A tropical Christmas
A snow-free, sun-filled Christmas is standard on a winter vacation in Miami. Stock up on festive gifts at South Beach’s
Lincoln Road Mall or go Gucci-mad in the prestigious shops of
Bal Harbour on
Miami Beach. Open-air Christmas dinners are part of a Miami Christmas with many Miami restaurants dishing up traditional fare on open-air terraces. Families flock to
Santa’s Enchanted Forest, a Christmas theme park near Miami Airport and home to the world’s tallest Christmas tree. A free carnival and over 100 rides, attractions and shows make it a festive special. Even the
Miami Seaquarium gets Christmassy after dark with light sculptures, winter snowfalls and nightly fireworks.
Beach and boardwalk
Book a Miami hotel to enjoy the warm temperatures and low rainfall of the winter months, well clear of the hurricane season. Rent bicycles or in-line skates and breeze along
Miami Beach Boardwalk or take to the water and swim in the calm waters of the
Atlantic Ocean where it meets the
Caribbean Sea. Go sailing around
Biscayne Bay or relax on Miami’s beaches. Family-friendly
Homestead Bayfront Park in downtown Miami and the Art Deco building-lined
South Beach are two big favorites.
Art fest
Miami goes art-crazy during the winter months. In early December, it’s the turn of
Art Basel Miami Beach. It is the sister event to Switzerland’s exclusive arts show, Art Basel, with galleries, bars and hotels exhibiting cutting-edge art collections. Also in December is
Art Miami’s art fair in Miami’s Wynwood district. In January, the five-day
Miami International Art Fair comes to town. February hosts
Miami Beach Festival of the Arts in North Beach and the open-air
Coconut Grove Arts Festival complete with Global Food Village.
New Year in Miami
Miami Beach hosts its own
New Year's Eve Party on South Beach with a fireworks celebration at midnight. In downtown Miami, the
Bayfront Park Amphitheatre plays host to a family-friendly celebration with live bands and fireworks. Join in the midnight countdown for the dropping of the Big Orange, the 35ft neon globe. Party people can book tickets to one of Miami’s many clubs. The themed New Year party at the
Sky Bar at the Shore Club is the ultimate beach party. Or book a New Year’s Eve fireworks cruise for on-board dinner, music and skyline views.
Culture central
Miami puts on numerous cultural events during the popular winter months, ranging from quirky film festivals to contemporary photography exhibitions. See the killer moves of top dancers at
Florida Dance Festival: WinterFest or join the costumed revelers during
Carnaval Miami. Other events include an 8km carnival run and the jam-packed Calle Ocho street party in the downtown Cuban quarter, Little Havana. For something a little more refined, there are free performances of some of English literature’s finest dramas at the
Shakespeare in the Park event in Peacock Park in the suburb of Coconut Grove.
