Celebration Town Center, Kissimmee

Orlando, FL
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Celebration Town Center, Kissimmee, Orlando FL

Description

I had been curious about Celebration for years, thinking it would be like Disneyworld for living in. But it's really just a neighborhood of pretty homes built around 2001. They are New England in style but not overly colorful like one would expect from Disney. The colors are subdued actually. Trees abound which makes it a lovely town for long walks.
The main street, Market Street, has a row of sidewalk cafes that lead down to the lake. Here the buildings are a little more colorful. On Front St, which borders the lake, there are also plenty of restaurants, and a nice Starbucks with outdoor seating situated around a tree. The lake has wooden adirondack chairs shaded by green umbrellas around its cement shore. Here you can sit on the cement steps and enjoy an ice cream cone from Kilwin's, across the street. The chocolate ice cream is delicious- not too sweet. Across the street from Kilwin's is a splash pad, on the promenade. It is fun for kids, and lit up gorgeously at night. Many tourists and residents hang out at the lake every night, so it's a fun atmosphere.
There is a bakery, Sweet Escape, that serves standard American-style sandwiches with tons of mayonnaise, and overly sweet pastries and donuts. It has nice outdoor seating- it's a pity the food isn't more healthy.
There is a paved walking path that runs along the lake in the shade. In the jungly parts there are wooden boardwalks. You can walk 1.3 miles from Celebration Lakeside Park to East Crescent Park. You will likely see baby alligators and birds.
Driving out of Celebration, you are in Kissimmee, so you are in an area that was historically cleared for cattle farming and is therefore very plain and flat, with few trees.
For a great playground with a space net, rock-climbing wall, tire swing, and see saw, check out Spring Park Playground.
In the week leading up to Halloween, check out Jeater Bend Drive, which has incredible lights, music, smoke-filled bubbles, and fire balls. Wow! Don't come on Halloween night though or you will be in 1 1/2 hours of traffic. Jeater Bend Drive also has amazing Christmas lights!
If you want a European-style town center that is chic and upscale, check out Winter Park, my favorite part of Orlando.

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Photo Gallery

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Starbucks Coffee outdoor seating around a tree.	Market Street Cafe.	Upper Crust Pizza Cafe.
Caribbean-style architecture.	Seating outside Sweet Escape Bakery.	Tropical-colored building.
Avocado Mexican Grill looks pretty.	Kilwin's Chocolates.	Starbucks and its beautiful tree in the middle of the outdoor seating.
Carriage ride!	Bohemian Hotel at night.	Forest lit up along the lakeside walk.
View of the lake from the lakeside path at night.	The lake and the Bohemian Hotel at night.	View of the lake at night from Front Street.
Market Street and its strings of lights.	Sitting by the lake at night, where Market Street meets Front Street.	Resident event in Lakeside Park- pretty lights!
The splash pad across from Kilwin's is beautiful at night.	Carriage ride.	Lights strung across Market Street.
Hanging out by the splash pad after an event.	Splash pad on a warm October day.	Shady walkway at the lake.
The colorful buildings on Market Street.	I like this building!	Christmas tree and gingerbread family!
Orange and pink building on Market Street.	Kilwin's, a great place to get ice cream and eat it by the lake.	An elderly man and a couple sit on wooden chairs under shade umbrellas by the lake.
Sunset on Celebration Blvd.	Palm trees on Celebration Blvd.	Art deco building on Celebration Blvd.
Sunset on Celebration Blvd.	I love these California palms!	Christmas decorations around town.
Art deco building on Celebration Blvd.	Swirl in the sky before sunset.	Palms and art deco building along Celebration Blvd.
Palms at sunset.	Disney-themed Christmas decorations on a balcony on Front Street.