If you are in Miami in December you cannot always feel the Christmas spirit when you have long days, warm temperatures and no sign of any snow.
One year we flew into Miami airport with Virgin as we intended to spend a few days traveling along the Space Coast on our way up to the villa in Orlando. It is possible with most airlines to fly into one airport and home from another if we do this we usually fly into Miami or Tampa and back from Orlando.
Friends of ours had recommended that we visit Santa’s Enchanted Forest if we wanted to feel “Christmassy' . This takes place in Tropical Park which is located at the intersection of Bird Road (SW 40th Street) and the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826). It is a very popular park with over a million visitors each year. The park provides a green oasis in the middle of a densely populated suburban area. Throughout the year you will find an equestrian center, dog park, boxing program and a professional soccer team housed in a former horse track. There is also a Tennis Centre that has 12 lighted tennis courts, racquetball facilities and instructional programs. The tennis courts are all handicapped accessible and reservations are recommended.
Santa' s Enchanted Forest is open this year from November 4, 2010 to January 9, 2011 between 5pm to midnight, seven days a week. Admission charges are$23. 36 for adults, $16. 36 for seniors and children 9 and under, and free for children under 2. However if you are staying in Miami there is also a season pass option, where one pass gets you in every night except Saturdays and Christmas day. Season pass holders do not have to wait in line to get in. Prices for the season pass are $41. 12 for age 10 & over and $30. 85 for kids 9 & younger. Parking is free. If you are intending to go to the Park more than twice this could be a good option.
The Park is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights and displays for the holiday season. Santa' s Enchanted Forest has over 3 million lights a spectacle that all the family will like. In the middle of the Park there is a magnificent 90 foot Christmas tree that is all lit up. You can see Santa in his workshop and popular children' s characters like the Power Puff Girls and Blue' s Clues. Do not forget to go to see Santa or put a letter in a special mailbox guaranteed to get to Santa in time for Christmas.
At Santa' s Enchanted Forest there is also a carnival with 50 rides, 20 children' s rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, and 9 live shows. You will enjoy the Food tents that offer traditional carnival fair like candy apples and funnel cake as well as international dishes from Greece, Mexico and Italy. Santa’s Enchanted Forest is well worth a visit.