Christmas doesn’t have to come with snow. In Florida, Santa might arrive by boat, elves trade their toys for surfboards and Christmas morning could begin with a swim in the ocean. The Sunshine State is sleigh-ing the holidays, offering everything from traditional winter festivities to celebrations that could only happen in Florida.
Whether you’re looking for a little winter magic or hoping to swap snow boots for flip-flops, these seven holiday escapes offer something unique for the whole family this season.
Celebrate Christmas on the Water at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort’s festive calendar includes a floating parade on November 26, when guests decorate holiday floats before watching them travel along the property’s Winding River. On Christmas Eve, the celebration moves to the Under the Sea Lagoon, where a floating Christmas tree will be illuminated at 6:30 p.m.
There are abundant activities for children, including gingerbread house workshops led by the pastry team, holiday afternoon teas and a Christmas Day Polaroid studio with Santa. Clans looking for something less traditional can attend a glow-in-the-dark Silent Night disco on December 27 and January 1 or an outdoor movie night with simulated snowfall on December 26.
The resort’s waterfront setting makes the festivities especially memorable. Between celebrations, guests can drift along the Winding River, spend time on the beach or explore the resort’s lagoon, where guided snorkeling experiences offer a chance to swim among tropical fish.
For anyone still working through a holiday shopping list, the resort also hosts a boutique from AGCF, the luxury accessories brand founded by Alexandra Gucci Zarini, featuring handbags, scarves and jewelry.
Go Ice Skating Under Falling Snow in Orlando
You don’t have to skip the sunshine to enjoy a winter wonderland. At Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, families can lace up their skates and glide around an outdoor ice rink, even when temperatures are warm enough for the pool.
From November 25 through January 2, the resort’s Winter at Grande Lakes celebration transforms the property into a European-inspired Christmas market, with festive cottages selling seasonal treats and gifts. Hourly simulated snowfall brings a touch of winter magic to the festivities, while s’mores around the fire pits warm things up after skating. Gingerbread decorating and other seasonal activities round out the holiday programming.
Those who prefer waves over winter storms can head to Cocoa Beach, about an hour away, which hosts one of Florida’s most unusual Christmas Eve traditions. At the annual Surfing Santas celebration, hundreds of surfers dressed as Santa Claus, elves and other holiday characters take to the Atlantic, while spectators gather on the sand for live music and costume contests. The free event takes place December 24, from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
Catch Elves Surfing at The Boca Raton
At The Boca Raton, Santa’s helpers also hope to catch a wave. The resort’s FlowRider Surfing with Elves brings a festive twist to its surf simulator.
The sprawling property has a full slate of traditional festivities planned, too, including the annual Christmas tree lighting, Santa’s check-in, gingerbread house decorating and story time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Children can also send letters to the North Pole, while Hanukkah celebrations include a menorah lighting and a special holiday dinner.
The Harborside Pool Club makes it easy to stay in swimsuits between events, with waterslides, multiple pools and a 450-foot lazy river. Older children can head to The Break, a dedicated space for tweens with virtual reality, interactive games and other activities.
After full day of merrymaking, retire to accommodations ranging from the Five-Star Beach Club to the family-friendly Four-Star Tower, giving groups a festive base for a longer holiday stay.
For those looking to extend their trip into the new year, the third annual Artisans of Wine & Food festival happens January 14 to 17. More than 100 wineries and 20-plus celebrated chefs come to the resort for four days of tastings, dinners and special events. Any New Year’s resolutions can wait.
Watch Santa Arrive by Sea in Fort Lauderdale
Forget the sleigh. At Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale, Santa takes a more tropical approach, arriving via the ocean on Christmas morning.
The beachfront hotel’s holiday offerings include a particularly appealing option for families spending Christmas away from home. Guests can arrange for a personal holiday designer to decorate their space before they arrive, so they walk into a suite already dressed for the season.
Younger visitors can send letters to Santa from a special lobby mailbox. The pastry team creates elaborate seasonal displays as well. Families can also plan a private gondola ride along Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway, complete with festive treats and hot cocoa as they take in the waterfront holiday lights.
Guests looking to venture outside the property can’t miss Fort Lauderdale’s annual Light Up the Beach affair on November 19, which brings more than 50,000 holiday lights to the beachfront, along with Olas, a 20-foot beach snowman made for the tropics.
Double the Fun at The Ritz-Carlton Resorts in Naples
In Naples, two Ritz-Carlton resorts offer different ways to celebrate the season.
At Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, the pastry team creates a life-sized gingerbread house. The beachfront property also hosts a Teddy Bear Tea, where children enjoy festive treats and leave with a keepsake bear, along with holiday breakfasts with Santa. The seasonal programming brings a more traditional Christmas atmosphere to a resort where afternoons can still be spent on the beach.
A short drive away, Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón enters the holiday season with a new look following a multimillion-dollar renovation completed in October. The transformation includes refreshed accommodations, redesigned gathering spaces and three new culinary concepts, including Palmera, the resort’s dining and social hub.
Its holiday calendar has a more lighthearted feel. You can try your hand at a chef-led Gingerbread School, dress up for an Ugly Sweater Cocktail Social or sample the 12 Days of Holiday Cocktails, where the bar pours a different seasonal creation each evening from December 13 through 24.
The resort is also planning a Down the Rabbit Hole New Year’s Eve celebration, complete with champagne, whimsical entertainment and fireworks. For families planning to spend the holiday week in Naples, the two properties provide a nice mix of traditional Christmas activities with something a little less expected.
Experience an Art Deco Christmas in South Beach
Christmas gets a glamorous makeover at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, where the historic Morris Lapidus-designed hotel ushers in the season in Miami style.
The festivities begin Thanksgiving weekend with the lighting of its 15-foot Christmas tree at Lapidus Bar on November 27, featuring oversized ornaments and shades of blush, gold and champagne.
Throughout December, the hotel’s lobby becomes a gathering place for seasonal activities, including a cocoa-and-gelato station that changes its offerings depending on the weather. Children can decorate cookies and enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus. Christmas morning brings a visit from Santa to Zaytinya, the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant.
The holiday calendar also includes Hanukkah menorah lightings from December 4 through 12 and live music that ranges from Cuban rhythms to saxophone performances. For those looking for a feast, Zaytinya will serve special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners featuring Mediterranean flavors and seasonal Florida ingredients.
On Christmas, guests can head to the pool for another distinctly South Beach treat: fresh coconuts served from a special holiday cart.
Have a Whisky Christmas at the Four Seasons Palm Beach
At Five-Star Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, the holidays come with a little extra spirit. On December 18, the oceanfront property will host The Macallan Journey at Florie’s, an intimate whisky experience exploring the celebrated Scottish distillery’s history and craftsmanship. The evening begins with a welcome pour and canapés on the ocean-view terrace, followed by a private dinner featuring Macallan pairings.
Families have their own holiday lineup. The resort’s festive programming is filled with poolside pop-ups with gelato and s’mores, gingerbread house competitions, themed movie nights and private pizza-making lessons in Florie’s open kitchen. St. Nick also makes an appearance, bringing gifts for younger guests alongside carolers, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. In between holiday events, the Kids for All Seasons program keeps smaller travelers busy with laser tag, creative crafts and other festivities.
For those staying through December 31, children can celebrate at the resort’s Carnival Countdown Party, complete with crafts and confetti, while their parents partake in cocktails and music under the stars at Florie’s Bar and Terrace. It’s a Palm Beach take on the holidays that leaves room for both family traditions and a little grown-up indulgence.
