When you and your family need a reprieve from the stress of daily life, head on over to Florida for some winter holiday fun. You may not experience that quintessential White Christmas, but Floridians are experts at celebrating just a bit differently. And, shaking up holiday traditions can be relaxing and fun!
Kid-friendly magic is always around the corner in Florida. Whether you're looking for major attractions, educational experiences, or affordable indoor or outdoor activities, here are some ideas for your family's holiday travel adventures.
LEGOLAND® Florida Resort
Parents: become a kid again! You’ll forget the trials of work and life when you step into LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Their epic Christmas Bricktacular celebrations happen on the weekends in December. LEGO® Santa and toy soldier characters are on the scene. Enjoy the snow falling in Fun Town. Don't forget to bask in the glow of the 30-foot LEGO® Christmas tree. (There are also at least 50 other rides and attractions to enjoy, too.)
Fort Christmas Historical Park
Fort Christmas in Christmas, Fla., boasts a historical, Cracker-style Christmas during the first weekend of December. Learn about how pioneer families from the 1870s to 1930s spent their holidays. Families can watch demonstrations like broom-making, basket-weaving, rope-making, spinning, quilting, lace-making, and wood carving. There’s a playground, complete with a basketball court, a tennis court, and a small baseball field. Pavilions with barbecue grills can be rented for larger groups upon request. Of course, Santa makes an appearance on both Saturday and Sunday.
Universal Studios Florida®
From early December to early January at Universal Studios Florida® in Orlando, enjoy a daily Macy's Holiday Parade™ which includes those famous balloons, clowns, floats, and marching bands. Live music by a famous artist is featured on certain evenings. Santa takes time out of his busy schedule to be at Universal Studios each afternoon.
Suess Landing™, at the Universal's Islands of Adventure®, is transformed for the winter holidays! The tale of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is retold in the Grinchmas™ Who-liday Spectacular. You may even bump into The Grinch as he saunters through the streets of Whoville or sit down with him at The Grinch™ & Friends Character Breakfast in Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous™.
Inexpensive Ideas for Creating Winter Indoors
Even if your plans are simply to visit a relative's home in Florida during the holidays, you and your family can create winter indoors. Set the mood by dropping the air conditioner temperature a few extra degrees.
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Wear scarves, hats, and gloves inside.
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Wrap Christmas lights around the palm trees in the yard or add ornaments to house plants.
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Let kids play with homemade snow play dough.
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Put on Christmas music (preferably in a vintage record player).
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Bake Christmas cookies.
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Create 'snow' with paper and have 'snowball fights' with rolled-up white socks or cotton balls.
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Watch winter-themed family movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Prancer, Disney's Frozen, or Snow Day.
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Play winter-themed games like Hasbro's Don't Break the Ice. Pin the snowball on the snowman instead of pin the tail on the donkey
If staying indoors is too restricting, check to see if the areas you're staying near have:
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indoor skating rinks (check out this list by Florida cities)
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movie theaters playing winter or holiday-themed movies (Fandango)
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railroad museums or children's museums (Florida Association of Museums)
When you're overworked, treat yourself and the whole family to a Florida holiday trip. Enjoy the state's temperatures and its ambiance of pure fun. Make new traditions and experience family-friendly attractions and activities. The only stress you'll have is picking which unique activity to participate in first!
