Heading to Florida? Visit Kissimmee!

I received an all expenses paid trip to Kissimmee, Florida to attend the Decade of Memories Event from Experience Kissimmee. Val from Mom Knows it All attended on my behalf of Jen is on a Journey. No monetary compensation has been received. As always, any personal opinions expressed are her own and have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

I find myself in need of a little vacation. The past few months have been unbelievable and I just need a break. If I could take a little getaway right now, one of the places I’d definitely consider going is Kissimmee. I love that area of Florida. When I was there earlier this year for the Decade Of Memories contest winner announcement I was reminded just how much there is to do there. There’s something for everyone in Kissimmee. No matter if you want to eat, play or just rest, there’s a perfect place for it.

Eating is not just a necessity to live, but it’s a great way to enjoy time with family and friends.Charley’s Steak House is very well suited for family meals, casual dinners for two, or even small groups. Our group made it’s way through the busy main dining room back to a private dining room. The dining room has a really big, interesting fish tank on one side where I was fascinated by a huge eel that made me think of the basilisk in Harry Potter. Charley’s is well known in the area for their steaks, chicken and fish, much of which is cooked over a custom built pit inside the restaurant. Everyone in our group really enjoyed the meal. The food was delicious. I had a steak, which was very tender, juicy and flavorful. I absolutely loved the mashed potatoes and the desserts were super yummy as well.

If dinner isn’t your thing, maybe breakfast is. We attended the Shrek character breakfast at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. The restaurant that houses the Shrek character breakfast is located within a huge indoor atrium, where you will see all sorts of plants, flowers and foliage, and even a fish pond. Once you make your way into the breakfast, you’ll be greeted and served some swamp juice. Then you’ll have the opportunity to eat. The buffet is huge, and contains all sorts of tasty things including danishes, bagels, fruit, oatmeal, grits, yogurt, cereals, bacon, sausage, Donkey waffles, pancakes, eggs, custom omelettes, and more. The food is good, the atmosphere is great, this character breakfast is a memory you’ll remember for years to come.

If you want a little entertainment with your meal, Arabian Nights is the place for you. Arabian Nights is a dinner show where you watch beautiful horses and their talented riders perform. The show we saw was the story of a woman looking for her prince. She searched all over the world until she found him. It was great watching the riders and horses move as if they were one to different songs.

Not up for eating? How about some family fun? SeaWorld is just the ticket. SeaWorld is big and there’s a lot to see. SeaWorld has animal exhibits, rides, shows and more. Animal lovers will have a blast seeing whales, dolphins, manatees, flamingos, sharks, sea lions, seals, polar bears, penguins, sea turtles, parrots and many, many, more species. Thrill seekers will enjoy coasters like Manta and Kraken. Antartica: Empire of the Penguin is a one of a kind ride that takes you through the story of a baby penguin. Once your “car” completes its mild or wild ride you are deposited into a special area containing a colony of live penguins. (It’s very cold, bring a jacket!) Be sure to catch a show while you’re there, I recommend “One Ocean”. It’s so much fun watching the whales interact with the trainers and the audience, they really are something to see.

After all that fun, you might want to rest. Or, maybe you skipped the fun and just want to relax in the sun. Either way, Westgate Vacation Villas is the spot for you. Located minutes from Kissimmee, Westgate Vacation Villas website is a home away from home. All of the villas are fully furnished. The huge complex has over 1,100 rooms. It has 14 pools and 14 hot tubs, several playgrounds, an activities such as golf, horseshoes and shuffleboard. There are a variety of shops and restaurants onsite, along with a fitness center. The room I stayed in was very large. I loved that it had a kitchen, cooking a quick meal or making a snack in the room is very convenient and saves money. I also loved that there was a washer and dryer right in the room.

These places are just a sampling of what’s available in Kissimmee. No matter what you do there, you’re sure to make lots of new memories that you’ll look back on for years to come.