St. Cloud (Florida)

St. Cloud is a small city in the Greater Orlando region.

Understand

St. Cloud, though kind of in the shadow of the larger Kissimmee to the west, has a nice lakefront and some attractions, particularly zoological, for the tourist in the greater Orlando area. Its streets take the name of US states, which belies some of the little less tasteful aspects of the town like that it was a veteran's home for Confederate soldiers or a sundown town.

Get in

St. Cloud is only about 10 mi (16 km) southeast of Kissimmee on US 192, and, if you lack personal transportation, you can use the Lynx Link 10 bus from the Kissimmee (Intermodal) Station to St Cloud (Live Oak Blvd & US Hwy 192), though most of the safaris and such are further out. US Hwy 441 follows US Hwy 192 concurrently through St Cloud as E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy.

See

• 1 Lakefront Park, 1104 Lakeshore Blvd. A picturesque park fronting East Lake Tohopekaliga with a small beach and jetty. (updated Mar 2022)
• 2 Reptile World Serpentarium, 5705 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, ☏ +1 407 892-6905. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. An exhibition of all your favorite reptilians (minus dinosaurs). $11.75 adults, $9.76 ages 6-17. (updated Mar 2022)
• 3 Wild Florida, 3301 Lake Cypress Rd, Kenansville, ☏ +1 407 957-3135. M-Sa 9AM-6PM. This park features a drive-thru safari, alligator habitat, Nala the Florida panther, and airboat rides on what is considered to be the headwaters of the Everglades. Various. (updated Mar 2022)
• 4 Central Florida Animal Reserve, 500 Broussard Rd, ☏ +1 321 637-0110. A wildlife preserve for many of the big cats like tigers and cougars. (updated Mar 2022)

St Cloud FL East Lake Toho02

Reptile World Serpentarium sign 02

Do

• 1 Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida (Zipline Safari), 4755 N Kenansville Rd, St Cloud, ☏ +1 407 957-9794, info@floridaecosafaris.com. Journey deep into Forever Florida, a 4700 acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area, preserved just as nature intended. This beautiful site boasts 9 distinct Florida ecosystems and an endless array of natural flora and fauna including alligators, black bears, nearly two hundred species of birds and the endangered Florida panther. Choose your own fully-guided adventure: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari, soar through the treetops on the Zipline Safari. Reservations required. 

Eat

• 1 The Catfish Place, 2324 13th St, ☏ +1 407 892-5771. Daily 11AM-8PM. You can sample some gator or frog legs or even turtle here, in addition to the putative catfish options. $$. (updated Mar 2022)
• 2 Crabby Bill’s, 1104 Lakeshore Blvd. You may wish to come here more for the ambience than anything as it has got the backdrop of the lake and outdoor patio for viewing those sunsets, but they also have gator. Sometimes the flies like it here too. $$. (updated Mar 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Budget Inn of St. Cloud, 602 13th St, ☏ +1 407 892-2858. (updated Mar 2022)