuisine from local restaurants and chefs.
5. Old Town Classic Car Show: a weekly car show featuring classic cars from all eras on display in Old Town Kissimmee.
6. Kissimmee Bluegrass Festival: an annual event celebrating bluegrass music with performances by local and national artists.
7. Florida State BBQ Championship: an annual barbecue competition held in Kissimmee where teams compete for cash prizes and bragging rights.
8. Gay Days Orlando: an LGBTQ+ celebration that takes place annually at Walt Disney World Resort with parties, events, and theme park activities geared towards the community.
9. African American History Month Celebration – held annually in February to celebrate African American history through art exhibits, live performances, and cultural workshops.
10. Juneteenth Celebration- Celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the end of slavery in America through cultural exhibitions, music, and food.

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• Columbia Restaurant serves traditional Spanish and Cuban cuisine.
• The Catfish Place specializes in Southern-style seafood dishes.
• Mrs. Mac’s Fillin’ Station offers American comfort food with a vintage gas station theme.
• Savion’s Place serves Caribbean-inspired dishes such as jerk chicken and curry goat.
• El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant features authentic Mexican cuisine.
• Chef John’s Place offers classic American breakfast and lunch options.
• King O Falafel specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly falafel sandwiches.
• Tarantino’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria serves classic Italian dishes such as pizza, pasta, and calzones.
• The Back Room Steakhouse is known for their hand-cut steaks cooked to perfection.
• Pollos a la Brasa Mario is famous for their Peruvian rotisserie chicken with a variety of sides including plantains, yucca fries, rice, and beans.

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Parks and Recreation

1. Kissimmee Lakefront Park is a beautiful park that offers walking trails, fishing piers, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
2. Osceola Heritage Park is a large sports and entertainment complex that hosts concerts, sporting events, and festivals.
3. Shingle Creek Regional Park is a nature preserve that provides hiking trails, canoeing/kayaking opportunities, and wildlife viewing.
4. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park is an immersive theme park that features animal encounters and thrilling rides.
5. Old Town Kissimmee is an outdoor shopping mall with classic car shows, live music performances, and carnival rides.
6. Fun Spot America Theme Parks Kissimmee is an amusement park with go-kart tracks, roller coasters arcade games and more.
7. Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho) is a popular fishing spot for bass anglers in Central Florida.
8. The Loop Shopping Center is an open-air shopping center with restaurants and retail stores for all ages to enjoy!
9. Celebration Town Center- A charming downtown area featuring shops & restaurants along brick-lined streets plus weekly events like farmer’s markets & concerts
10. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park- A remote wilderness preserve which offers camping,hiking,fishing,stargazing etc

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Dream, Travel, Repeat.

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