The Ultimate List of Things to do in Florida in the Winter

Visiting Florida in the winter with its endless warm beach days, casual atmosphere, crystal clear springs, cookouts, umbrella drinks, and watersports galore sounds exciting and unforgettable. Doesn’t it?

Winter in Florida is much like summer, but there’s more. Way more.

I hear it all the time, Florida doesn’t really have seasons. Total fiction.

We have several seasons: lovebug, hurricane, football, and pollen season.

All jokes aside, winter is stunning; perfect sunny days, cool-ish nights, and perpetual beach weather.

I love Florida in the summer but winter in Florida, even better.

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Why visit Florida in winter?

• Because the weather is dreamy with sunny days and coolish nights.
• There is no snow to shovel nor ice to scrape.
• You can enjoy dinner on the patio.
• And sports galore.
• Delightful fresh produce in season.
• The low humidity makes for really good hair days.
• Swim in the ocean all winter long.
• Short sleeve shirts or tank tops and flops are considered winter wear in Florida. You will need a light jacket or cardigan in the evenings.
• You don’t need a parka, giant scarves, winter hats, or gloves.
• I would say you don’t need boots, but we wear boots in the winter up here in North Florida. In fact, boots are fair game once it dips below 70 degrees.

What is winter like in Florida?

• The average temperature in Florida in the winter is between 40 and 70 degrees. 
• Occasionally, a drop in temperatures occurs, but only for a few days.
• Most days are perfectly sunny, only occasional rain.
• Hurricane season ends in November.
• Sea temperatures range from 70-80 degrees.
• The further south you travel, the warmer the climate and the sea temperatures.

Tips when visiting Florida in the winter.

• Wear sunscreen. Yes, you still need it in the winter,
• Pack insect repellent. While it is not as bad of an issue in the winter, you will still need it.
• Pack a light sweater, jacket, or hoodie.
• Check the weather before you visit in case you are heading into one of our “cold fronts.”
• Don’t swim in murky waters; alligators and venomous snakes may be lurking.
• Use caution when swimming in lakes and rivers; alligators and snakes hang out there, too.
• NEVER leave your kids or pets in the car. Temperatures can soar quickly and be devastating to animals and humans.

Beach Day Essentials for the Perfect Beach Day in Florida.

21 Things to do in Florida in Winter.

• Head to the beach ~ The weather in the winter affords you the luxury of a beach day, and Florida has 1,350 miles of coastline to find the perfect palm tree-lined white sand beach.   
• Swim with the manatees ~ These gentle giants head south for warmer waters in the winter and crowd the Springs in North Central Florida. Our favorite spring to visit is Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River. However, occasionally, the manatees crowd this spring so much that it must be close to the public to protect the manatee families.
• Meet Winter the dolphin ~ If you haven’t already seen the movie, Dolphin Tale, it’s a must. An inspiring story of Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who lost her tail after becoming entangled in a crab trap line. The team at Clearwater Marine Aquarium worked diligently to create a prosthetic tail for Winter. And she made a full recovery. (Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick, Jr. are in the movie, another inspiring reason to watch). You can meet Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.
• Check out one of the top holiday light displays in the country ~ St. Augustine is a quaint, historic, and exciting small town to visit any time of the year, but the holidays are extra special with the light show running from November through February.
• Go on the ultimate road trip from Miami to Key West, Florida, and enjoy an adventure from Miami’s big city’s hustle and bustle to the laid back, relaxed, outdoor atmosphere of the Florida Keys. And don’t miss out on every chance you get to eat Key Lime Pie. 

• Stunning displays in ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida ~ ICE! is a unique and magical holiday event that is, well, made of ICE! Two million pounds of ICE, hand-carved into a themed walk-through interactive story.
• Disney World and the Disney Parks ~ You can’t talk Florida and not mention the Disney World and the Disney Parks. It is the happiest place on Earth, and it’s a must, especially for the kiddos.
• Go camping ~ Yes, the winter is warm enough to set up a tent, roast marshmallows, and sleep under the stars.  
• Visit a real swamp ~ Discover alligators and crocodiles living together in harmony (most of the time) in The Everglades, which covers three million acres in Southern Florida.   

• Meet a real astronaut ~ Visit Kennedy Space Center, situated on the Space Coast of Florida, and learn the space program’s history and train to be an astronaut. And maybe even witness a real rocket launch.
• Wildlife Bucket List ~ Alligators, Crocodiles, black bears, pumas, panthers, sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, and over 500 species of birds.
• Watersports ~ Florida has it all. And the mild year-round weather allows you to enjoy water sports even in the winter months. You may need a rash guard to keep your body warm, but that’s about it. Surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, standup paddleboarding, kayaking; we have it all.
• Speaking of sports ~ Pro Football, Pro Basketball, College Football, College Basketball, and baseball season gets going late winter.

Here are your numerous options if you are a super fan.

• NBA ~ Miami Heat (NBA Eastern Conference Champs 2020), Orlando Magic.
• NFL ~ Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucs (now with Tom Brady).
• NCAA Football ~ Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, FAMU Rattlers, UCF Knights, USF Bulls, TIU Panthers, UNF Ospreys.
• NCAA Basketball ~ Gators, Noles, Knights, Bulls, UNF, FAU, FIU.
• MLB ~ Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins.
• MLS ~ Orlando City, Miami Fusion, Tampa Bay Mutiny. Soccer season, however, doesn’t begin until the end of February.

• Go fishing ~ Deep sea, freshwater, creek, Florida is the fishing capital of the world.
• Drink local ~ Florida is now home to several popular breweries, including Tampa’s Cigar City Brewery, Gainesville’s Swamphead Brewery, and First Magnitude Brewing Company.
• Grab Florida citrus for a taste of sunshine ~ Florida has more orange production than any other state in the United States, and citrus season in Florida is all winter long. Find a U-Pick farm, pick the perfect orange, and experience a taste of sunshine. Experiencing an orange’s freshness is an experience you don’t want to miss, and winter in Florida is the ideal for this treat.
• It’s not only oranges, though. ~ Limes, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits, and an assortment of other fruits thrive in Florida’s hot, sunny, and balmy climate.

• Hike the trails ~ Most winter days are sunny and in the 70s. Heading out to hike the trails in the sunshine and the pleasant temperature is perfection. You might need a light jacket, but most likely, you won’t.
• Discover the perfect seashell ~ Or collect one hundred perfect seashells in the seashell capital of the world, Sanibel Island, Florida.
• Visit the oldest lighthouse on the west coast of Florida ~ Cedar Key, a charming fishing village with a laid back old Florida vibe. Sip on an ice-cold beer (or wine), suck down fresh oysters, taste the world-renowned clam chowder, and watch the sunset.