Christmas in Central Florida. At first, the phrase might seem like an oxymoron. Sun, beaches and bikinis don’t exactly come to mind when you think of the holidays. While Central Florida may not be able to compete with ice skating at Rockefeller Center or the snow in Vermont, the area surprisingly has a number of unique holiday-themed places to visit. Here are just a few.
Lights of Mount Dora – Each year, this small New England-style town decks itself out in thousands of twinkling lights for the holiday. On the weekends, many of the businesses stay open late to accommodate holiday shoppers. While most of the activity is centered near Donnelly Park in the downtown area, be sure to check out the historic homes in the surrounding neighborhoods. Many homeowners spend hundreds of dollars each year to celebrate the season.
ICE at the Gaylord Palms – There aren’t many places in the Sunshine State where you have to don a parka. Okay, there’s only one place in Florida where you have to wear a parka and that’s ICE at the Gaylord Palms. For the eighth season, a group of Chinese artisans have returned to Kissimmee to create this unique walk-through exhibit of ice sculptures. Nearly two-million pounds of ice is lovingly chiseled into a frosty wonderland that’s kept at a chilly 9-degrees. This year’s theme, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” is reflected throughout the exhibit and The Nativity has returned as a crowd favorite. This year, ICE has a new sister attraction at the hotel called SNOW!, a winter-themed carnival. Where else in Central Florida can you play in 40 tons of the white stuff?
The Christmas Cottage and Gift Shop in Downtown Melbourne – After visiting this place for the first time last month, I couldn’t resist putting it on the list. It’s not just a store…it’s a yuletide attraction. Established more than three decades ago, the Christmas Cottage and Gift Shop is a Melbourne institution. Its present location on East New Haven Avenue has a 7500 square-foot showroom with dozens of trees and thousands of ornaments and decorations to fit any theme. A separate room is dedicated to housing miniatures, and the front of the store contains a large selection of Nativity scenes. The Christmas Cottage and Gift Shop is open year-round, but it becomes a mecca for local children during November and December. That’s when kids line up to give their wish lists to the Big Man himself.
Leu Gardens – Do yourself a favor this holiday season and visit Leu Gardens. This Orlando cultural treasure is worth a visit several times a year. But at Christmas time, the place takes on a magical quality. Each of the eleven rooms at historic Leu House is decorated by local college interior design students and feature themes from Victorian to Art Deco. Throughout the house, trees are trimmed with botanical ornaments and miniatures add to the ambiance of an old-fashioned holiday.
Light Up UCF – This is quickly becoming a favorite holiday tradition for many locals. Now in its third year, Light Up UCF features an impressive light display that’s synchronized to music. The event also boasts the largest ice skating rink in Central Florida, a 100-foot ice slide, and the newest attraction – a Santa train.
Most of the holiday events and attractions are open through January 2nd. Call ahead for prices and times of operation.
