Automotive in Meadow Woods

Kissimmee Go-Karts gets adrenaline flowing with its exhilarating go-kart track, game-crammed arcade, and gator pen. Speed-seeking individuals aged 11 and older can tackle the go-kart track solo or hop inside a double kart with a buddy for quick revolutions around the mile-long track. Riders who are at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's license can climb into an Indy kart, the faster and more powerful older brother of the park's regular rides. The speedway's two conjoined figure eights include high-velocity straightaways, bridges, and tricky curves. After zipping around the track, the facility's arcade tempts gamers with more than 50 machines, some of which dispense prizes when tickled. In addition, Kissimmee Go-Karts’ watery oasis is home to real, live alligators, which provide gator lovers with an up-close look at Florida's most famous reptiles.

Since its inception more than 30 years ago, Just Brakes has expanded from one auto shop to more than 160 outposts across eight states. At every location, ASE-certified technicians maintain vehicle safety with the standard brake service including a lifetime warranty on parts, labor and platonic love. Though their specialty is brakes, the techs also perform routine maintenance and repairs such as oil changes, factory maintenance services, batteries, belt replacement, and fluid services.

Pair-A-Dice's washes quickly sanitize cars of every size with the deft touch of a brushless, soft-cloth system. During each full-service session, technicians make vacuum noises while vacuuming the carpets, seats, and mats, then send the car hopscotching through the tunnel. As cars emerge bright and shiny on the other side, staffers touch up the windows, dust off the dash, and towel down the freshly cleaned exterior. The SuperSaver wash—which is founded on all the soft-cloth goodness of the full-service wash—affords dirty autos a few extra perks, such as a clear-coat sealant that emblazons the finish and a foam wax that wraps the car in a glossy ribbon, protecting it from pollution and dust bunnies crossing the road. Meanwhile, an underbody rinse and rust inhibitor treatment spruce up the chassis and a tire shine tackles puddle scum. To officially conclude the cleansing ritual, techs declare the car clean with a ceremonial air freshener.

With more than a dozen antique aircrafts on display, Kissimmee Air Museum chronicles the rich aviation history of Florida and the nation. While planes fly overhead, flight fans can flock to the northwest corner of Kissimmee Gateway Airport to ingest the on-site museum's incredible inventory of vintage fighters, educational exhibits, and any snacks hiding in their pockets. Current exhibit Air Power and Pearl Harbor traces the rise of air power before the famed 1941 attack, showcasing exclusive bird's-eye-view photographs taken by a Japanese bomber pilot. Visitors donning homemade bulletproof vests repurposed from homemade muscleman costumes can confidently peruse the museum's formidable World War II rifle collection, as well as its wide array of German Luftwaffe artifacts, including test equipment and literature.

With steady wrenches and minds crammed with vehicular know-how, the expert technicians at Napleton Chrysler Jeep Dodge make quick work of threats to automotive health. A four-pack of oil and filter changes means an upstanding driver or amorous crash-test dummy can ensure the insides of each engine in the driveway stay appropriately lubricated with the fresh fluid necessary for optimal combustion. Each appointment lasts half an hour or less, allowing customers just enough time to take a catnap or daydream about flipping through the most recent issue of Car and Driver in the commodious lounge area.

Growing up in New York City, Vinny Rodriguez spent a lot of time jetting down the streets of Spanish Harlem on his dirt bike and ATV—joy rides that would foreshadow his future profession. Vinny eventually channeled his love of riding into a profession by completing his motorcycle mechanic's certification and opening Vinny's Garage. To this day it doesn't feel like a job to him. "This garage is more of my lifestyle than it is a business," he says, evincing an ethos that prioritizes making new riding buddies over making a quick buck.