Don’t just dream, a winter break in Florida might be just what you need.
With US borders now open to vaccinated travellers from the UK, this ever-popular holiday destination is back on the menu (the latest COVID variant permitting!)
Most people go for the long lazy days of summer, or the seasonal extravaganzas at the theme parks, but out of season there’s lots to see and do.
And sunshine is almost guaranteed.
Winter weather
It varies from north to south but in the popular resorts of Tampa, Miami and Orlando cold snaps are rare and temperatures in January to March stay around the low 20s centigrade with 8 or 9 hours of sunshine each day – hence Florida’s nickname, The Sunshine State.
Miami is the best bet for warmth, even in January it can reach the mid 20s.
Rain might stop play for a day or two in any Florida winter, but being outdoors is often easier than in the summer months, when attractions are forced to close because of tropical storms.
We’ve taken Florida breaks in spring, summer and winter. The one in March had the best weather for fun in the sun.
What to do in Florida on a winter break
Florida Keys
These string-of-pearls mini-islands off Florida’s tip are the perfect destination, with temperatures in the high 20s almost all year round.
The Overseas Highway is a spectacular route, running over water almost all the way from the Florida mainland to Key West – the most southerly point of the continental United States.
And Key Largo is home to an amazing State Park, almost entirely underwater, featuring mangrove swamps and coral reefs.
Snorkellers and scuba divers can explore the John Pennekamp coral reef, and its fascinating statue submerged there in 1965.
Beach Life
Florida has 825 miles of accessible beaches, and you’re never more than 60 miles from a body of salt water.
Even if you’re not tempted to go for a swim in the depths of winter, take time to stroll along its beaches of stunning white sand.
There are family-friendly beaches like Hollywood, or Daytona, packed with entertainment.
Remote beaches where it’ll just be you and the birds and secluded beaches on the Canaveral national seashore which take a little more effort to reach.
It’s there you’ll find two of the best nudist beaches – Playalinda and Apollo – for those who want to get even closer to their natural state!
Watersports
Diving, surfing, sailing, snorkelling and kayaking – Florida has the lot.
Florida has more than 7,700 lakes, 11,000 miles of rivers and 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline to explore.
Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America, with 165 miles of local waterways.
There are inland creeks and rivers to explore, shipwrecks to discover and wild ocean waves to ride.
In a wetsuit, you won’t even notice if it’s one of those rare winter days when the sun doesn’t shine!
Florida islands
It’s not just The Keys, Florida has a host of tiny islands off its coast, all well worth exploring.
The best for the natural, outdoors life is Sanibel Island off the west coast, where half the land is given over to protected nature reserves.
January to March is the best time for birding, manatees can be seen basking in the warm waters and dolphins are year round visitors.
Walking, cycling and kayaking are the best ways of getting around, to preserve the island’s peace and quiet, and the most popular form of nightlife is watching the spectacular winter sunsets.
Kennedy Space Center
Stand nose-to-nose with the Space Shuttle Atlantis, imagine the blast from the huge rocket engines, and walk among the giants of space exploration at NASA’s Florida headquarters.
Take a bus tour, watch a launch simulation, learn about the famous astronauts and the unsung heroes of Mission Control who got them into space and back again.
If the winter weather doesn’t quite live up to Florida’s Sunshine State reputation, space is a great place to go.
Wildlife in Florida
Florida has 175 state parks and a network of 510 wildlife viewing sites along the Great Florida Birding Trail. As well as a host of native birds, Florida is on the Atlantic Flyway, with millions of migrating species filling its skies in early spring.
Florida’s best known nature reserve is the Everglades – 1.5 million acres of sawgrass, marshes, mangrove forests and subtropical wilderness. And it’s the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles are known to co-exist.
There’s a network of trails for hiking and biking to bring you close to nature, and an airboat ride in the Everglades is a thrill at any time of the year.
Take a ride on Florida’s longest river, St Johns, to get up close and personal.
See the manatees
These shy and beautiful creatures can be spotted all around the Florida coast but Crystal River is the only place in North America where it is legal to have a supervised swim with them.
Or you can stay on dry land and check out the designated manatee viewing areas, which are found near springs or power plants. Manatees love to escape the cold at these warm-water refuges during the winter months.
The Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach, just south of Tampa, has a great viewing area.
Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, a little way north of Orlando, is another popular manatee spotting place.
And on Florida’s East Coast, the Manatee Observation and Education Center in Fort Pierce is great for families.
Florida Theme Parks
We’ve left the main attraction to last.
Most winter holidaymakers in Florida will be heading for one of its many theme parks.
Busch Gardens in Tampa is for serious thrill-seekers, with 9 major rollercoasters and a new one, Iron Gwazi, opening in March 2022. Ranked as one of the top 50 theme parks in America, it also rates highly worldwide with Montu, an inverted steel coaster, regularly in the top 10.
For families with younger children, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is great. A pirate themed stunt show, plenty of hands-on creative stuff and life-size Lego displays.
But most will be heading to Orlando for the twin delights of Universal and Disney. The debate about which is best will go on forever.
We like them both but for us Universal has the edge.
Whichever you choose – the family fun and spectacular parades of Disney or the magic and wonder of Universal – winter is a great time to visit.
Fewer crowds, as long as you avoid Christmas, Spring Break and Easter when things get a little packed.
You may feel a little chilly waiting in line, but the adrenaline rush will soon warm you up.
But even in winter, you can’t do them all in one holiday. You can’t even really do one park justice, let alone all ten!
All the more reason to return to Florida another day.
Spring, summer, autumn or winter, Florida is a year-round holiday destination.
More information on visiting Florida
For ideas, itineraries and latest updates see Visit Florida website
Getting around Florida is easiest with a rental car
Where to next?
• Thorpe Park in the time of COVID
• Places to escape the British winter
• Tips for holiday car rental