Florida’s year-round sun and warmth is what makes it the ideal getaway no matter what time of year you’re looking for a getaway. Add some Christmas cheer to your Florida getaway this year and take a break and celebrate the holiday with a beach retreat. You’ll want to make time to take a stroll on the beach or bask in the sun and work on your tan at the many beaches along historic Route 30A. From indoor fun like shopping, theater productions, and more to outdoor activities like light displays and waterfront fun, every member of your group will have no trouble finding something to do on a vacation this Christmas on 30A.
Christmas Dinner
Choose from one of the many restaurants along Scenic Route 30A for your holiday meal with all the trimmings. Many local eateries offer Christmas Eve meals while others offer Christmas Day meals. Call about reservations and the availability of take-out for your delivery to enjoy the meal at home. If you simply must have a hand in the preparation and serving, your vacation rental provided by Dune Vacation Rentals has a fully equipped kitchen to handle any size holiday meal!
Christmas Services
You took a break from your every day when you came to 30A for a Christmas vacation. While you may be away from your home church, there are several churches in towns of 30A. Choose your preferred place of worship and contact them for details like dates, times, and locations of services. Some may even be holding services on the beach!
Jingle Jangle Christmas Musical Revue
If you love the Christmas soundtracks of White Christmas, Holiday Inn, or Meet Me in St. Louis, you can meet for entertainment along 30A. The Emerald Coast Theatre Company presents a holiday show with vocalists performing some of the show’s most memorable tunes. Show dates are December 16th, 19th, and 21st. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. at the Emerald Coast Theatre Company, located in Miramar Beach.
Gulf Place Wine Walk
The third Thursday of every month, including December, features great wine and food accompanied by live music and shopping galore. Get your last-minute Christmas shopping done while enjoying the wine and atmosphere. Pick up things like jewelry, artwork, handmade clothing, and more for everyone on your list. Admission is $25, cash only. Purchases made at merchants are separate from the admission fee. Visit the event on December 21st, 5-7 p.m. at Gulf Place.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides & Santa Photos
Take a magical horse-drawn carriage ride every Friday and Saturday throughout the month of December. The free rides guide you on a tour of the Coastal White Christmas lights and the Festival of Trees displays. Before or after your ride, take a complimentary photo with Santa. Enjoy the seasonal sounds of the Emerald Coast Theatre Company’s “Rock Around the Christmas Tree” Music Revue. The event takes place in Miramar Beach.
Farmer’s Markets
Visitors and residents alike looking for some last-minute gifts, or those who just want to see current local offerings, will want to visit the farmer’s markets offered by the many towns along historic Route 30A. Taking place most weekends in the month of December, you’ll find local foods, arts, crafts, and more to make your Christmas season merry and bright and complete your Christmas shopping list.
Emerald Coast Science Center
Take a break from a busy schedule of Christmas activities and slip in a little educational fun. A visit to the Emerald Coast Science Center this Christmas will keep everyone happy, busy, and exploring science through fun and interactive exhibits for all ages. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits to enjoy and explore, like interactive robotic units, engineering, physics, electricity, color, light, sound, and so much more.
Learn about space, and the Emerald Coast ecosystem, conduct an experiment in the lab, or make a creation of your own in the makerspace, where you can create anything you can imagine! Step outside to the center’s marine exhibit – an exhibit in a boat that shows you just what it takes to keep a craft afloat, how onboard radio communication is done, and the engineering behind boat building from bow to stern. Stay outside and stop by the Dino Dig Pit, where you may discover something of mammoth proportions.
Celebrate Christmas on 30A
Begin and end every day along 30A this Christmas in a vacation rental provided by Dune Vacation Rentals. Choose from cozy 1-bedroom condos for a solo or sweetheart Christmas break, all the way up to 8-bedroom single-family homes for a Christmas family reunion at the beach. Prepare the fixings for the Christmas feast, or any other meal during your trip, in the fully equipped kitchen. Enjoy the meal in spacious living and dining areas, or in outdoor living and dining spaces. Relax in beautiful and comfortable bedrooms and bring the feeling of home away from home.
Contact us to start planning your Christmas on 30A!
Christmas holidays present the best opportunity for you to spend time with your loved ones. From feasting to setting up family Christmas trees, there is a lot you can do on this day from the comfort of your home. But there comes a time when the home isn’t fun anymore. Sometimes, hopping to a holiday destination, miles away from home is the best Christmas gift you can have. The white sands of Florida’s 30A offer a valuable alternative. Here are the top 30A Christmas events and activities for a memorable experience.
Envy the Christmas Light Displays
The first thing that ushers you to the Christmas vibe in 30A is the lights. These Christmas lights run throughout the entire holiday season. Depending on which side of 30A you will be visiting, you will be treated to different styles of lighting. Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Dune Allen Beach, Watercolor, and Seaside are all worthy considerations for you to see these beautiful lights. With the snowy conditions experienced during Christmas, these lights create unique patterns for a picturesque site. These lights are safely connected, allowing you to get really close if you need to. Kids will have a good time taking pictures with the lighting decorations in the backdrop. The fact that they run for the better part of December means you will be spending most of your evenings outside enjoying the beautiful view the lights offer.
Wait for Santa in the White Sands
What’s your experience with Santa? Well, there is no Christmas without Santa, especially for kids. Santa holds a special place in children and they would be disappointed if he is nowhere to be seen. However, there is no need to worry since Santa is waiting for you at the beach. Dressed in his signature regalia, Santa will be ready to embrace your kids and in other cases bring them gifts. With paintings and art all over their face, children too will be in that Christmas mood ready for the 30A experience. Allow them to interact with Santa and take pictures whenever possible.
Embrace the Fireworks
New Year’s Eve is a good time to reflect on the hits and misses of the previous year. 30A allows you to add a celebration aspect on top of the reflection. With the region’s vibrant nightlife, it will be hard for you to stick to your room. It would make more sense for you to hop into one of the parties being hosted around as you wait for the fireworks to start cracking. If you came to 30A with your kids, there are a bunch of kid-friendly activities for them to explore. Kids too will enjoy being outside for the night playing with ice as the year nears completion. When the fireworks time comes, no one should be left behind. There is a whole tradition surrounding the popping of fireworks. To some, it is a way of blowing away all the evils of the previous year while still ushering in favors from the new year. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos of the popping fireworks.
30A Christmas Events: Play Ball Drop Game
Have you seen balloons being thrown around during concerts? Now it’s your turn to take part in this activity, albeit in a not-so-volatile setting. Since it is not a professional game as such, you won’t need any specialized equipment to play. It is the kind of game that doesn’t require some prior training. Just hit the inflated ball with your fist and watch it fly high. It is a kid-friendly sport that allows you to keep warm as you wait for the midnight fireworks in the snowy weather.
Exotic Wining and Dining
Feasting is the epitome of your 30A Christmas experience. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are not the days when you stick in your room and prepare your meals. Instead, it is the best time to test your taste buds by going out for dinner. The region is home to multiple restaurants serving a wide range of global cuisines. Usually, there are party special combos on those select days. Choose what works best for your case and have fun while at it. When done with the dining part, it is now time to sample some wine. Sip your favorite bottle as you enjoy the events in the musical arena.
Where to Stay in 30A
Your Christmas and New Year’s experience in 30A goes hand in hand with the kind of vacation rental you book. Our team at Dune Vacation Rentals is determined to offer you accommodation options to match your holidaying desires. From beautiful waterfront condos to a multitude of other beach properties, you have all the luxury you would desire for a Christmas vacation. Private pools, patios, outdoor grills, and golf carts are some of the amenities that come with our customized rentals. Contact us today to book yours.