42 Warm and Sunny Family Winter Vacation Ideas in the US and Abroad

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Make memories to last a lifetime at the all-inclusive Beaches Turks and Caicos.

From perpetually wet feet to relentlessly bundling (and unbundling) your kids with layer upon layer, the need to escape grows for many parents as the winter drags on. Even those families who don't live with the finicky four-season cycle might prefer their family vacation with a side of palm trees, rather than fur-trimmed snow boots.

So whether you're seeking to escape the cold or just don't want to spend your holiday season vacation in it, we've rounded up 42 of the best winter vacation ideas in the US and abroad filled with sun, fun, and warmth.

Read on to find great all-inclusive resorts, beaches, and charming cities teeming with culture that will give you a family vacation that’s sunny, not snowy. For even more winter vacation ideas, be sure to check out our Family Travel Destination Guide.

28 Best Things to Do in Orlando December 2024 with Kids

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Experience the illuminating Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo. Photo by the author

As the calendar inches toward Christmas and the holidays, Central Florida is shining with seasonal celebrations to enjoy with your family this December. Don’t miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Orlando in December!

The theme parks are in full force with lights and festive holiday decor, from SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration to Epcot's International Festival of the Holidays. Christmas parades take place in cities all around Central Florida, including Apopka, St. Cloud, and Winter Park. And don't miss the spectacular ICE! exhibit at Christmas at Gaylord Palms, as well as the enchanting Asian Lantern Festival at the Central Florida Zoo. Read on for the top events in Orlando and happening around Central Florida this December!

Find more December fun in our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for Orlando Kids, including festive holiday shows, holiday light drive-thrus and Christmas light shows, and local breakfast with Santa events.

29 Best Things to Do in Atlanta December 2024 with Kids

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Families walk through Margaritaville at Lake Lanier's spectacular light show with festive seasonal music. Photo courtesy of Margaritaville

Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, and holiday activities are in full effect for December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Atlanta this month! 

December in Atlanta starts with Christmas tree lightings all over town, including those in Sandy Springs, Woodstock, and Brookhaven (where Santa enters on a helicopter)! As December continues, Atlanta families get into the holiday spirit with Nutcracker Ballet and Holiday Shows as well as Dazzling Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. December 25th brings Christmas Day AND the first night of Hanukkah! Families celebrate with lots of events, including Chabad Intown's menorah lightings. After all those holiday gifts are ripped open, families can ring in 2025 with fun, daytime events like the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash at Children's Museum of Atlanta. 

Forget the holiday drama, mama — sign up for our newsletters to make your December run smoothly. 

24 Best Things to Do in DC December 2024 with Kids: Sing-A-Longs, Christmas Events, and New Year's Eve

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Take a lighted trail walk at Reston's Winterfest. Photo courtesy of Winterfest

This December is filled with sparkles and merriment, from holiday lights and parades to menorah lightings and New Year's Eve events.

You've seen our round-up of must-do Christmas events and holiday activities, and you may have purchased tickets to a holiday show or a Christmas light display. Now I'm going to tell you about events this month that aren't on those lists.

Imagination Stage's Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood opens mid-month and runs until early February 2025. My kids have always loved this theater's productions, and I can't recommend them enough.

And the Udvar-Hazy Center is hosting a family day about Rocket Blasts and Star Bursts. I don't know about your kids, but explosions are super exciting to mine.

And when this year closes, so do two immersive experiences. Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience closes December 29 and Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures closes December 31.

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in December, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.

22 Best Things To Do in NYC December 2024 with Kids

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Don't Let The Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical takes the stage at the Queens Theater. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Holiday lights, sights, and celebrations abound in NYC this December. Read on for our top things to do with kids to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.

We're still plowing through the leftover turkey, and we have to start prepping for Christmas, Hanukkah, and 2024's final bow. Luckily, there's a spectacular array of kid-friendly things to do in December.

The month kicks off with Annie at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, and Whoopi Goldberg takes on a starring role. The Met Opera's The Magic Flute is a can't-miss at Lincoln Center, plus the month brings tons of holiday fun, including the cacophony of musical madness that is Unsilent Night.

Keep our top picks for holiday must-do's handy all month long, too, and bookmark our NYC Kids' Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for easy access to all the holiday hullabaloo that pops up!

18 Best Things To Do in New Jersey December 2024 with Kids

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'Tis the sea-son for Christmas Underwater at Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

Looking for the best things to do in New Jersey in December? Christmas lights and holiday activities are among our top picks this month. 

The last month of 2024 boasts full-on holiday fun in the Garden State, and we can't wait to see the holiday lights at drive-thrus and walk-throughs like Let It Glow: A Holiday Lantern Spectacular at the Bergen County Zoo. Santa Claus is also all over town in December– catch him at festive events like his stroll through Chester.

Find more top December fun in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in New Jersey, like our guide to the top New Jersey Christmas Towns.