13 Perfect Things To Add To Your Florida Winter Bucket List
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Victoria W
Author
Most people assume that there’s no reason to hang around in Florida during the winter except for the warm weather, but that’s just not true. Floridians love to go all out for Christmas, whether it’s with huge light displays, parades, fake snow, or giant trees made of sand, Florida has plenty of amazing ways to celebrate the holidays. Try any of these things to do in Florida in the winter for a memorable Christmas this year:
West Palm Beach, FL, USA
This 35-foot, 600-ton tree made of sand is quite the sight to behold. Nightly entertainment and thousands of lights dazzle in this month-long event. This event runs for the entire month of December. This incredible display definitely qualifies as "only in Florida," and we simply adore it.
It's the perfect Florida winter activity!
Walt Disney World® Resort, Orlando, FL, USA
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a spectacular holiday celebration for children and adults who are children at heart. It's held every December at the Magic Kingdom. Get ready for parades, fireworks, and plenty of Disney magic.
This winter activity in Florida makes everyone's bucket list. It's an iconic event that we all look forward to each year!
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Pensacola, FL, USA
Pensacola Winterfest: Falling snow, hot chocolate, holiday performances and magical train rides. Get photos with Santa and the Grinch, or enjoy the Elf parade! The fun happens every year from November through December.
Tickets start at $10.00 for kids, and $14.00 for adults. This is one of the most fun things to do in Florida in the winter season!
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DeLand, FL, USA
Florida's first luxury home, built by the famous hatmaker blends different architectural styles and Gilded Age decorations. The house is especially charming dressed up for the holidays. Christmas tours are given every year from mid- November through mid-January.
Tours run 75 to 90 minutes long and run daily every day except on Sunday mornings. Reservations are required for these tours.
If you're enjoying winter in Florida, make sure to put the Stetson Mansion on your list!
1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720.
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, 6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746, USA
Every year, this magical show of interactive displays and hand-carved ice sculptures brings stories to life. This year's theme is A Charlie Brown Christmas. ICE is held annually from mid-November through January 1st.
At this frosty event in Central Florida, you can pretend you live somewhere with an actual winter. It's a great way to shake up winter in Florida!
6000 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34746.
Epcot Center Drive, Epcot Center Dr, Florida, USA
Epcot is a fascinating place this time of year, because you can experience holiday rituals from all over the world (with plenty of delicious food and beverages.)
An Epcot Christmas is a great way to celebrate the holiday season in Florida.
St. Augustine, FL, USA
From November 19th through the end of January, our nation's oldest city is covered in millions of lights to celebrate the season. Stroll through the historic streets or catch a trolley ride with cookies, cider, and "magic" glasses that make the lights even more spectacular.
Winter activities in Florida never looked so good. Enjoy the lights with everyone in your family!
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Florida, USA
This has long been a Florida tradition. We basically have two kinds of Christmas trees. If you have palm trees in your yard, you should really consider decorating them. Don't they look great all lit up?
We love this fun winter activity in Florida!
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Christmas, FL 32709, USA
Wouldn't it be magical to send a letter from Christmas? It's totally possible, if you take a trip to this tiny town, and bring all of your Christmas cards with you.
A trip to Christmas, Florida should be on everyone's annual winter season list.
Miami, FL, USA
Santa's Enchanted Forest: The World's Largest Holiday Theme Park, featuring over 100 rides, shows, games and attractions. It's open every year from the first week in November through the first week in January. The theme park is open daily from 5:00 p.m. to midnight.
If you're looking for Florida winter activities, this theme park is guaranteed to get you into the holiday spirit!
Located in Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33155.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, 11016 Lillian Saunders Drive, White Springs, FL 32096, USA
This park has so much holiday spirit, with marshmallow roasting, carol singing, millions of lights twinkling in the majestic oaks. The Festival of Lights run in December each year, with some nights open for drive-through viewing only.
Brighten up winter in Florida with the Festival of Lights this year!
11016 Lillian Sanders Dr, White Springs, FL 32096
Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901, USA
At the vacation homes for Thomas Edison and Henry Ford you can tour the homes and the 21-acre botanical garden. During December, the houses are lit up and hours are extended for Edison Ford Holiday Nights. This event begins late November with an annual tree lighting ceremony. Nightly tours, river cruises, food service and entertainment (and on certain dates, visits from Santa), will run from November 25th through January 1st daily from 5:30 p.m - 9:00 p.m. Admission for adults (with tour) is $20.00.
This Florida winter activity has become a yearly tradition!
2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 3390.
Apalachicola, FL 32320, USA
This Northwest Florida town is so charming, and it's worth a visit any time of year. And every year, Santa will arrive by shrimpboat to the docks! Watch as the historic town of Apalachicola lights up the Day after Thanksgiving.
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St. Petersburg, FL, USA
This huge light display, with half a million lights, is famous for its quirky charm. It's sure to put a smile on the face of even the grumpiest Scrooge out there. A single house, it still manages to incorporate 700 animated objects and a 700-foot-tall lit Christmas tree!
Put this on your list of "things to do in Florida in the winter!"
2719 Oakdale St S St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Have you experienced any of these things to do in Florida in the winter? Do you have any favorites we might have missed?
Looking for more things to do in the winter in Florida? Check out Plant City, Florida’s Winter Strawberry Capital of the World!
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More to Explore
Things To Do In Florida In The Winter
What is winter in Florida like?
Winter in Florida is a wonderful escape from the cold! The coldest month in Florida during the winter is January, and it’s only 49 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes this state a pleasant escape if you want to ditch the snow and sub-zero temperatures.
Can you swim in Florida in the winter?
Yes, you can swim in Florida in the wintertime! In fact, many of the seaside towns are dry and sunny during the winter season, averaging 63-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of our favorite beaches to go swimming each winter in Florida are:
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- Juno Beach Park
- South Beach, Miami Beach
- Clearwater Beach
- Delray Beach, Palm County
Which side of Florida is warmest in the winter?
Southern Florida is the warmest side of Florida in the winter. The farther south you head, the better the weather! If you’re looking to escape the cold, head to these fun and exciting Florida winter spots:
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Florida, USA