Sometimes our beautiful hometown of Kissimmee gets overshadowed by all that is wonderful about Orlando, especially as newer and bigger attractions are continually added to the big theme parks in the region. Today, however, we want to talk about the small-town friendliness and big-city shops that will make your stay in the Vacation Home Capital of the US one you will never forget! Because everybody knows that a vacation isn’t complete if you haven’t spent at least a few hours exploring the shops in Kissimmee, this guide will make it easy to find the best stores; spend your daylight hours giving your credit cards a workout and your nighttime minutes enjoying all the comforts of home in our Tropical Escapes Vacation Homes Kissimmee properties! Here are the Best Places to Go Shopping in Kissimmee.

Lanier’s Historic Downtown Marketplace, 108 Broadway Avenue

There is just something special about stepping into a shop that sells the past and Lanier’s Historic Downtown Marketplace, while not the normal tourist shopping location, is one shop destined to become your newest obsession. On a rainy day, there is nothing better than slipping into your most comfortable walking shoes and spending a few hours exploring its aisles filled with treasures from the past. Maybe a carousel horse will catch your fancy or perhaps a Disney Collectible will make it in your bag; this shop is filled with all the things you never knew you needed and can now never live without!

The Loop Kissimmee, 3208 John Young Parkway

Although malls seem too exciting from the American landscape, the Loop, an expansive outdoor mall promises to be in it for the long haul! Offering a variety of chain stores that you already love and more than a few specialty shops that will be new to you, the Loop also provides a few restaurants at which you can relax, recharge, and set down all your packages for a good meal! There’s even a movie theater on site that airs all the latest releases, so if there’s a good movie you haven’t seen yet and you need more time off your feet, stop by!

CF Boutique, 217 Broadway

Offering a colorful selection of women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, CF Boutique is open every day except Sunday and seemingly specializes in finding the most beautiful wares! Reasonably priced, this sweet shop is the perfect place to pick up some new earrings or another pair of sunglasses to help protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. Also offering a selection of accessories imported from Columbia, CF Boutique provides an international flair that every woman will appreciate!

FloridaGifts.Com, 2545 Old Vineland Road

Souvenir shopping is a traditional part of the vacation experience and FloridaGifts.com is quite happy to help you continue the tradition! Their brick-and-mortar star is filled with happy tourists buying something Disney, something kitschy, and something that will help them remember their favorite adventures in Orlando AND Kissimmee. Also featuring a strong online store, if you find something you love but are worried you don’t have the space in your suitcase to lug it all home, you can order it online and have it sent directly to your home! Right now we are simply obsessed with their Davidson of Dundee products, especially their Florida Sunset Jelly; go ahead and give it a try and let us know what you think!

IT’SUGAR, Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Boulevard

Everyone needs a little sweetness in their lives and IT’SUGAR provides all you can handle! This sweet store that sells sweets is a favorite of our own kiddos and if we were to be perfectly honest, a favorite of ours as well! Offering all the classic favorites and a few new candies that we are actually on our way out to try right now; they also sell candy-related apparel allowing people to show off their favorite treats without actually having to share!

Promenade at Sunset Walk, 3251 Margaritaville Boulevard

Since you are already here satisfying your sweet tooth, you may as well take a walk around the Promenade and see all the shops and restaurants that make their home here! Serving as an entertainment mecca, Promenade at Sunset Walk also provides live entertainment and a big-screen theater called Studio Movie Grill, where guests can eat, drink, and watch the latest Marvel release in air-conditioned comfort and joy! Souvenir shoppers will fall in love with the offerings from US Gift Factory and when you are looking for a special gift to bring home to your pet sitter, plant waterer, or mail gatherer, Naples Soap Company has the perfect little something that will express your appreciation!

And then there is Tropical Escape Vacation Homes

Coming home to the comforts found in our beachfront escapes promises to be the highlight of a vacation filled with everything special! Reserve your favorite today!

You’re in luck! Whether you’ve had your getaway to tropical Orlando, Florida planned for months or you’ve just been itching for an impromptu trip before school starts up again, Tropical Escape Vacation Homes has the inside scoop on some awesome upcoming events that are being hosted in Orlando over the course of the next week. Take advantage of these summer-exclusive events when you’re staying in your beautiful Orlando, Florida next week!

August 7th – 13th – Watch the Rio Olympics in Enormous HD

Next week at 5:00pm daily, NBC Sports Grill & Brew will be holding live broadcasts of the 2016 Olympics in Rio on a huge one-hundred foot HD outdoor stadium screen at Universal CityWalk. Enjoy a selection of classic American food from the restaurant’s menu while you watch the Olympics unfold before your eyes, with stilt-walkers performing during the Opening Ceremony.

August 7th – Visit SeaWorld for the Last Day of the Summer of Mako

SeaWorld just got a new rollercoaster, and its name is Mako! The tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in Orlando, Mako stands two hundred feet high and travels seventy-three miles per hour on a track that is nearly one mile in length. The coaster is inspired by the shark species named Mako—one of the fastest sharks in the ocean. As an added bonus to this coaster, this is the last day for special events like the Shark Touch Pool, the Mako Challenge scavenger hunt, and limited-time in-park specials.

August 7th – Enjoy Tropical Reggae from Daddy Yankee and Don Omar

These legendary reggaeton kings face off against one another at the Amway Center, continuing the battle that began in Puerto Rico during December 2015 and made music history in Las Vegas as the MGM Grand’s first reggae concert. Tickets are available online.

August 11th – Wine and Dine in Style at Tapa Toro Tapas Bar or Sample Craft Brews at Artegon Marketplace’s Beer and Wine Stroll

Here, we listed two options as one, since they both take place on the same day, with overlapping times.

Tapa Toro’s event allows foodies to get up close and personal with the restaurant’s top chefs, indulging in a decadent five-course menu and tasting the finest imported Spanish wine at $49 per person before tax and tips.

If that price is a little more than what you’re looking for, you can always take advantage of Artegon Marketplace’s Beer and Wine Stroll, during which you can sample Florida’s best craft brews and wines for free and discounted prices on food.

August 13th – Catch Motion City Soundtrack’s “So Long, Farewell” Tour

Musical phenomenon Motion City Soundtrack will be performing their last tour ever, stopping at the House of Blues in Orlando. With a career spanning almost twenty years, this pop punk band has brought joy to music listeners all over the U.S. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see them in concert while you still can! Tickets can be purchased online.

Tropical Escape Vacation Homes Has Your Accommodations Covered!

We pride ourselves on providing quality vacation homes for all of your needs. We also make customer service a priority, which helps us stand out from our local competition. Contact the reservation specialists at Tropical Escape Vacation Homes today to learn more about booking your very own home away from home in Orlando!

May is quite possibly one of the most beautiful times of the year here in Orlando, so if you’re planning your vacation at that time, plan on finding lots of fun and exciting things to do while you’re here! Starting with the Orlando Cabaret Festival and ending with Megacon, the ultimate in cult film, comic book and gaming conventions, you can be sure to find a little something special for each and every member of your traveling party! Our great staff at Tropical Escape has compiled a short list of some of the fun events in the Orlando area during the month of May. If you see something you like you might want to plan your vacation around them!

The 14th Annual Orlando Cabaret Festival, April 22 –May 8

Music lovers and fans of all that’s cabaret will want to make sure to experience this fun festival held at Mad Cow Theatre in downtown Orlando. Their fabulous Mother’s Day Cabaret Brunch is back and better than ever. Mom can enjoy a three-course meal and then head over to the special Mother’s Day performance of Side by Side: A Steve & Eydie Tribute.

Blues-N-Groove Weekend, May 20 & 21

For more musical fun and excitement with just a little bit of travel involved (Mount Dora is about 40 minutes away from Orlando proper) come enjoy the Blues-N-Groove Weekend, an outdoor music festival featuring top blues musicians at Elizabeth Evans Park. This year’s special guest is the unbelievably talented David Julia; he’s only 14 years old and is already becoming an acclaimed singer and songwriter!

Megacon, May 26-May 29

You’ve heard of ComicCon, perhaps even heard of PopCon, but have you heard about MegaCon in Orlando? This 4-day extravaganza features the best of nerddom favorite cult films, anime, comics, and video games and promises to be even better than previous years! This year’s featured guests are Stan Lee, William Shatner, and John Cusack; your teenager will never forgive you if you try to skip this mega event in Orlando!

Central Florida’s BBQ Blowout, May 27 & 28

You’re on vacation, and you have to eat, so if you’re planning your Orlando trip over the Memorial Day weekend, this barbecue blowout is the place to visit! Admission is free and there will be live music and a kid-que competition as well! This barbecue competition has been considered the Super Bowl of Barbecue; the meat will be smoking in Oviedo at the Oviedo Mall, just 18 miles outside of Orlando. Our mouths are already watering and we still have a few weeks to wait!

Orlando Carnival, Memorial Day Weekend

Finally, we can’t forget to mention the Orlando Carnival Downtown. For over 20 years this Mardi Gras-like celebration has signified the “official” start to summer with a parade, costumes, and Caribbean-style food and music. The Miss Orlando Carnival Cultural Pageant offers beautiful women a chance to shine and the Kiddies’ Carnival activities ensure no one is left out of the party!

Top 5 Family Attractions in Orlando



When visiting Orlando, of course you want to take the family to all of the obvious attractions such as Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando, but there is so much more than that! Here are 5 top attractions that you and your family should visit on your next Orlando vacation.


Orlando Science Center



For sixty years, the Orlando Science Center has been a place that inspires curiosity and exploration. Truly one of the great activities for Orlando families, the Science Center encourages learning in a fun way. For visitors from out of town, Orlando Science Center is a must for your “things to do in Orlando” list. There are four floors of exciting exhibits, amazing giant screen movies, and engaging live programming. The Science Center is the perfect family destination.


Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour



The Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour is an interactive journey that uncovers how chocolate transforms from the bean into the delicious chocolate bar that we all know and love. They provide a personal chocolate tour guide, who joins forces with a handsome prince and his dragon sidekick to take guests through a Cacao Tree Greenhouse, a one-of-a-kind Chocolate Museum, a Mystical River of Chocolate, and a Micro Batch Bean-to-the-Bar Factory utilizing old world machinery. With an opportunity to create a customized chocolate bar for an additional cost, Chocolate Kingdom is the most unique chocolate experience in North America and will inspire and amaze chocoholics of all ages.


K-1 Speed Indoor Kart Racing



K1 Speed Orlando is one of the best indoor kart racing tracks and is definitely the place for thrills and excitement! It is open to the public every day of the year, which makes it the perfect place to take your family while vacationing in Orlando. There is no better place to experience wheel-to-wheel racing that is safe, convenient, and affordable. In addition to a professionally designed track, there are also spacious lounges, snack bars, and authentic racing memorabilia on display.


Madame Tussauds



Roll out the red carpet, Orlando! Madame Tussauds, the world’s most famous celebrity wax attraction, provides visitors with the ultimate fame experience, and its signature red carpet treatment. Get ready to experience the essence of America with this brand new immersive and interactive wax experience, bursting with family fun and world-class entertainment.


Pirates Cove Adventure Golf



Pirate’s Cove, also known as “the Original Adventure Golf,” offers the best miniature golf experience! The adventures and legends of infamous pirates come to life in an award-winning themed golf course setting. Putt your way through caves, over footbridges, and under cascading waterfalls, all amidst a fun-filled atmosphere of natural wonders, extraordinary landscaping, and enchanting pirate lore.



Now, those are just a few places, so the next time you are planning a trip to Orlando, don’t be afraid to think outside the park. And remember! If you’re looking for a beautiful place to stay, there’s nowhere better than Tropical Escape Vacation Homes. Contact us or book today to start planning your vacation of a lifetime in beautiful Orlando, Florida!


The Top Free Activities in Orlando, Florida

Vacations are expensive enough with just travel and lodging; nobody wants to pay excessively high activity fees in addition. For that reason, we at Tropical Escape Vacation Homes have prepared a list of the best free activities in Orlando. These are great options to get to know the Florida area without breaking the bank, and don’t worry, these are quality activities.

Grand Bohemian Gallery

Described as eclectic and visually stimulating, this gallery inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel is quite the treat. Featured here are a variety of local and international artists displaying oil paintings, glass work, jewelry, and more! The exhibits cycle each month, so there’s always something new to see – and it’s free!

Downtown Disney

Disney World has a large ticket price, but Downtown Disney is free.  Here you get a taste of Disney culture with a great variety of shops and restaurants. Depending on the time of year, there may be festivals taking place as well. Keep an eye on the Downtown Disney calendar and you may make some incredible memories.

Lake Eola

This is a great segue out of Downtown Disney. Lake Eola Park is nearby downtown and has a mile-long trail offering a view of the cityscape and gorgeous waters.  You can feed the swans here and find some food for yourself nearby. Offering a great view without requiring a trip out of the city, this is a great option.

Live Music

Live music is in abundance across Florida. There are many free beach concerts that appears with the dawn of each season, and some very talented locals play music in both Downtown Disney and local restaurants and bars.  If you’re craving some groovy tunes, a quick search online will provide details on where to go on, whatever night of the week.

Leu Gardens

You can’t put a price on nature, and luckily many parks don’t. Leu Gardens is a 50-acre botanical oasis with several gardens designed to inspire visitors to learn about and appreciate plants. There are 30 minute tours throughout the day, so you don’t need to worry about feeling lost. This place is open 9am-5pm and isn’t far from downtown, allowing easy access. While you’re here, take a tour of the historic Leu House Museum to experience another Florida landmark.

The List Goes On

There’s many free events across Orlando that are worth checking out, and these five are a great way to get started!