SOUTHERN HOLIDAY GETAWAYS

By Mary Huff

Instead of staying home for the holidays, a vacation getaway during the November-December season is a perfect way to experience gratitude, joy and magic while creating lifetime memories. Whether you observe Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannukah or no specific religion, the seasonal light shows and colorful events that occur around the South are worth visiting.

For those who want to hit the re-set button and create new traditions, there’s no place like Florida, where snow is totally unnecessary for getting in the holiday spirit. Here, folks deck the docks, waterways, palm trees, streets and homes with sandy Santa themes and sparkling lights. In Northwest Florida, Santa arrives on a shrimp boat in Apalachicola, while on the Atlantic coast, the famed Daytona International Speedway is transformed into a slow ride through a dazzling display of over a million holiday lights.

The Southeast is full of driving-distance destinations that are legendary for their holiday vibe, lavish or quirky décor, family-friendly events and warm hospitality. Pack the trunk with gifts and vacation gear and plan ahead, for these Southern destinations put on legendary shows that draw visitors from far and wide.

Daytona Beach, Florida

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAYTONA AREA BEACH CVB

Often called home of the world’s most famous beaches, Daytona Beach, Florida, located on the Atlantic coast, midway between St. Augustine and the Kennedy Space Center (only an hour drive from each) and just an hour east of Orlando, is a holiday standout that sets the stage for a season of dazzling light displays, along with 23 miles of Atlantic Ocean shoreline and inland fun.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGIC LIGHTS

From November 18, 2022 through January 1, 2023, Daytona International Speedway is transformed into Magic of Lights® — a slow ride through a dazzling display of over a million holiday lights. Drive through a 1.5-mile extravaganza that uses the latest LED technology and digital animation to create magical scenes such as Joy to the World, 12 Days of Christmas, 200-foot Candy Cane Lane, Snowflake Forest, and the Enchanting Tunnel of Lights. Walk across the pedestrian bridge or drive across the boulevard for a million square feet of world-class shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and hotel accommodations at ONE DAYTONA. Each weekend brings family-friendly events. Stay on-site at Fairfield Inn & Suites Daytona Beach Speedway/Airport or the Daytona Autograph Collection Hotel for an immersive race-fan and festive holiday experience.

Built in the late 1800s as an ornate bed and breakfast, the exquisite Rose Villa Southern Table & Bar puts on a stunning decorative display that lights up historic downtown Ormond Beach. From November 18, 2022 through January 5, 2023, in the Granada Boulevard district, Rose Villa Gingerbread Fantasy invites visitors to the one-of-a-kind Victorian jewel and explore its rich history along with a delicious dining experience, gingerbread snacks and signature cocktails. Make reservations well in advance to experience the restaurant’s eclectic, mouth-watering dining, and an exclusive opportunity to build a gingerbread house with family and friends. December 3, 2022 is the Daytona Beach Christmas Boat Parade, where spectators line the Halifax River and take in the serene and magical displays.

For more events and accommodations details, visit DaytonaBeach.com.

Apalachicola, Florida

NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FRANKLIN COUNTY

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAYTONA AREA BEACH CVB

Franklin County is named the Forgotten Coast because it’s one of the last remaining stretches of low-rise, unspoiled Gulf Coast beaches, making holiday vacations here more like peace on Earth. Santa comes to town on a Shrimp boat at 4 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving at Riverfront Park, part of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center’s Apalachicola Downtown Christmas Celebration. Streets will be lined with glowing luminaries; merchants will be open late, and carolers will add to the festive spirit.

PHOTO BY DAVID ADLERSTEIN

For updates visit ApalachicolaBay.org/events

DeLand, FLORIDA

WEST VOLUSIA COUNTY

Between Orlando and Daytona, West Volusia County encompasses fourteen communities along the St. Johns River, each with their own stories and an eclectic collection of accommodations, dining, and attractions. The authenticity that travelers are looking for is here, from the top-rated main street Downtown DeLand, to the gentle-giant manatees at Blue Spring State Park to adventures on the St. Johns River.

Florida’s first-ever luxury estate, the elegant Stetson Mansion, is a gorgeous Victorian “Gilded Age” residence built in 1886 for the famed hat maker. Its current residents are carrying on the tradition of extravagant gatherings with a 10th anniversary event that has been named among the ˮTop 10 Christmas Homes” by Bob Vila and “Best Holiday Home Tours in America” in the USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Self-guided Stetson Mansion Christmas tours include 10 new room themes each year. Decorations are over-the-top examples of elegant and reverent displays which complement the mansion’s rich architectural details. Geared for adults, the 90-minute tours are held multiple times a day from November 1, 2022 through January 21, 2023. Tickets are $28, plus tax and booking fee; advanced reservations are required; booking is available now.

STETSON MANSION

PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST VOLUSIA TOURISM ADVERTISING AUTHORITY

The Athens Theatre in the heart of downtown DeLand joins in the holiday celebration with its presentation of Scrooge, The Musical, a big Broadway musical version of the world’s most beloved Christmas story, Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. This historic gem of a theatre opened in 1922 and became the centerpiece of this Central Florida region. Shows run November 26 through December 18; tickets range from $12-$32.

Plenty of lodging and dining options can be found at VisitWestVolusia.com.

LEGENDARY LIGHTS AND COLORFUL CELEBRATIONS

PHOTO COURTESY OF STETSON MANSION

Discover nearby Southeast holiday towns dressed for the season!

❱❱ TIP: WHEN PLANNING HOLIDAY VACATIONS, BE SURE TO CHECK WITH EACH DESTINATION AND ATTRACTION FOR COVID ANNOUNCEMENTS.

MARY HUFF writes from her home in the mountains of North Georgia. She is a veteran writer and media relations expert, sharing travel and lifestyle stories with readers throughout the southeast. Mary has specialized in tourism for more than ten years and is an expert on destinations and resorts from the hills of Virginia to the Florida coast.