I’ve always considered myself a rather non-traditional kind of girl, so I’m surprised by the thought that enters my mind when I walk into the grand atrium of the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee.

“What a great place to get married,” I think to myself, picturing my imaginary wedding guests getting a sampling of all that Florida has to offer in this one amazing setting.

The resort’s grand entrance leads to a four-acre veritable miniature wonderland enclosed by a glass atrium. Inside, you'll find re-creations of three of Florida’s cultural and natural wonders. There’s a replica of St. Augustine’s historic Spanish fort, the Castillo de San Marcos, as well as the misty and mystical Everglades (complete with live baby alligators) and a pretty-in-pastels rendition of Key West.

No surprise, the men in our group have more practical matters on their minds. “How do you think they keep this place air-conditioned?” my engineer boyfriend, impressed in his own way, asks his father.

Gaylord Palms Resort & Spa

However it fascinates you, Gaylord Palms Resort is among an ever-expanding inventory of luxurious Kissimmee-area destinations guaranteed to make you dream. Located about 20 minutes South of downtown Orlando, Gaylord Palms offers a peaceful, lushly landscaped escape with world-class amenities just a stone's throw from one of the world's greatest tourist attractions (Walt Disney World's four theme parks are mere minutes away). 

It was huge news when the Canyon Ranch SpaClub opened its first Florida location at Gaylord Palms Resort. The sprawling 20,000-square-foot spa is bliss defined. And the menu of offerings goes beyond Swedish and hot basalt stone massages to include nutritional consultations, yoga and pilates courses, couples packages and bridal packages (there I go with the wedding thoughts again!).

Celebration Hotel
The Plantation Room restaurant, featuring Executive Chef Zachary Martin’s creative contemporary American cuisine (and Florida produce whenever possible), is one of the Orlando area’s hottest – not to mention most romantic – tables.


The next stop on our tour of Kissimmee’s luxury resorts is Celebration, the idyllic neo-traditional community that’s home to the stunning Celebration Hotel, a sumptuous boutique property perched on the shore of the town’s centerpiece lake.

The hotel’s clapboard siding, pretty eaves and sweeping verandas feel demure and Southern, conjuring up an old Florida seaside estate, circa 1910. It’s amazing to consider that the hotel’s free shuttles can whisk you just five minutes away to all the theatric hustle and bustle of Disney. You can even buy theme park tickets in the hotel lobby.

Among the Celebration Hotel’s gracious amenities are a heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, a day spa, nearby jogging and walking trails and an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Sr. nearby. The Plantation Room restaurant, featuring Executive Chef Zachary Martin’s creative contemporary American cuisine (and Florida produce whenever possible), is one of the Orlando area’s hottest – not to mention most romantic – tables.

Reunion Resort

Another top-tier Kissimmee property, Reunion Resort, lies less than 10 miles from Celebration. Boutique accommodations on a grand scale include suites and villas with one, two and three bedrooms outfitted with private balconies and gourmet kitchens. For the ultimate splurge, private homes are available with up to eight rooms and private pools, all in tropical surroundings.

Reunion guests get exclusive access to the resort’s three golf courses designed by what’s been dubbed the “Reunion Great Triumvirate.” Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus designed the championship 18-hole golf courses here, and it’s a setting that ranks among the most thrilling golf destinations in Florida, if not the country.

The ANNIKA Academy is a 5,400-square-foot teaching facility opened at the resort by Hall of Fame Swedish golf star Annika Sörenstam. Rounding out the amenities are the Reunion Resort spa (named among the best new resort spas in 2007), lighted tennis courts and a fabulous five-acre water park, complete with a lazy river that kids adore. Dining options on site include Forte, an American chophouse, and Eleven, the resort’s rooftop pool bar, where you can settle in for tapas and a stylish South Beach vibe.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Also less than 10 miles from Celebration and a short shuttle ride from the Disney theme parks is the sprawling and superlative Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, renowned for the fabulous golf so close to its luxurious accommodations. ChampionsGate Golf Club’s two championship 18-hole courses, designed by Greg Norman, are a short walk (or free golf cart shuttle ride) from the guest rooms. And you’ll find the world headquarters of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at ChampionsGate.

In addition to guest rooms and suites, the resort has luxury villas with up to three rooms, so you can really settle in with the entire family. Everyone will love the 15 acres of pools here, which include a formal pool with private cabanas for adults, a separate family pool and an 850-foot-long lazy river. Among the many other amenities at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate are a European-style spa, Pan-Asian restaurant Zen and the resort’s elegant Mediterranean nosh spot, Trevi’s.

Talk about a world of opportunity, all in one place. Kissimmee has been beckoning me back since my visit. It’s so close to Orlando’s attractions, but definitely an attraction of its own, with world-class dining, spas, golf and lodging. The only trouble comes in choosing which luxurious spot is right for you ...

This article is brought to you by the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau. To plan your own luxurious getaway to Kissimmee, request a 2009 Visitor's Guide at 800-711-KISS or discover more
at www.VisitKissimmee.com.