Article

Beach Vibes in Kissimmee: Sandy Escapes Without the Coastline

Discover sandy spots in Kissimmee where you can relax, play, and soak up the sun.

You don’t have to hit the coast to enjoy a beach day. Right here in Kissimmee, you’ll find sandy spots designed for fun. Whether that’s lounging poolside at a resort, digging your toes into man-made beaches, or riding the surf at water parks with wave pools. Add in tropical palm trees, breezy shade, and plenty of family-friendly activities, and you’ve got all the sun-soaked vibes without the drive. Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen — your Central Florida beach escape starts in Kissimmee!

Discovery Cove®

Head to Discovery Cove® to enjoy a full day of relaxation and excitement. With white sand beaches, tropical lagoons, and crystal-clear water, this spot is an oasis right in the middle of Central Florida. You can fully relax here under the sun or shade of the palm trees. You and your family have the opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel with the tropical fish, and eat until your heart’s content! Did you know a day’s worth of dining is included? That’s right — after all the fun of island life, lay out and chow down. Then slowly ease your way back into the flowing waters. 

Boy and girl wearing black wetsuits play in the sand at Discovery Cove.

Play in the sand at Discovery Cove.

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

If you’re looking for a little different experience, Gaylord Palms Resort has an entire atrium dedicated to Florida landscape. You’ll find interesting fish in the resort’s 360,000 gallons of water surrounding the Castillo de San Marcos. Also, sand sculptures made from two tons of sand in the Key West atrium are there. So that’s where all the sand is! Outside, take advantage of the resort’s water park, complete with water slides, zero-entry pool, and a FlowRider — The Wake Zone. Surfing isn’t just in the ocean – you can ride the waves right at your own resort. 

Boy surfing a wave at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

Surf the waves at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

Disney’s Boardwalk

What more could you ask for than a beautiful stroll after a delicious dinner? While visiting Disney’s Boardwalk, you can take a walk around the area’s boardwalk path to a sandy area with the perfect view of the entire Boardwalk. Whether you enjoy a large slice of pizza, your favorite sweet treat, or a delicious beverage, the beach has lounge chairs and hammocks for you to indulge in the foods while getting an incredible view of the water and sky.

Universal's Volcano Bay

Universal’s Volcano Bay is now open for the year! This incredible water park is a theme park in itself with so many attractions, places to grab a bite, and spots to simply chill. Find your paradise at Waturi Beach – the multi-directional wave pool where you can bob with the waves or lay out on the sand. They even have private one- and two-story cabanas that you can rent out for your family, making it the perfect time to social distance even more. Next, walk into the zero-entry pool with sandy beaches at Puka Uli Lagoon. Whether you ride the thrilling rides or choose to wait at the end, there’s plenty of sand to dig your toes into. Except for the massive volcano Krakatau, you’ll feel just like you’re basking in the coastal sand. Cowabunga!  

Lounge chairs on a sandy beach face Krakatau Volcano with cascading waterfalls at Universal’s Volcano Bay, framed by palm trees under a clear blue sky.

Kick back at Waturi Beach and let the views of Krakatau Volcano set the tone for a sun-soaked day at Universal’s Volcano Bay.

SEA LIFE Orlando

Explore what lies beneath the ocean’s surface at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium at ICON Park. This interactive journey takes you through the world’s largest body of water. Find more than 5,000 creatures in each of the exhibits and see if you can spot the seahorses, stingrays, turtles, and sharks along the way. Even though your toes may not be in the sand, you’ll get an up-close look at which sea creatures travel along the sand. 

Boy, mother, and trainer touch sea creatures in the sand at SEA LIFE Orlando.

This hands-on exhibit at SEA LIFE Orland, a short drive from Kissimmee, lets visitors touch real starfish and anemones.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

When you step outside the Omni Orlando Resort, you’ll see many options for water activities. If you’re with the whole family, enjoy the rushing water slide, fun splash pad, and ultimate wave pool. You can rent cabanas right next to the wave pool to keep an eye out for those swells and little ones. If it’s just you and your significant other, the lazy river and the adult-only pool overlooking the beautiful golf course may be just what you need. And while the resort has an incredible array of water activities to choose from, you’ll only find true sand out on the golf course. Although landing in the sand is one of the last things you want to do out on the greens, the National and International golf courses are both for skilled and beginner players — so it’s all fair game! 

Hot air balloons fly over the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate at sunset. Golf course is in foreground.

Play a round of golf at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.

Take a Drive to the Florida Coasts

For those craving some coastal time along the sandy shores of Florida, Kissimmee, is conveniently located within 90 minutes of both the east and west coasts. Rent a car or take your ride to make a day trip of it during your Central Florida stay with an excursion to Cocoa Beach on the east coast or Clearwater Beach on the west coast.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again — Central Florida has it all! While you may have come for the thrilling theme parks and wild outdoor adventures, Kissimmee has so many places to take time with your family and just relax. Breathe in that Florida air and unwind under the palm trees whenever you visit Kissimmee.