Since we ‘re still hosting so many guests in our Orlando area vacation homes this Christmas season, we thought it appropriate to share a couple of our own traditions here in Central Florida.  Although we don’t have snow and icicles to remind us that it’s Winter,  there are many venues that can provide the illusion of a Winter Festival.

ICE! at Gaylord Palms

ICE! at Gaylord Palms is one of the coolest places to visit at this time of year.   Kept at minus nine degrees, this is a must see for the homesick visitor.  Once you have donned the parka provided ( and remember, you do need to wear suitable shoes – it will be cold on sandalled feet) you pass through a sort of air lock system between the warmth of the reception area and the really really cold exhibition.  If you love seeing  how ice can be sculpted into scenes from the North Pole,  watching children having hilarious fun on ice slides, see amazing penguins and polar bears carved from ice, all in glistening colours,  and a unmistakably magnificent Nativity scene,  this is a “Don’t Miss ” place to be.  If you wanted a reminder of just how cold the Winter can be in other parts of the world, here you can check it out. Once you have enjoyed to its fullest all the glistening splendour of the ICE! exhibition, you can make your way through to the Gaylord Palms hotel and warm yourselves with a cup of hot chocolate at the coffee shop or a meal at one of its three themed restaurants .

We do tend to forget that Central Florida, although generally warm, can have its cooler periods, and if you do intend to visit during the winter months, it is advisable to pack some warmer clothes.    Sometimes our temperatures can drop to “chilly”, and a sweater and long pants are more comfortable than shorts and t-shirts.

Pinewood Estates

Pinewood House in the depths of Bok Sanctuary Gardens is another wonderful place to visit at this time of year.  The gardens were designed as  a

quiet and peaceful meditative landscape and pathways meander through the woodlands and nature preserve.  At the moment there are several different plants , out of the more than 1000 plant types here, that are flowering, including many varieties of camellia.

Pinewood House is a Mediterranean style mansion in its own grounds on the northwestern side of the Gardens.    At this time of the year, you will find each room has been decorated in an individual theme based on Christmas.  This year,the 15th Annual “Christmas at Pinewood”,  the theme has been “Joy to the World”.  Volunteers guide visitors

Marilyn visits Pinewood

through each themed room, and give brief introductions about the house and its history.  Not only will you get some beautiful photos for your album ( yes, you can take photos of the various displays), you can wander the gardens and enjoy the sound of the Carillon sounding out Christmas Carols through this particular season.    Once you arrive at the bell tower take a few minutes to sit on the benches provided, simply to enjoy the sounds and the views from the highest point in Central Florida.    Watch the squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree,  see the swans gliding on the reflecting water of the moat surrounding the pink marbled bell tower. Look out over the miles of orange groves that can be seen from this vantage point.

When you have taken your fill of the peaceful surroundings and driven back through the citrus groves to the main roads, please find time to drive through some of the local neighbourhoods and check out the Christmas light decorations on residences and in town parks.   It’s a question of who can put as many decorations in their front yards and on their houses as possible, and competitiveness is alive and kicking!

No matter whether you will be visiting the Disney parks or simply enjoying the Florida weather in one of Premier Home Management’s vacation homes, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday.