This post is brought to you by Christmas Wonderland.

My Family’s Christmas Wonderland Experience

Here at Miami Mom Collective, we love Christmas! That’s why I was so excited when I had the opportunity to take my oldest two kids to Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park last weekend. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived, but let me tell you… we had a BLAST. The entire experience was so well done and we loved it from the moment we got there to the moment we left.

Tinsel Trail

When we entered Christmas Wonderland, we first experienced Tinsel Trail, half a mile of holiday displays, light shows, and immersive experiences. We encountered six unique worlds as we walked through the park.  Each world with its very own theme, sights, sounds, and activities. 

My favorite world was HoliDade, a celebration of the diversity of Miami-Dade County, its people, its culture, and its neighborhoods. This is a selfie moment on steroids. What I loved most about it was that it was so quintessential Miami. The designers of the exhibits grasped the feel of the different neighborhoods around town in a way that I’ve rarely seen accomplished. 

We then walked through the other five worlds, which were just as thoughtfully and beautifully designed as HoliDade. Sweet Street is an explosion of color, candy, cookies, and sweets; each display more whimsical than the next. In Toy Town, we met the Elf Brigade and saw larger-than-life toys. Arctic Delight features real snow! In Town Square, we saw Mrs. Claus and enjoyed classic/traditional looking exhibits that were so nostalgic to my childhood. Lastly, we passed through Santa’s Village, where we had the opportunity to meet Santa himself!

Magnificent Midway

Just when it felt like we’d seen it all and it was time to go home, I realized the fun had only just begun! 

The Tinsel Trail leads to Magnificent Midway, which offers a collection of the top rides in the country. We could have spent days riding all of the rides and playing the great carnival style games. The kids had a blast playing games and winning prizes, and there was a great variety of rides for all ages so there was truly fun for the whole family.

We took a ride on the largest traveling Ferris Wheel in America, which was over 150 feet tall (my fear of heights didn’t enjoy it, but the kids were inthralled!). Other highlights for our family were bumper cars, a kid sized roller coaster, and a huge slide! 

Magnificent Midway also housed what seemed to be dozens of food trucks from both local and national vendors. Don’t worry, calories don’t count during the holidays!

IG’loo 360 Dome (exclusive to Christmas Wonderland!)

One of the most unique experiences of the whole evening was the IG’loo 360 Dome. The first in Miami, this dome housed a 360 degree animated production that made it feel like you were riding through different Christmas settings (It reminded me of Disney’s Soarin’ ride!). This was such a fun surprise at the back of the park, so be sure to head all the way there so you don’t miss it!

PRO TIPS:

I’d definitely encourage you to check out Christmas Wonderland! We had a blast and spent an entire evening enjoying the fun. I’m leaving you with a couple tips below to ensure that your experience is as enjoyable as possible.

• Buy your tickets online! Tickets are cheaper online than at the door.
• Arrive early! The park opens at 5PM and I’d encourage you to arrive on the early side. We got there before 6PM and didn’t have to wait in lines, but toward the end of the night the lines got noticeably longer, so go early to maximize your time!
• Dress for comfort! While there are many great photo opps and you want to wear your best holiday attire, I’d encourage you to still be comfortable because there’s lots of walking at the park.

Christmas Wonderland really has everything you could think of when it comes to Christmas. From Santa and Mrs. Claus, ornament decorating, real snow, rides for all ages, treats for kids (and adults!), elves running around the park, photo opps, and more, this really is a one stop shop for holiday celebrations. 

I hope you check out the park. If you do, be sure to tag @MiamiMomCollective and @ChristmasWonderlandMIA so we can see all your fun!