My love of old classic cars has always simmered inside me and I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the weekly rally of old, veteran, classic and collector’ s cars held every Saturday night in Kissimmee Old Town. Known as the Saturday Nite Cruise and attended by over three hundred vehicles, this is the largest classic car cruise in Florida and makes for a wonderful family atmosphere with locals and tourists of all ages enjoying the laid back atmosphere.
Naturally, I had driven along the Highway 192 and past the giant wheel at the entrance to the Old Town on numerous occasions, but it had never occurred to me to stop and investigate - after all, it was only a kiddies’ fairground taking on the might of Disney and Universal. How wrong I was.
The following Saturday found me parking my rented car in one of the local side streets and walking the short distance to the wheel and adjacent Slingshot, a catapult type contraption that hurtles two unsuspecting occupants over three hundred and fifty feet up into the night sky. An onboard camera relays their horrified expressions, facial contortions and severely windswept hair to two monitor screens on public view at the ticket office. How the sight of two terrified, screaming adults is supposed to encourage cowards like me to take the giant step forward for thirty seconds of nightmarish horror is quite beyond me but there seemed to be plenty of brave souls willing to take my place.
The delightful Old Town is one main street lined with bars, shops and restauants either side and a kiddies’ fun fair at the end. A crossroads half way down leads to a band stand with talented groups playing for the possibility of being discovered. Rows of line dancers can regulalry be seen joining in, much to the delight of onlookers.
Sit back at the nearest bar, relax and enjoy the quality of the music, watch the lovely old cars parade up the street, then park up for closer examination by the admiring public. The Americans are open and enthusiastically noisy with their appreciation of the cars and the atmosphere generated makes for a thoroughly enjoyable night.
The more adventurous can wander to the FunSpot next door and enjoy the Super Shot, which is a rope with a harness that slowly lifts its’ riders one hundred and fifty feet into the air before releasing them to fall vertically before tightening and sweeping over a lake over and above the onlookers below.
Friday night is also a cruise night for customised cars built between 1975 and 1987 and Thursday is for the bikers to strut their stuff. More fun, music, good company with a family orientated atmosphere.
Kissimmee Old Town is a must visit place and will be enjoyed by one and all.
Naturally, I had driven along the Highway 192 and past the giant wheel at the entrance to the Old Town on numerous occasions, but it had never occurred to me to stop and investigate - after all, it was only a kiddies’ fairground taking on the might of Disney and Universal. How wrong I was.
The following Saturday found me parking my rented car in one of the local side streets and walking the short distance to the wheel and adjacent Slingshot, a catapult type contraption that hurtles two unsuspecting occupants over three hundred and fifty feet up into the night sky. An onboard camera relays their horrified expressions, facial contortions and severely windswept hair to two monitor screens on public view at the ticket office. How the sight of two terrified, screaming adults is supposed to encourage cowards like me to take the giant step forward for thirty seconds of nightmarish horror is quite beyond me but there seemed to be plenty of brave souls willing to take my place.
The delightful Old Town is one main street lined with bars, shops and restauants either side and a kiddies’ fun fair at the end. A crossroads half way down leads to a band stand with talented groups playing for the possibility of being discovered. Rows of line dancers can regulalry be seen joining in, much to the delight of onlookers.
Sit back at the nearest bar, relax and enjoy the quality of the music, watch the lovely old cars parade up the street, then park up for closer examination by the admiring public. The Americans are open and enthusiastically noisy with their appreciation of the cars and the atmosphere generated makes for a thoroughly enjoyable night.
The more adventurous can wander to the FunSpot next door and enjoy the Super Shot, which is a rope with a harness that slowly lifts its’ riders one hundred and fifty feet into the air before releasing them to fall vertically before tightening and sweeping over a lake over and above the onlookers below.
Friday night is also a cruise night for customised cars built between 1975 and 1987 and Thursday is for the bikers to strut their stuff. More fun, music, good company with a family orientated atmosphere.
Kissimmee Old Town is a must visit place and will be enjoyed by one and all.