Guide to Visiting The Florida Keys During Christmas

Apparently, Americans are asking Santa for beaches and palm trees this Christmas. 

Hotels.com shared with Travel + Leisure that they’re seeing a 461 percent increase in searches for Christmas travel to Jamaica. And while Christmas in Jamaica sounds great, you don’t have to dig out your passport and fly over the Caribbean to enjoy a warm-weather Christmas. A trip to the Florida Keys is an easy way to scratch that tropical island itch without long flights and passport control. 

In Key West, for example, December temperatures tend to fluctuate between 67 and 76 degrees, while the water remains a perfect 72 degrees. Visiting the beach and accessing the ocean is almost always free — and provides an alternative setting to the icy roads and snow-covered sidewalks that most people have to deal with over winter.

But here’s a little secret: just because you’re spending Christmas in the tropics doesn’t mean you can’t partake in your favorite Christmas traditions. In fact, it could be argued that the Florida Keys is one of the most festive places to celebrate Christmas — perhaps to make up for their lack of snow, they go all out.

Here are a few fun things on tap this year in the Florida Keys:

Harbor Walk of Lights — Key West

The annual Key West Holiday Fest is packed with events, but a favorite is the Harbor Walk of Lights along the seaport. The walk stretches along the sea wall, which is lit up by over 60 thousand twinkling lights draped around palm trees, street lights, and boats. It’s Florida’s take on the traditional Christmas light drive, but subs in fresh sea air for the car heating system. Plus, the Harbor Walk of Lights operates under a theme and this year is an ode to the late Jimmy Buffett.

Dive at the Christmas Tree Cave — Key Largo

The Christmas Tree Cave in the French Reef is a popular dive and snorkel site year-round, but there’s something wonderful about visiting the site over the Christmas holiday. The dive site has spectacular coral formations and plenty of Christmas Tree Worms, an ocean worm that resembles a colorful, little Christmas tree after which the site was named.

Annual Lighted Boat Parade — Key West

There is nothing more Florida-at-Christmas than the annual Lighted Boat Parade, where boats decorated in lights and holiday decor cruise through the Key West harbor. For a better view, secure a seat on the Schooner America 2.0, which lets you see the boat parade from the water and includes music and refreshments.

Islamorada Holiday Fest — Islamorada

If you end up craving snow on your island getaway head to the Great Lawn at Founders Park in Islamorada, where a 30-ton mound of snow, dubbed “Snow Mountain” will provide sledding, snowman-making, and snowball throwing — in 70-plus-degree heat. The snowscape is set beneath Islamorada’s 35-foot-high holiday tree, which helps set the holiday mood.