Florida often gets the short end of the stick on a lot of things; one of them being Christmas. Or the whole month of December really. Just because we live in Florida, doesn't mean we can't still feel like this during the holiday season:
So here are 15 activities to enjoy a Florida Christmas this winter break.
1. Go take a ride on the Polar Express
Yes, you can actually take a ride on the Polar Express! Ride in your PJ's and sip on your hot-chocolate all the way from Tavares to Orlando, and back. During the one hour train ride, get your golden ticket punched, and take home a silver sleigh bell. Train rides to the North Pole run until the 30th.
2. Visit a Life-size Gingerbread House
2. Make a Gingerbread House
An activity that you can eat afterwards? Um, yes please! Either buy a kit from Publix, or visit Disney's Boardwalk Resort's “Gingerbread Academy.” For $125 for a family of four, build gingerbread houses to take home, while sipping on complimentary hot chocolate and apple cider.
3. Donate a toy
There will always be families in need during the holiday season, and there is never a better time to give. Some notable and trustworthy charities to give back to this Christmas to provide for a child in need include, Toys for Tots , Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse, and Salvation Army; or even donate to your local children's hospital. However you decide to donate doesn't matter, it just matters that you're giving back.
4. Have a Christmas movie marathon
Some favorites include, but are not limited to: Elf, Home Alone (1 & 2), Santa Clause (1-3), and Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer.
5. Go ice-skating
Indoor ice-skating rinks: the goat. Go to your local rink, or Light Up UCF.
6. Wear fuzzy Christmas socks
Turn down that thermostat and bring out the blankets and fuzzy socks. (Check out Target's 12 Days of Socks Christmas set.)
7. Make a sand-man
Okay, so maybe it doesn't snow here but at least we don't have to shovel our driveways.
8. Eat peppermint ice-cream
One of the perks of living in Florida: you can eat ice-cream any time of the year and it'll almost never be too cold.
9. Decorate. Decorate. Decorate.
10. See a local production of the Nutcracker
No matter how small you think your town is, I can almost guarantee you that they have a local production of the Nutcracker somewhere.
11. Visit the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando
Yes, this hotel is actually called Gaylord, and yes, they do it up for Christmas. Check out the 2 million pounds of sculpted ice, slide down the two-story ice slide, or tube down a "snowy" hill. The Gaylord Palms
12. Go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Visit the happiest place on Earth, at the happiest time of the year. Definitely the priciest item on the list but definitely worth it. The tickets are slightly cheaper than the average ticket to get into the park, and features shorter lines, exclusive park entry, the Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, Elsa's lighting of Cinderella's Castle, and exclusive holiday treats.
13. Drive around and look at Christmas lights
Every city has a neighborhood that does the absolute most around Christmas. Drive around, check it out.
14. Wear an ugly Christmas sweater [in public]
There's about one week in December that you can wear a sweater without sweating, so make the most of it.
15. Make cookies for Santa
We don't have chimneys, so Santa has to find some other way into the house. If he's going to make all of that effort just to give you presents, at least try to make it worth his time.
