With some of the mildest winters in the continental United States, Florida is a great place to defrost. A perfect cold-weather getaway, it offers soft sand, gentle breezes and dazzling sunshine. In balmy temperatures that can reach almost 80 degrees, enjoy a winter wonderland – Florida-style.
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Thaw Out With Us On A Sandbar Trip!
Where can you go in December where the skies are blue, the sun is warm and the coldest thing is the ice in your drink? Key West, Florida! Add a Key West Sandbar Trip to your visit for a unique and memorable December adventure.
Our exciting journey will transport you to a fantasyland of ivory sandbars, intriguing mangroves and picture-prefect marine life. Thaw out in December in Florida and book your Key West Sandbar Trip today!
When you visit Florida in December, you’ll have numerous great, warm destinations to choose from:
1) West Palm Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 78F, Low: 61F.
West Palm Beach is a city located on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It’s a great haven if you’re looking for warm places in Florida in December. Although the town itself isn’t a beach, it’s flanked by beautiful white sand beaches including:
Palm Beach
Palm Beach, located across the Intracoastal Waterway from West Palm Beach, is known for amazing, sandy beaches and palatial estates. Called “America’s First Resort Destination” it’s also referred to as the island of Palm Beach or Palm Beach Island to differentiate it from the city. Although it’s only four square miles, Palm Beach is packed with must-see attractions including:
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Norton Museum of Art
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Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
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Beachfront golf course
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Worth Avenue – Upscale dining and shopping spot
Palm Beach also boasts the elite Billionaires Row, a gorgeous, oceanfront stretch of land populated by some of the world’s most moneyed residents in dizzyingly priced homes.
Fun Fact: Ken Griffin, Citadel’s mega-rich CEO, owns the most expensive house on Billionaires Row: A 50,000 square foot compound worth an astounding $1 billion.
Lake Worth Beach
Visitors seeking quaint charm will find it in abundance at Lake Worth Beach. A quirky South Florida town with the credo, “Keep Lake Worth Weird,” it’s known for the yearly Street Painting Festival, more than 1,000 historic, pastel cottages and the lively Reggae Fest. Lake Worth is also known for its vibrant artistic scene.
The beach and its clear, turquoise waters are the main attraction. Share the historic, 1,000-foot pier with snowy white pelicans as you stroll toward the infinite horizon or try your hand at fishing. One of the best Florida beaches in December, notable features of Lake Worth Beach include:
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Fishing
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Swimming
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Beachcombing
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Jet skiing, kayaking and paddle boarding
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Velvety sand perfect for lounging under the warm sun
Riviera Beach
Riviera beach is a seven-mile-long beach located north of West Palm Beach. Nicknamed “The Best City in Which to Live, Work and Play,” Riviera Beach offers a wide assortment of water activities in Florida in December, including diving, fishing and snorkeling. It’s also perfect for simply dozing in the gentle winter sunlight.
Adrenaline junkies will meet their match at Rapids Water Park. It boasts more than 40 water slides and the 873-feet-long, appropriately named water coaster, Mega Mayhem.
Make special memories at the unique Manatee Lagoon. You’ll thrill to see these rolly polly mammals up close in their natural habitat. Two tiers of observation decks offer fantastic views of manatees as they glide through the warm waters they call home.
2) Miami Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 75F, Low: 66F.
Since the early 20th Century, Miami Beach has been one of the country’s most iconic beach resort destinations. This reputation is well earned: With December highs close to the 80s, it’s a perfect winter getaway. You can’t beat Florida’s beaches in December! If you’re looking for warm places in Florida in December, look no farther. This sun-drenched coastal city boasts seven striking miles of velvety beach and is warm enough for snorkeling, swimming, jet skiing, beach volleyball or just soaking up the rays.
If you want to hit cultural hotspots, check out the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and the Bass Museum of Art, or take a breather and enjoy the peaceful bird and marine life of West Island Nature Park in Miami.
During Florida in December, the beach also attracts visitors with luxury resorts – be careful that you don’t fall under their spell!
When the sun goes down, Miami Beach sizzles. A world-famous party location, it caters to the tastes of hard-core revelers, as well as those who enjoy low-key night spots. Enjoy a fabulous night at:
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World-renowned nightclubs
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Bars and lounges
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Pool parties
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Beach clubs
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Beachfront parties
You may also want to check out Art Basel. It’s a week-long, December extravaganza featuring more than 250 galleries from around the globe displaying contemporary works from more than 4,000 artists. Not to be upstaged by the art, the event magnetizes actors, models, musicians and socialites who make a splash at glamorous parties and exclusive events.
South Beach
Nicknamed SoBe, South Beach is a famous, equally boisterous section of Miami Beach. Known as a playground for the rich and famous, it’s an ideal place to escape from winter’s chill. A premier winter beach destination for beach lovers, it epitomizes the quintessential image of tanned, toned bodies, movie and TV filming locations and endless azure ocean.
Located in the heart of Miami, it pulses with dynamic nightclubs and bars that rollick until a 5 a.m. last call. The busiest and most famous beach in Miami, it also bustles during the day with vibrant restaurants, upscale boutiques, street performers and galleries. Be sure to add the famous Lincoln Road to your agenda. It’s an eight-block-long pedestrian promenade sporting 200 boutiques and restaurants.
Then, of course, there’s the beach. In Florida in December, it will lure you with fine white sand and shallow, glittering waters that are warm and gentle.
And if you want to go topless, SoBe is a beach where you’re permitted to strut your stuff!
Fun Fact: Thanks to the 1980s TV series, Miami Vice, the beach’s iconic art deco architecture is renowned worldwide. According to the Miami Herald, “The show helped save South Beach by broadcasting the architectural charms of its Deco hotels.”
3) Key West
Average temperature in December – High: 77F, Low: 70F.
Thanks to Key West’s location at the United States’ Southernmost Point and its closeness to the Gulf Stream, it boasts some of the warmest Florida beaches. Also, December is part of the island’s dry season, so you don’t need to prepare for rain, clouds or excessive heat or cold.
Instead, you can escape from the winter’s chill and look forward to about seven glorious hours of sunshine every day, perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, checking out sandbars near Key West or just lazing on the beach. In Florida in December, you’ll also dodge hurricane season, which extends from June 1 to November 30.
The area has a wild reputation as a place where the party never ends. Its noteworthy hangouts include:
Sloppy Joes
Sloppy Joes was one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite local bars and the spot where he penned some of his legendary novels. Exuding a welcoming atmosphere for both locals and visitors, Sloppy Joe’s offers delicious food, chilled drinks and live music all week.
The Green Parrot
The Green Parrot was voted Key West’s Best Live Music Venue 11 years in a row by the Keys Weekly People’s Choice Awards. The Green Parrot hosts bands from around the world Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They also give their patrons plenty of time to hang out: The bar is open Sunday – Thursday , 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Rick’s
This sprawling entertainment complex features eight themed bars that all provide different types of carousing. Enjoy live music, a dance club, a sports bar, a lounge and more, without ever leaving the venue.
Pro Tip: Be sure to add the incredible sandbars near Key West to your vacation to-do list. You won’t regret it!
4) Clearwater Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 72F, Low: 63F.
Living up to its name, Clearwater Beach is known for its hem of crystal-clear, sapphire-blue Gulf waters. Not surprisingly, Clearwater was dubbed Number One Beach in the South by USA Today. Whether you’re a water-sports enthusiast or you just want to unfurl a beach blanket and dig your toes into the talcum-soft sand, beach life at Clearwater Beach has something for everyone.
While the beach is undeniably the main attraction, there are many other things to do in Clearwater such as:
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Set sail on a dolphin cruise
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Come face-to-face with rescued dolphins and sea turtles at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
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Rent a boat or kayak
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Bike along the beach walk
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Shop on Mandalay Avenue
For the perfect end to a perfect day, check out the Pier 60 nightly sunset celebration. During the festivities, the pier comes alive with stilt walkers, fire breathers and other street entertainers, as well as craft vendors and live music.
Ready to permanently escape from the winter? Then put down roots at the Clearwater-adjacent retirement community, the Villages. Popularly called Florida’s Village, it spans more than 20 square miles and has over 130,000 occupants (approximately the population of Pasadena, California.) Housing residents age 55 and older, this huge, self-contained complex offers a formidable array of amenities including:
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Shopping centers
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Restaurants
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Bars
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Music venues
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Fitness facilities
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A hospital
5) Fort Walton Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 66F, Low: 52F.
A gem nestled on Florida’s Emerald Coast, Fort Walton Beach offers a perfect blend of sun-dappled beauty, outdoor activities, historical sites and relaxation. Although it’s not the hottest place in Florida in December, it’s a worthwhile beach destination.
Exuding tranquil beach vibes, its 24-mile coast offers a peaceful getaway that’s more laid-back and has fewer crowds than other prominent Florida beaches. Fort Walton Beach is prized for its alabaster sand, crystalline, sky-blue waters and fascinating places to explore including:
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Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park – A family-friendly attraction featuring hands-on aquatic animal experiences, dolphin shows and exhibits.
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Air Force Armament Museum – A museum focused on the history of aircraft armament such as bombs, missiles and other air combat weapons.
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Indian Temple Mound Museum – Perfect for anyone interested in learning about the Native Americans who once populated the Gulf Coast.
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Okaloosa Island Boardwalk – A dining, shopping and entertainment locale poised against a breathtaking backdrop of the Gulf.
Fun Fact: The beach is named after Camp Walton, a Civil War Confederate outpost.
6) Santa Rosa Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 64F, Low: 52F.
Want to escape to a warm winter beach minus the crowds? Then head to Santa Rosa Beach, a long carpet of pearly sand stretching to an emerald ocean. It’s one of the best Florida beaches to visit because it’s been untouched by chain restaurants, high-rise condos, hectic crowds and noisy vehicles such as go-carts. It’s a charming, small beach town that will capture your heart.
The beach offers plenty of fresh-air activities, including paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, golf, exploring dunes and bodysurfing.
If you can manage to peel yourself off the beach, there are many attractions waiting to be discovered:
Point Washington State Forest
Enjoy hiking, walking, biking and wildlife watching amidst the serenity of these 15,407 acres of protected wilderness. Point Washington’s trails meander through wetlands, pine forests and freshwater streams, providing a pleasant contrast to the beach’s sand and bright sunlight.
Underwater Museum Of Art
The Underwater Museum of Art (UMA) is an extraordinary museum featuring underwater sculptures called sculpture gardens. At a depth of 60 feet, the artworks act as artificial reefs that support marine life. To visit the museum, you must go on a guided diving or snorkeling tour, or be an experienced diver.
7) Crescent Beach
Average temperature in December – High: 73F, Low: 60F.
With a population of only 936, Crescent Beach is a welcome destination for beachgoers seeking privacy and a relaxed vibe. It’s not swarmed with tourists who want to visit Florida’s beaches. Described as having an “Old Florida feel” it reflects an era characterized by leisurely paced lifestyles, small-town charm and simpler times.
You won’t find rocks or seaweed – just a long stretch of fleecy white sand bordering frothy blue waves. The beach is kid-friendly and dog-friendly too – play Frisbee with your furry friend under the warm winter sun.
Explore more of the area by checking out:
St. Augustine Beach
Just a short drive from Crescent Beach, St. Augustine Beach offers a vibrant atmosphere that perfectly complements its historic surroundings. Known for its beautiful, wide sandy shores and gentle surf, this beach is ideal for families and sun-seekers alike. The beach is lined with charming beachside cafes and shops, where you can grab a bite to eat or pick up a souvenir to remember your trip.
St. Augustine Beach is also home to the iconic St. Augustine Pier, where you can take a leisurely stroll and enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The pier is a great spot for fishing, and you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins playing in the waves.
Pro Tip: Don’t miss the chance to catch a breathtaking sunrise over the Atlantic – it’s a perfect way to start your day in this picturesque beach town!
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
At the nearby St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, you can “see you later, alligator” and “after a while, crocodile.” The facility, dedicated to the protection and preservation of these prehistoric-looking creatures, houses 24 species of crocodilians.
Their star is Maximo, a 15-foot-long, 1,250-pound bundle of scales and teeth. An underwater window will let you look at him – safely – up close and personal.
We’ll Break The Ice With A Warm December Sandbar Excursion!
As the holiday season approaches, many are seeking a warm escape from the winter chill. With its inviting climate, Florida weather in December offers the perfect backdrop for a tropical getaway. Key West is one of the warmest places in December, making it an ideal destination for those looking to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors.
So, don’t be left out in the cold! In Florida’s warm December weather, Key West Sandbar Trips provides the sandbar experience of a lifetime. Cruise past enchanted mangroves, romp on creamy white sandbars and enjoy the natural beauty of thriving marine life.
We’ll give you a whole new perspective on Florida in December – book your Key West Sandbar Excursion today!
