Between Christmas light festivals, fireworks and spectacles at Orlando's many amusement parks, Christmastime in Orlando is considered magical and a full-blown event. Orlando provides healthy holiday dining options and festive family activities that will keep your muscles toned and fitness in check.
Beaches
Beaches are a great place to be in the open air and take a walk, and if you're in Orlando, that includes Christmastime, too. If it's not too cold, take a swim and do a few laps around your kids. Beaches are about an hour from Orlando, the closest and most popular being Cocoa Beach, with many dining options and plenty of area to explore, and Daytona Beach, with 23 miles of sand. With that many miles of sand, your calves will get a nice workout. You can spend the evening either partaking in or watching the Cocoa Beach Christmas Boat Parade, an annual event for more than 30 years.
Camping
Hidden River RV & Campground in Orlando offers daily scheduled events all through December. Each Sunday offers a non-denominational church session for your Christmas mass, and there are jam sessions every week so that you can play or request your favorite Christmas carols. Volleyball, line dancing and water exercise sessions are available to help meet fitness during December. Recreational activities are also provided at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Guests can make reservations to camp out in their own tent or motor home, or rent out one of the rustic cabins. Several nature trails are available to hike on, where it is common to spot deer, rabbits and ducks. Other activities include renting bikes, horseback riding, or if it's not too cold, swimming. RVs and campers are decorated for the holidays, and at Fort Wilderness there is a golf cart parade and Christmas dinner.
Disney's BoardWalk
Strolling Disney's BoardWalk is always a sight to see, but it is even more so during Christmas. The BoardWalk features over 9,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. It is always healthy to stretch your leg muscles and take a good old-fashioned walk. It is recommended to visit the BoardWalk at night while the Christmas lights are lit up. There is a 15-by-20-foot display depicting a boardwalk area made of chocolate, gingerbread and sugar to gawk at, too.
Dining
The Hard Rock Hotel's The Kitchen offers a special Christmas Day feast. The buffet, which starts at noon, will give guests several food choice. Kids under three eat free and the restaurant is themed for the holidays. The Black Angus Steakhouse also provides Christmas dinner. Menu items include rack of lamb, New York strip and grilled chicken. It is best to place reservations early because these places tend to fill up quickly during the holidays.
Ice Skating
Ice skating, unlike any other time of year in Orlando, is an option during Christmastime at Gaylord Palms Resort's ICE! Festival. You can rent your own skates, since it is unlikely you packed any for your Florida vacation. There are plenty of other activities and sights to discover after you've had your daily dose of exercising, including a gnome hunt for kids, browsing a Christmas wreath collection, and of course viewing the ice sculptures. Remember to dress warm; although you're in sunny Florida, temperatures at ICE! are around 9 degrees F.
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