Things to Do in Kissimmee, Florida: Airboats, Highland Cows, Gators and More

Kissimmee is where a lot of Orlando visitors actually sleep, but most people only see it from the car between their rental and Disney. That's a shame. Kissimmee has some of the best non-theme-park things to do in Central Florida, a lot of them outdoors and a lot of them cheaper than a day at the parks.

Here are the best things to do in Kissimmee, Florida, with who each one is best for and what to know before you go.

Ride an airboat at Boggy Creek

Kissimmee sits at the top of the Everglades system. The lakes and marshes south of Orlando drain toward Lake Okeechobee and eventually the Everglades, and an airboat is the most fun way to see them.

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures at 2001 E. Southport Rd. runs half-hour and one-hour tours from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, plus sunset and night tours. You'll see alligators, wading birds and cypress, and the boats are fast. The night tour, when you spot gators by the reflection of their eyes, is the one I'd pick if you've done an airboat before.

Best for: first-time Florida visitors, families with kids old enough to wear hearing protection, anyone who wants to see a gator in the wild.

Bottle-feed baby highland cows at Mini Moo Land

Mini Moo Land is a highland cow experience inside Boggy Creek. General admission ($29.99, or $19.99 when bundled with an airboat ride) lets you pet, hand-feed and cuddle the herd with a guide.

This fall it added a herd of baby highland calves, and you can bottle-feed them at 10 AM, 1 PM or 4 PM with the VIP Bottle Feeding Experience ($65, admission included). Feedings have limited spots, so book ahead on weekends and holidays.

Best for: families with young kids, couples, anyone who has ever stopped scrolling for a highland cow video.

Gatorland

Gatorland has been open since 1949 and is one of the last old-school Florida attractions. Hundreds of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with a boardwalk, the Gator Jumparoo show and a zip line over the gators if you want it. It's on South Orange Blossom Trail, on the line between Orlando and Kissimmee, open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM with free parking. Buying online saves a few dollars.

Best for: families, reptile fans, anyone who wants a half day that feels like real Florida.

Old Town Kissimmee

Old Town is a retro entertainment district on Highway 192 with carnival rides, shops, restaurants and bars along a brick Main Street. It's free to walk around; rides cost extra.

The best time to go is Saturday night, when Old Town holds its long-running classic car show and cruise. Hundreds of classic cars line Main Street, and the cruise down the street starts at 8:30 PM. It's free to watch.

Best for: a cheap night out, car people, families who want some rides without theme park prices.

Lake Tohopekaliga and the Kissimmee Lakefront

Lake Toho is about 22,700 acres and one of the best-known bass fishing lakes in the country. If you fish, hire a local guide for a morning. If you don't, Kissimmee Lakefront Park downtown has a long walking path along the water, playgrounds, a fishing pier and good sunsets. Downtown Kissimmee's Broadway is a short walk for dinner.

Best for: anglers, a free evening walk, families who need a playground break.

Celebration

Celebration is the town Disney built in the 1990s, and its downtown along a lake still looks like a movie set. Walk Market Street, get dinner by the water, and if you're here between late November and the end of December, stay for the free nightly "snowfall" on Market Street.

Best for: a slow evening, couples, holiday visits.

ICE! at Gaylord Palms (November to January)

From November 13, 2026 through January 3, 2027, Gaylord Palms Resort on the west side of Kissimmee hosts ICE!, a walk-through of ice sculptures kept at 9°F. The 2026 theme is The Polar Express. See our full ICE! guide for tickets and tips.

Shingle Creek Regional Park

Shingle Creek is the headwaters of the Everglades, and the county park along it has trails, a boardwalk and kayak and canoe rentals. Paddling the creek under the cypress is quiet and shady, and it's free to visit the park.

Best for: paddlers, birders, a free morning outdoors.

Wild Florida (a short drive south)

About 40 minutes south in Kenansville, Wild Florida combines airboat tours with a drive-thru safari park. It's a longer drive than everything else on this list, but it pairs well with a full day out of town.

Tips for visiting Kissimmee

• Highway 192 traffic is heavy in the afternoon. Do your driving in the morning when you can.
• Go outside in the cooler months. November through April is the most comfortable time for airboats, cows and parks. See our November and December weather guide.
• Bundle and save. Boggy Creek's airboat and Mini Moo Land combo saves $10 per person over buying them separately.
• Book the limited things first: calf feedings, airboat night tours and ICE! time slots.