Best 2012 memories, #24: Playing in the snow in Florida
Living in Florida means I don't see much in the way of real snow, and normally I like it that way. I get to see a dusting falling in the theme parks during the holiday season, and I get my taste of bitter temperatures in Ice! at the Gaylord Palms Resort, but other than that, I enjoy my green Christmases and put on a coat as soon the the temperature drops into the 60s.
This year, however, I actually had the chance to make snowballs and snow angels and to go snow tubing right here in my home state. I also handled snow on my Adventures by Disney Roaming the Rockies trip in Canada, but doing it in Florida is quite unique.
Where did a find a mountain of snow ripe for playing? In Snow World at Busch Gardens Tampa during their Christmas Town celebration. Christmas Town was a new event this year, and Snow World quickly rocketed up to one of my top 25 memories.
Snow World is just one small part of Christmas Town, an event that takes over Busch Gardens Tampa with carolers, Christmas treats like gingerbread and hot cocoa, Santa's house with Santa himself, live penguins, caroling on the train, concerts, an amazing ice show, and too many colored lights to count. The event itself is well worth the trip, even though it requires a separate admission ticket.
Click the video at lower left for a Christmas Town overview.
Snow World was wildly popular, so I hurried over to be one of the first in line. It felt like a throwback to my northern days to pick up the snow in my bare hands and crush it into a ball or to lie on it and feel the chill in my body as I made a snow angel. You only get to stay in Snow World for a limited time, but that was fine with this Florida gal. I was happy to get a taste of snow, but even happier that I live in a climate that stays green all year 'round.
Continue on for my 25th memory that ends my 2012 series and takes my column into the New Year.
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