Many states across the South offer fun events and holiday programming for family travelers this season. Whether you’re in Texas or Florida this winter, head to these areas to create memorable experiences for all.
© Visit Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Experience a cowboy-inspired Christmas getaway in Fort Worth. In the city’s historic Stockyards District, visitors can take a step back in time to the Wild West. This holiday season, the front lawn of the Exchange Building turns into a winter wonderland, complete with warm holiday drinks, an ice-skating rink and a cowboy Santa. Cowtown Coliseum will host Christmas-themed rodeos Dec. 14–17, accompanied by festive country music performances. Fort Worth also hosts Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. This event includes trails of illuminated art installations, tunnels of light and a fire garden. Lightscape runs through Jan. 8.
© Caribe Royale Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Head to the happiest place on Earth with a stay at Caribe Royale Orlando. The hotel sits near Walt Disney World and Orlando’s other top theme parks. Spend a day in the theme parks before returning to the hotel to continue the festive celebrations. Caribe Royale Orlando features seasonal movies under the stars on weekends, daily hidden holiday gnome hunts with special prizes, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa check-ins on weekends, and more. The hotel also boasts a 32-foot-long chocolate train, all handcrafted by the hotel’s pastry team.
© Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
For a warm-weather holiday vacation, Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico serves as the perfect hub for a tropical trip. Located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, the hotel offers new holiday programming each day between Christmas and New Year’s. Events include meet and greets with Santa, a Coca-Cola parade, outdoor movie night on the lawn and more. Family fun continues Dec. 27–29 with the resort’s and island’s first ice-skating rink on the beach. Music, food trucks and an open bar surround the rink.
Hollywood, Florida
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort launches its first Winterwonderville this year with activities lasting through New Year’s Eve. Throughout December, the resort features a surfing Santa on the wave-simulating FlowRider, a beachside skating rink and live entertainment.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations
Sep 2, 2026Look Past the Traditional Classroom with Scott Dunn’s Back-to-School Itineraries
Parents looking to provide their kids with hands-on learning experiences going beyond textbooks by visiting unique destinations with family-centric approaches will find that and more with Scott Dunn's private, expert-led itineraries. These experiences provide lessons the classroom cannot.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Destinations / Europe
Sep 2, 2026A Brand-New, World-Class Aquarium Coming to Dublin, Ireland
A groundbreaking new marine attraction, OceanÈire, was recently announced in Dublin, Ireland, promising to redefine family entertainment, marine research and conservation in Ireland. While a debut date and specific location has yet to be revealed, OceanÉire already unveiled several details of the multimillion-dollar aquarium.
Travel Tips
Sep 1, 2026TikTok Revolutionizes Travel Planning and Inspiration
With an estimated 1.9 billion users worldwide, TikTok influences nearly every part of our lives, from food to fashion. The app so profoundly changed the way we travel, it now describes itself as a “modern-day travel agency, itinerary planner, and travel blog rolled into one.” Using TikTok to plan travel is so popular, the app recently launched TikTok Go to make booking even easier.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to Welcome Return of Elf on the Shelf This Holiday Season
The magic of Christmas quickly approaches as summer comes to a close, and families can experience the holiday season in a unique way this year.
ShareThis