Five Family Activity Ideas for Kissimmee Vacations

Kissimmee tends to get overlooked by less savvy vacationers, because Orlando is right next to it. However, Kissimmee offers a lot of fun family activities without the mile-long lines. Next time your family touches down in Kissimmee, think about trying some of these fun activities.

Happy Days Family Fun Center

With over 100 of the latest video games as well as go karts, bumper cars, a laser tag arena and a 180-foot vertical accelerator, this family amusement center is sure to fill the day with lots of laughter and entertainment.

The Happy Days Bumper Cars is the world’s largest indoor extreme bumper car ride.

Green Meadows Petting Farm

This is a great place to go especially for family with young children. Spend some quiet time in a country setting and milk the cows, watch the children ride the pony and enjoy the tractor-drawn hayride.

There are over 300 farm animals to pet and enjoy. The petting farm gives children the opportunity to enjoy farm animals while learning about them. The two-hour tour is very educational and the staffs are quite knowledgeable. For admission prices call 407.846.0770.

Fun Spot USA

Located next to Old Town, Fun Spot USA (pictured) is home to the tallest Skycoaster in the world—over 300 feet tall. Other features are the two multi-level tracks and two flat tracks extreme go-karts, G-Force dragster rides, NASCAR simulators with 5 racetracks to choose from, race themed mini-golf, bumper cars, laser tags and other family fun rides.

Parking and admission is free. You can get an unlimited armband for $34.95 or pay as you play for $2.00 per ticket. For more information call 407.397.2509.

Old Town

With specialty shops, restaurants and amusement rides, there’s something to do for the whole family at Old Town. It features classic car shows on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Everyone can enjoy the rollercoaster ride, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel and other fun rides. Tickets are $1 each. A valuepak is available for $20 and $30. For more information call 407.396.4888. Parking and general admission is free.

The Disney Wilderness Preserve

The 12,000-acre preserve is one of the last remaining undeveloped lakes in Central Florida. It protects the headwaters of the everglades ecosystem. You’ll find hundreds of wildlife species including the rare bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub jays among others.

This is as natural as Florida gets. A guided buggy ride is available, which provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the plants and animals that resides there and the conservatory’s effort to protect them. It’s a great learning experience for kids and adults alike.

Photo credit: Funspotusa.com

Five Fun Activities in Daytona Beach

Daytona beach offers a variety of family fun activities to do. There are numerous parks and historical places to visit and a whole lot of natural scenery to enjoy. With miles of beautiful oceanfront and water sports activities, everyone will enjoy the beauty of this amazing place.

There are plenty of kid-friendly activities for families traveling with their children—from chocolate factory to miniature golf. Daytona Beach has something for everyone.

Here are five fun activities to do while visiting Daytona Beach.

Manatee Cruise

Enjoy a relaxing two-hour cruise of the Indian River aboard the Manatee and see the sight of dolphins, manatees, waterfront homes and the Ponce De Leon Lighthouse.
This narrated tour is both informative and relaxing. The rates are $25.00 for adults, $22.00 for seniors and $16.00 for children under 12. They operate year round.

Speed Park Daytona

This is a great place to let loose and have lots of fun. Speed Park Daytona features three tracks, four lanes and more than 100 karts. The whole family can join in and race each other. Find out if you have what it takes to be a racecar driver by driving a 300 horsepower racecar that accelerates from 0-75 mph in just three seconds.

There’s also an arcade where you can play video games, pinball machines and other things. It’s open daily at 10am. For ticket information call 386.253.3278.

Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory

Who doesn’t love chocolate? If you have about 30 minutes to spare while you’re in Daytona, it is worth spending it at the Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory, where chocolates are made fresh daily.

The tour is short but very informative. And their tour includes a chocolate sample too. Weekday tours run hourly from 11am – 4pm except for noon. The factory is closed on Sunday. For more information call 1.800.969.2634.

Marine Science Center

The most fascinating thing they do at the Marine Science Center (pictured) is the rehabilitation of the sea turtles and seabirds. They care for the sick and injured sea turtles and birds until they get better and send them back to their habitat.

While there, you’ll learn about the fascinating exhibits of the marine environment, which includes a 5,000-gallon aquarium. The center also features an observation tower, nature trail, tours, classroom lab, and gift shop. This place is a lovely and educational place to take the children.

Hours: 10am – 4pm (Tue – Sat), Noon – 4pm (Sun). For more info, call 386.304.5545.

Daytona Beach

Your trip to Daytona will not be complete if you don’t go to the white-sandy beaches and explore the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is called Daytona Beach for a reason.

Whether you take a dip or just relax and enjoy the climate, a great time is the order of the day.

Photo credit: marinesciencecenter.com

Daytona Beach Outdoor Recreation

Daytona Beach and its neighboring cities and towns have some of the best State Parks in the Sunshine State. They offer the best facilities and amenities for all campers who enjoy nature. And who doesn’t think of the outdoor fun when they think of Daytona Beach?

Blue Spring State Park

The Blue Spring State Park (pictured) is a popular tourist destination. It is the largest spring on the St. Johns River. The spring is a Manatee refuge and a winter home to many endangered manatees. It’s closed from November 15 - March 1 to all water-related activities to give the manatees a safe, warm environment in the winter. The Blue Spring State Park is 2,644-acres of natural Florida. The park offers 51 campsites with picnic table grills and water. There are 27 sites with electric hook-ups.

Some of the activities to enjoy here are camping, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving with partners, hiking, bird watching, kayaking and canoeing. However, swimming with manatees is not permitted and is strictly enforced. For more information about the park call 386.775.3663.

Hontoon Island State Park

Located on Hontoon Island, this 1,648-acre state park can only be reached by boat or park operated ferry. The Hontoon Island State Park is less crowded than the Blue Spring State Park, but just as pretty. If you love nature and quiet, this is the state park for you.

Some of the activities many enjoy here are boating, canoeing, fishing, camping, hiking, picnicking, bird-watching and nature viewing. You can bring your bike along and ride on the island bike path.

The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. For more information call 36.736.5309.

Deleon Spring State Park

The park was named after Juan Ponce De Leon, who led the first Spanish expedition to Florida in search of the fountain-of-youth. This park is a popular area for picnics, swimming, biking as well as hiking, bird watching and fishing.

Canoes, kayaks and paddleboats are available for rent through the Old Spanish Sugar Mill.

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House located inside the state park is a unique restaurant. Each table is equipped with a griddle and you can cook your own pancakes right in front of you. If you’re with the kids, they’ll love this play. Food is served weekdays 9am - 4pm and 8am – 4pm on weekends and holidays.

For more information about Deleon Spring State Park, call 386.985.4212.

Daytona Beach Historical Sights

Daytona Beach is not only known as the “birthplace of speed,” but is also known for its history. Many historical landmarks have been preserved and they’re now tourist’s destinations. From the Sugar Mill ruins to famous historic homes, Florida is rich in history. Here are some great historic sights to visit the next time you’re in Florida.

Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park

The Bulow Plantation was once used to plant sugar cane, cotton, rice and indigo in the early 1800s. The Bulow family owned it—hence the name. The Bulow sugar mill was the largest mill in East Florida. It was destroyed during the Seminole Indian War in 1836.

Today, the Bulow Plantation is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. It features the sugar mill ruins, picnic facilities, canoeing, hiking trails and an Interpretive Center where you can learn more about the plantation. They’re open daily from 8am - 5pm. For more information call 386.517.2084.

Dummett Sugar Mill Ruins

The ruins at the former Dummett Plantation is believed to be the first steam-powered sugar mill in Florida. The Seminole Indian War, which lasted seven years, destroyed most of the sugar mills and it was abandoned ever since. For information call 386.676.4050.

Tomoka Mounds and Middens

This is one of the earliest Native American settlements on the Central East Coast of Florida. The archaeological site is a massive complex of prehistoric burial mounds and shell middens, which dates back about 5,500 years ago. For more information call 386.676.4050.

Freemanville Historic Site

The Freemanville Historic Site is dedicated to the freed slaves who settled in the Port Orange after the Civil War.

The marker is the city’s first state historic marker. A historical house and the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, built in 1911, are the only two remaining structures from Freemanville. For information call 386.756.5201.

Mary McLeod Bethune Home and Gravesite

The home of Mary McLeod Bethune (pictured) is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and as a United Methodist Historic Site. Mary McLeod founded the Bethune-Cookman University and she as a famous civil rights leader. Her home is filled with interesting artifacts and memorabilia. Her gravesite is located behind the house.

Tours are by appointment only. You can call 386.481.2122 for more information.

These are but a sprinkling of the history that awaits you in Daytona Beach and Florida.

Five Must-See Daytona Beach Attractions

Daytona Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Florida. It’s famous not only for the Daytona 500 but also the pristine beaches and other indoors and outdoors activities it has to offer. Here are five must- see attractions in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Daytona Lagoon

One of the best places to visit is the Daytona Lagoon at Ocean Walk Village. This water park features a giant wave pool, lazy river, an interactive play area and speed slides. Go-karts, miniature golf, carousel, rock wall, laser tag, arcade and more are just some of the fun family entertainment featured at Daytona. It’s the place where the whole family will have a memorable fun-filled day. For admission and attraction pricing call 386.254.5020.

Museum of Arts and Sciences

Located on a 90-acre Florida preserve, the Museum of Arts and Sciences is the primary art, history and science museum in Central Florida. A collection of over 30,000 objects are displayed, including the most complete Giant Sloth skeleton in North America and the Coca-Cola entrepreneur Chapman Root’s lifetime collection of Americana, which includes two private rail cars.

Also on display is a collection of pre-revolution Cuban paintings, the largest art display outside of Cuba. Take some time to enjoy the daily planetarium and laser shows while there. The museum is open from 9am - 5pm (M-Sat.) and 11am - 5pm on Sunday. Admission is $12.95 for adults, $6.95 for children (6-17) and $10.95 for seniors and students. Children 5 and under are free.

Daytona USA

Spend a few hours of your time to take a look at Daytona USA, an interactive motor sports attraction themed park. It features motion simulators, track tours, IMAX 3D, a live pit stop challenge and many more. You can experience the ultimate ride on one of the simulators—gets that adrenalin pumping. Open daily from 9am - 7pm except during special events.

Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens

Discover the past by visiting these 12-acre English sugar mill ruins, which feature a reconstructed sugar mill, scenic trails, lush botanical gardens and a human sundial. Life-size statues of dinosaurs are remnants of the old amusement park in the 1950’s, which was called Bongoland. You can also learn about the fauna and flora native to Florida. Open daily from 8am - 6pm.

Ponce De Leon Inlet Light Station and Museum

This historic lighthouse, at 175 feet, is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. On top you can view the Florida coastline and the Halifax River. On a clear day you can see Cape Canaveral. The climb to the top is tough for some—it’s 203 steps. But there are landings so you can catch your breath. It is open daily from 10am - 5pm, with extended summer hours.

Daytona Beach offers visitors a lot of options. Give these a try next time you visit.

Photo credit: ponceinlet.org