“It’s like Disney World where you can live.”
That’s what a recent visitor had to say about the quaint little town of Celebration, just southwest of Kissimmee. And there’s some truth to it: Disney developed Celebration in the early 1990s. But don’t let the name fool you. Celebration is a fully functional, self-sufficient, totally ‘real’ town. It is much cooler than most cities.
Immaculate Victorian homes line quiet streets. Locals and visitors alike frequent quaint shops, bistros and pubs along a bustling main street. Eager ducks and swans await handouts along the shores of sparkling lakes too beautiful to be real, but they are. The small town evokes memories of a bygone era when you knew all your neighbors and walked to local stores for what you needed. Everything is brand new though, presented in bright, eye-catching colors (orange, blue, yellow, pink) just to remind you that this isnewurbanism: the revival of the classic ideas of community that our grandparents grew up with.
In a word, the town is simply charming. And beautiful. The landscaping is impeccable, and each building, from huge mansions to condominiums, restaurants, and shops, is specifically designed to “fit” into its surroundings. Spanish moss can be seen lazily covering almost everything. When you’re at Celebration, you think,This is how it should be.And in Celebration,it ishow that.
If you’re in Orlando and want a day off from the parks, why not try Celebration? You won’t be disappointed. The small town offers a lot for all tastes: quaint boutiques; a variety of dining options; a fantastic network of nature trails winding around ponds and conservation land patches; one of the best golf courses in the area; and a perfect little town theater. Or, you may want to stroll (or drive) the streets and see all the beautiful houses. Certainly something worth doing, if you haven’t done it before.
In any case, Celebration is a great place to visit and all too often it doesn’t make it onto people’s travel itineraries. It’s just an interesting place to see, if you haven’t experienced the ‘new ubrainism’ before. And it has lots of fun things to do.