What are the best places to stay in Florida in December? Florida offers miles of beaches, theme parks, and natural attractions. If you’re planning a trip to Florida in December, there’s something in the Sunshine State for everyone!

Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort, a beachfront hotel, or a cozy vacation rental, there are plenty of options. Here are some of the best places to stay in Florida in December.

If you’re visiting Florida in December, make sure to check out The Best Christmas Lights Drive Thru in Florida.

Are you flying into Florida? Get a cheap rental car!

If you decide to rent a car during your Florida vacation, I recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental.

Whenever we need to rent a car, we use Discount USA Car Rental; you can use it at all major Florida airports (and even most of the smaller ones!) and rent from large companies such as Hertz, Enterprise, Alamo, etc., at discounted prices.

The best places to stay in Florida in December

Here are the best places to stay in Florida in December, listed in no particular order.

Florida Keys

Key West is the most popular destination in the Florida Keys. You can fly directly into the Key West International Airport or, if you want to see other islands like Key Largo, you can drive from the Miami International Airport.

The average high temperature in Key West is 77 degrees in December. This temperature is perfect for participating in water activities at one of the white sandy beaches.

You may also decide to visit the kitties at Ernest Hemingway’s house. You also won’t want to miss the southernmost point in the continental United States.

If you have extra time during your vacation, consider visiting Dry Tortugas National Park. Here’s how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park.

Oh, and a fun activity during December is hopping on the Old Town Trolley for the holiday lights tour.

Crystal River

Crystal River is one of the best places to stay in Florida in December. This river is known as the Manatee Capital of the World! Manatees are everywhere in this river during the winter months.

You can kayak amongst the manatees. Some tours allow you to get up close with the manatees, but remember you are not allowed to touch them!

After your swim, head over to Three Sisters Springs. This nature refuge has a boardwalk near the springs. There is always plenty of marine life to see near the boardwalk. We have a blog post with 16 things to do in Crystal River with kids.

Naples

Another popular destination in Florida is Naples. When you are not at the beach, you can visit the hundreds of shops and restaurants in Naples. The white, sandy beaches of SW Florida are something you don’t want to miss.

If you have a golf lover in your family, Naples has some incredible golf courses. This is also the perfect time of year to visit because you can watch the Christmas boat parades.

Make sure to check out the 28 best places to eat in Naples and unique things to do in Naples Florida, for even more ideas during your Naples vacation.

Pensacola

Pensacola is located in the Florida Panhandle so it’s not really the warmest part of Florida in December, but you might find better availability here if you’re searching last minute.

Start your adventure over at Fort Pickens where you can learn the history of fortifying the ports during the War of 1812.

Then go out in a boat to do a little dolphin watching or head into the downtown area to check out Palafox Street. Holiday experiences include the Polar Express, Pensacola Winterfest, and the Cajun Christmas Experience.

For more things to do in the area, check out the 20 best things to do in Navarre with kids.

Orlando

Okay, so I can’t leave Orlando out of the best places to stay in Florida in December. If a theme park vacation is a must, Orlando is the place to go!

Disney World is an obvious choice, but don’t sleep on Universal Orlando! Universal Orlando is no longer a one day destination and is one of our favorite places (we’re annual passholders!)

Universal Orlando usually has a fun Christmas tree hunt, but this year it was Nutcracker-themed!

You can also meet Mr. Grinch himself!

If you’re Disney bound, you can see full-size gingerbread houses at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. There are also miniature trains and winter wonderland villages.

Check out things to do in Orlando for Christmas for more ideas!

Fort Lauderdale

Relaxing is easy when you decide to head to Fort Lauderdale in December. Wandering around the Venice-style waterways will allow the stress to melt away.

The holiday highlights in Fort Lauderdale include the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade and Christmas on Las Olas. The latter has a two-story mountain covered in ice perfect for sledding. Yes, you can go sledding while on vacation in Florida in December!

St. Augustine

One of the best things about visiting St. Augustine in December is that your family can check out the display of the holiday lights. More than 2 million lights are strung to connect to the Christmas tree.

Don’t forget to check out things to do in St. Augustine with Kids!

Amelia Island

There is never a bad time to sink your toes in the sand at the beach on Amelia Island. This northern Florida destination may be cooler than southern Florida but you’ll still likely enjoy the Florida sunshine.

During December, you can attend the Dickens on Centre Festival. Watch the lighted Christmas parade or take a holiday home tour.

If you stay until New Year’s, you can attend the New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop. This festival is full of food, music, shopping, and fireworks over the marina.

West Palm Beach

One of the first things you will want to do when arriving in West Palm Beach in December is check out the Christmas tree made of sand. This sandy Christmas tree can be found on the West Palm Beach Great Lawn.

Santa makes an appearance there on occasion too. Plus, your family can listen to stories, watch Christmas movies, and play mini golf.

Try to book your vacation for when the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade takes place. It is a 2-hour event that starts in North Palm Beach and ends in Jupiter.

Marco Island

Marco Island is a barrier island in Southwest Florida close to Naples. Shelling is best on Sand Dollar Island near Tigertail Beach, which happens to be the best beach on Marco Island.

If your family loves fishing, head down to the shoreline. You can catch snook, tarpon, redfish, and sea trout here.

You can watch the fire dancers perform at sunset at the JW Marriott Marco Island.

Vero Beach

Vero Beach is one of the best places to stay in Florida in December. You can enjoy the Vero Beach Scenic Coastal Walk.

McKee Botanical Garden has a beautiful holiday light display.

Fort Myers

Fort Myers is a popular destination for families all year long. This area has some of the best beaches in the state but you’ll need to head to the barrier islands for the beaches.

While Crystal River is an excellent place to see manatees, you can also see them in Fort Myers at Manatee Park. Watch the manatees from the observation deck or go kayaking near them.

The 12 best places to see manatees in Florida will share even more places to find manatees in the Sunshine State!

December is a great time to visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates when they offer their holiday tours.

Other fun activities include the Holiday Express in Lakes Regional Park and the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a short drive from the Miami International Airport. You can also drive to Everglades National Park from Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples.

Your family will get rid of the winter blues when you reach the warm and humid Everglades. These tropical wetlands and mangrove forests are full of wildlife.

Head to the Anhinga Trail to see sea turtles, alligators, and birds, or kayak the Wilderness Waterway.  Another family-friendly activity is taking an airboat tour.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is on the eastern coast of Florida but be warmed you probably won’t find warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean in December.

Your family may spend most of your time exploring the history of NASCAR racing. Visiting the Museum of Arts and Sciences or Roots Family Museum are two ways to spend a few hours.

There is usually a type of festival every weekend in Daytona during the winter months too. Those festivals usually include food, music, and art.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, or St. Pete, is one of the popular cities on the Gulf Coast in the Tampa area. You’ll find some of the best beaches here.

The Dali Museum is a great place to visit if you need something to do indoors. We also love visiting the birds at the nearby Seaside Seabird Sanctuary

Boca Raton

During December in Boca, you can check out the Lights Holiday Festival. It includes snow flurries, snow globe photos, train rides, vendors, and holiday stage shows.

Siesta Key

The Christmas spirit is everywhere in Siesta Key in December. The entire family will love shopping at the annual holiday market.

Just don’t skip the SantaFest Celebration. It’s a lot of fun!

Turtle Beach, Crescent Beach, and Siesta Beach are the best beaches in this area. If it’s warm enough (sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t) you might enjoy the water too.

Miami

The best time to visit Miami is in December. Take the time to visit Santa’s Enchanted Forest where you can meet Santa himself and enjoy the rides and entertainment there.

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach is also in the Tampa area and one of the most popular destinations for families.

The water temperature won’t be warm in December. But you can still head to the beach to build a sandcastle or walk along Pier 60.

Nearby outdoor activities include kayaking through mangroves on Caladesi Island. Check out 30 Things to do in Clearwater with Kids for more ideas.

Christmas

Yes, there is a town called Christmas in Florida. And yes, it is one of the best places to stay in Florida in December.

Your family will get into the holiday spirit while on vacation in Christmas. The streets are named after Santa’s reindeerand the Fort Christmas Cracker Christmas offers delicious food and crafty items.

One of the unique things you will find in Christmas is an alligator-shaped building. It is the largest building shaped like an alligator in the world. Odd? Yes. Florida things.

The best places to stay in Florida in December

There you have it, the best places to stay in Florida in December. Did your favorite Florida vacation destination for December make the list? If not, we’d love if you shared it with us in the comments!

About Florida Travel With Kids

Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here.

Did you enjoy this post? I would love it if you would pin it for later! Or, make sure to share it with your friends on social media if they are looking for things to do in Florida with kids.