Floridian Christmas 2014 Trip Report / Blog

We have visited Florida several times, combining fun in the theme parks with wildlife viewing in the national parks and reserves. I had always wanted to visit the State over the Christmas period, to experience a Christmas themed Disney and cooler temperatures.

We started our Floridian Christmas with a night at the Hard Rock Casino near Miami, before heading north to Merritt Island National Refuge. We had hoped we might see a manatee in the canal, but instead we saw a dolphin and a few armadillos along the Courtney Parkway.

Next along the Blackpoint Wildlife Drive spotting birds and alligators and then onto Disney for six nights. We explored the four parks along with a day in Universal Studios experiencing the new Harry Potter attractions. Disney really does Christmas well and I would quite happily go back and stay over Christmas again (it wasn’t anywhere near as busy as we thought it might be).

We left Disney a few days before Christmas and headed further north towards the pretty and historic town of St Augustine, calling into Blue Springs State Park on the way.

Onto Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge where we spent a couple of days before Christmas. We saw lots of birds and reptiles on our walks and on a boat trip.

Christmas Day was spent at the Ritz Carlton, where we had a relaxing and quiet Christmas.

Back on the road again, we headed south back to the Miami area so we had good access to the Everglades and spent the next five days exploring the wetlands (with a day’s break for some Gridiron).

You can read our trip report / travel blog and see our photos & videos from this adventure through the following links...