Christmas in Florida

Christmas in Florida: 8 Things to do During the Holidays

8 Things to do During the Holidays in Florida

Are you heading to Florida for the winter? Worried that the kids aren’t going to be seeing snow for Christmas? Well, just because it’s Florida it doesn’t mean that you may not see snow or even ice. Below are seven things to do when you’re in Florida for Christmas to keep you in the holiday spirit.

1. Disney World

If you have kids, or you’re a kid at heart, there’s nothing better than going to Disney World for Christmas. All of the characters are dressed in their holiday best and the whole park is even more magical (if that’s even possible). One thing that you don’t want to miss is the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. This Main Street, U.S.A attraction is a holiday favorite!

2. Snow in Naples

That’s right! Snow during the holidays in balmy Naples, Florida. It happens in late November during Third Street South’s Celebration of Lights in late November. Goes to show, despite the lack of frost in Naples during the winter holidays, the town really knows how to celebrate. All the major shopping areas deck the halls with lights and decorations and throw a series of special events from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.

3. Visiting Santa

Just because you’re in Florida and as far from the North Pole as possible, ti doesn’t mean that you can’t see Santa, too. Santa can be found anywhere from Disney’s Animal Kingdom to the Christmas Trains, Naples Christmas Parade and, of course, at Santa’s Enchanted Forest in Miami.

4. LEGOLAND

Everyone who loves LEGOs are going to want to check out the holiday happenings at the celebration called LEGOLAND Florida’s Christmas Bricktacular. This is found near Lakeland. Kids will love meeting and greeting LEGO Toy Soldiers and Santa and decorating live trees using LEGO ornaments. They can even help with building a Christmas tree made of LEGOs for Christmas. There are scavenger hunts complete with prizes and fireworks set to Christmas music each night.

5. EPCOT

What would the holidays be without holiday music? Go to EPCOT for the beautiful and memorable Candlelight Processional, a very popular holiday tradition. It’s meaningful and beautiful and includes a huge choir and an orchestra, and a retelling of the beautiful Christmas story by a celeb narrator.

6. Pensacola Winterfest

Just picture it – some snow, lots of hot chocolate and lots of merry Christmas cheer. This is what you’ll find at Pensacola’s Winterfest. This is something fun for the whole family and it features a fun Elf Parade, Snowball Derby and Polar Express. This fun time starts Thanksgiving weekend.

7. Gaylord Palms’ Ice

What’s winter without some ICE!? This experience is something that you won’t want to miss in Kissimmee. You’ll be able to put on a huge winter coat, since you’ll be stepping into just 9 degrees and you’ll find a lot of great things to experience, from interactive environments to huge 3D sculptures and ice monuments. There’s more than 20,000 feet of ice sculptures that are carved by hand and ice slides that are two stories tall to enjoy. You are going to have a blast with the kids here!

8. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

One of the best things about the holidays are the wonderful light displays. You’re going to find a spectacular display at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Here is where the animals are enjoying the holidays, especially the manatees, since this is one of the very best places to find them. You may even be able to see a celebrity – Lu, a hippopotamus who’s known for performing in a lot of movies.

Not Sure Where to Stay in Florida for Christmas?

While we are partial to Naples, Florida we do love the other quaint beach towns Florida has on its sandy shores welcoming visitors to warm water in the winter months of December, January and February.
So, will you have a car? How many nights/weeks? Ages? Likes? BUDGET? House? 2 hotel rooms? Condo apartment? All of these factors help determine which coastal Florida city is right for your winter vacation. We cover all of these factors in our post on the Best Florida Beach Towns for Winter Travel.

Conclusion

As you can see, Florida knows how to do the holidays right. These are just seven of the ways that you can enjoy the holidays in Florida. Take the kids or just go with your friends or spouse. You’ll have a blast!

Planning a Trip to Florida?

After relaxing in Naples Florida, return to the beauty and comfort of a home from Naples Florida Vacation Homes. We have a wide selection of homes located all over the Naples area. Whether you’re hoping to squeeze in a few rounds of golf during your visit or you’d like to relax by a private pool, you’ll find the perfect home to fit your needs.
Check out our rentals and book today! We look forward to having you.