A DIFFERENT SIDE OF FLORIDA The history of Celebration is one of a kind. Founded by The Walt Disney Company in the mid-1990s, this master-planned community was fashioned aft er historical American small towns, with civic buildings designed by world-famous architects like Philip Johnson, Cesar Pelli, and Robert A.M. Stern. Today, Celebration is a welcoming and charming town, with a character all its own (in fact, Forbes Magazine , named it one of America’s 10 prettiest towns). The picturesque downtown is compact and walkable. Visitors can learn a lot about downtown Celebration by taking the self-guided architectural walking tour. You’ll pass some of Celebration’s restaurants (read more on pgs. 54 & 55) and cafes, and get the stories behind the town’s most architecturally interesting buildings (including the original Preview Center designed by Charles Moore, the SunTrust Bank building by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, and the post off ice by Michael Graves.) Aft er your walking tour, rent a bicycle from Celebration Bike Rental located behind the Bohemian Hotel and explore Celebration’s miles of scenic trails. UNIQUE SHOPS AND PLENTIFUL PARKS The main shopping promenade in Celebration is Market Street , but shops can be found throughout downtown. Shopping options include a bakery for dogs; clothing boutiques for men, women, and children; and the Market Street Gallery , which off ers home décor, jewelry, and a year-round Christmas room. Downtown also off ers plenty of places to relax and enjoy the outdoors, including the tree-shaded Market Square Park , with its water fountain surrounded by benches. One of the most scenic spots in Celebration is the Lakeside Promenade Fountain , overlooking the huge Lake Rianhard. Surrounded by palm trees and benches, the fountain is interactive, which means kids love to splash and play in its three rings of water jets. Some of Celebration’s downtown structures were designed to encourage people to congregate. An example is a Philip Johnson-designed red brick building that previously served as a Town Hall and a Welcome Center. Its “forest” of white columns and sloping metal roof creates covered “porches.” Celebration off ers year-round events, including nightly snow falls during the holidays, car shows, concerts, food festivals, and holiday happenings. To see what’s happening in Celebration during your visit, check out: ExperienceKissimmee.com/celebration ExperienceKissimmee.com 61
Experience Kissimmee 2018 Kissimmee Destination Guide: Page 61
