I'm sure many of you know about the holiday parties at the many theme parks. And while they are a way to experience the magic of the holidays, there are so many more special holiday outings to experience here in Florida!
Here are some of my favorite adventures to celebrate the holidays:
St. Augustine's Night of Lights
This is a truly wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit! St. Augustine is one of my favorite little towns to visit because it is full of so much history, and there is something new to experience every time I visit. But to see this little town all decorated in wreaths and dripping with twinkling lights is truly magical.
I suggest spending the whole day there, even though the lights don't turn on and the tours don't begin until it gets dark. As I said, there is so much to explore in this historical town. You can check out my blog post for more of a deep dive, but here are some special holiday highlights.
Grab coffee at Coffee Realty House Cafe.
Visit the St. Augustine Light House. The whole landmark is wrapped in Christmas decorations. *Note* their normal ghost tours are on pause at this time.
Take a walk down George Street and grab some treats.
Enjoy a martini at the iconic Tini Martini Bar when decorated for the holidays is like being inside a holiday ornament.
But now for the main attraction...the lights. You can walk around and see the town all lit up, but to get the full experience, book a tour with Old Town Trolley Tours.
Tickets are purchased by row, which seats up to 4 people, and prices range from $73-$93 depending on the date and time. The ticket prices also include a complimentary cup of cider and sugar cookie per guest. You can purchase tickets online or at any of the Old Town Trolley locations.
What makes this experience is the nostalgic Christmas music playing, laughing with friends and family, seeing this whole town a glow, and having strangers shout to you, "Merry Christmas!"
If you want to slow down and grab some pictures, be sure to head to the park in the center of the city to get some great holiday photos!
Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens
Still want some more Christmas lights? Well, a wonderful traveling display comes to Leu Gardens every year.
Journey through different lands of music, lights, and special effects that twinkle and dance upon the beautiful botanical foliage.
Be sure to grab a cup of joy, wine, beer, or hot chocolate at the stands along the trail.
If you are closer to Jacksonville, check out the dazzling display at the Jacksonville Arboretum.
Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo
Switch up twinkling lights for colorful sculpted moving lanterns!
A truly beautiful display that covers pretty much the entire zoo.
The perfect place to get your holiday glow on!
Tickets are $25, but you can buy a pack of 4 for $80.
Be sure to check out Downtown Sanford before or after the lantern festivities.
Enchantment St. Pete
Ever wondered what it would be like to be transported into a holiday snow globe?
Well, this is your chance!
Located at the Tropicana Field, Enchantment transports you to the North Pole, with massive lit-up decorations, an ice skating rink, and a quaint village market.
Tickets start at $30, which only covers entry.
Light Up Mt. Dora
Every year, those Hallmark movies make their way into our homes and dreams. But what if you could experience it in real life?
At Christmas time, this quaint little down by the lake is all decorated in lights, every store trimmed up, every window showcasing a holiday display.
And best yet, you can grab a holiday beverage from one of my favorite coffee shops, Serendipity Brews, and wander the luminous streets.
To read more about things to experience in this quaint little town, read my blog post.
See Manatees at Crystal River and Blue Springs
Now, this holiday outing is especially unique to Florida. We all know the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," but what about a manatee instead?
At Crystal River, there are numerous tour companies where you can either kayak or swim with manatees. You can also see them from the boardwalk at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.
Check out my post about Crystal River during Manatee Season to learn more!
At Blue Springs, you can only view the manatees via watercraft. You can rent a kayak with the state park or book an excursion through a tour company. Check out my blog post about Blue Springs to learn more!
Sanding Ovations
Another completely unique activity to Florida. While there might be ice hotels and castles in Canada and Norway, here in Florida, at any time of year, we build sandcastles!
Sanding Ovations happens at Treasure Island in St. Pete. View the work of renowned artists that will make you go WOW!
There are plenty of food and craft vendors to enjoy.
Parking can be stressful, so I took their bus shuttle, which guaranteed me a parking spot and was complimentary. Bus shuttles run every 15-30 minutes. Learn more about the parking situation on their website.
*Note*Â This event was cancelled this year due (2024) to hurricane devastation, but put it on your holiday bucket list for next year!
I hope this helps with your holiday outing plans!
It may not be a white Christmas, but Floridians know how to make a palm tree look very festive!
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