This winter, Orlando shines brighter than ever, inviting Canadians to trade chilly temperatures for warm and sunny outdoor adventures, world-class attractions, and natural escapes.

When Canadian winter hits, even the most dedicated runners, cyclists and weekend warriors feel their motivation dip. If you’re craving sunshine, movement and a mental reset, Orlando offers the perfect Winter Wellness Escape: a place where Canadians can stay active outdoors while the weather turns icy up north.

Whether you’re travelling solo, or with a family, the sun-filled destination welcomes visitors with unforgettable outdoor adventures, sun-soaked festivals, refreshing resort pools, all-new theme park thrills, and al fresco dining – each set against Orlando’s signature blue skies and warm sunshine. It’s the ultimate place to escape the cold and make unforgettable memories in a destination where winter simply doesn’t exist.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Orlando’s sunny skies invite visitors to immerse themselves in the destination’s natural beauty. From picturesque waterways and tranquil trails to adrenaline-fueled off-road experiences, the options are endless. 

  • Hiking enthusiasts can explore trails and nature preserves including the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, featuring a butterfly garden, picnic area and various hikes and trails; The Florida National Scenic Trail, featuring pine flatwoods, freshwater marsh, oak hammock and more at Crosby Island Marsh Preserve, Moss Park and the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area; and the Cady Way Trail, 7.2-mile paved corridor, stretching from downtown Orlando to Winter Park which feature water fountains and sheltered rest stops with dining and shopping opportunities along the way. 
  • Experience the beauty of the Everglades with Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides, Wild Florida and Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, featuring classic Florida airboat tours, up-close views of native wildlife, like alligators and bald eagles, along with the gorgeous long grasses and local greenery of the swamp.
  • At Catboat Escapes, guests can captain a personal catamaran across scenic waterways, while at the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour visitors can enjoy a guided boat tour through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, linked by a series of beautiful Venetian-style canals. 
  • Thrill-seekers can soar 1,200 feet over live alligators and crocodiles on the Screamin’ Gator Zip Line at Gatorland, or venture onto off-road trails with ATVs, Dune Buggies and ARGO amphibious Mucky Ducks across more than 200 acres of guided terrain at Revolution Adventures.
  • Get Up and Go Kayaking offers clear-kayaking tours through Rock Springs Run, where visitors can spot otters, fish and native birds while gliding over crystal-clear and water.
  • Watersport novices and aficionados can explore Nona Adventure Park, featuring a floating aqua park; cable park for water skiing and wakeboarding; 60-foot climbing tower; and ropes course.

WINTER SPORTING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Orlando’s sunny winter weather sets the ultimate backdrop for sports fans with a full line up of recreational and professional sporting events and activities for visitors to enjoy. 

  • The NBA’s Orlando Magic season heats up in the winter with home games at downtown Orlando’s Kia Center through April. 
  • Camping World Stadium will host several classic college football bowl games, select dates Dec. 17 – Jan. 10. 
  • For 2026, the United Football League introduced Orlando Storm, Orlando’s newest sports team. The new UFL franchise team will play at the Inter&Co Stadium, home to Orlando City SC in Major League Soccer and Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League, for the 2026 season kicking off in March. 

Active guests seeking to get in on the action, can explore:

  • Orlando’s more than 100 golf courses offering golfers a paradise with championship courses dreamed up by Tom Fazio, Ron Garl, Rees Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, to name a few.
  • The USTA National Campus, the national headquarters for U.S. tennis, features 100 courts, world-class facilities and is open to the public for play, lessons, and events. 
  • FootGolf at Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course combines soccer and golf offering a unique experience for families and guests of all ages.

OUTDOOR FESTIVALS

Orlando’s sunshine sets the stage for vibrant outdoor festivals featuring live entertainment, indulging bites, art, cultural experiences and exciting festivities all winter long. 

Theme Park Festivals 

  • The Epcot International Festival of the Arts (Jan. 16 – Feb. 23) will combine visual, culinary and performing arts for six colorful weekends. Magical music will take center stage with the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series featuring show-stopping numbers from Aladdin, Frozen, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Tarzan, Newsies and more.  
  • SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival (select dates Jan.– May) invites guests to dine and delight in flavors from around the world with local craft beers, live performances and more.   
  • Universal Orlando Resort’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval (Feb. 7 – April 4), will bring culinary experiences and Carnaval festivities from around the world to Universal Studios Florida. The vibrant celebration will feature a nightly parade with glittering floats, street performers, colorful beads and on select nights, guests can enjoy live performances from some of the biggest names in music.
  • Aquatica Orlando’s new ILLUMINATE: A Nighttime Lantern Festival (select nights now – Jan 31.), an all-new experience transforming the park into a realm of light and imagination, featuring glowing walkways, large animal lanterns in five interactive realms and exciting culinary bites all in a new after-dark setting.   

Beyond the Parks

  • IMMERSE Fest (Feb. 20-22, 2026), an annual interactive arts experience held across 10 city blocks in downtown Orlando, will return featuring epic live performances, immersive art installations and unexpected creative moments.
  • The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival (March 20-22), one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most prestigious juried outdoor fine art festivals return to bring local artists and art lovers together. The free family-friendly festival will feature a wide variety of fine arts and crafts, live entertainment, a children’s workshop and more.

COOL POOLS THAT MAKE A SPLASH

Dive into Orlando’s collection of sun-soaked pools and enjoy aquatic fun in the warm winter weather. 

  • Villatel Orlando Resort offers one of Orlando’s newest pools, with a water park-style pool complex complete with a lazy river, water slides and a dedicated splash pad with a water bucket drop for younger children. Additionally, many of the villas of the resort come with their own private pool for added privacy and relaxation. 
  • Evermore Orlando Resort is Orlando’s first beach-like property, with an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon and a 20-acre sandy beach with hammocks, cabanas and recreational activities. Guests can enjoy family paddleboarding, mixology classes, sandcastle-building lessons and more. Also onsite, Conrad Orlando the destination’s first Hilton luxury brand, offers a spa featuring an immersive water garden, a spacious zero-entry pool and kid-friendly splash pad. 
  • Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort features a sprawling water park-style pool complex complete with a lazy river, interactive splash zone, waterslides and a separate adults-only pool area. 
  • Guests can splash into the new Grande Lakes Water Park, a shared amenity at the JW Marriott, Grande Lakes and The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.  Highlights include a quarter-mile lazy river; three high-flying waterslides; and a kid-approved Splash Cove and AquaVenture Course. Additionally, adults can escape away from it all at the resorts’ other shared pools, including the adults-only Oasis Pool at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Orlando, Grande Lakes. 
  • Explore a world of all-ages fun at the The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando, offering three serene Springs Pools, a children’s splash pad, private cabanas and its signature Surfari Water Park featuring a FlowRider® Double surf simulator, dual water slides, a 695 foot lazy river, kids’ activities pool and zero-entry pool.

NEW THEME PARK THRILLS & FAMILY FUN

Visitors can explore Orlando’s newest attractions, including: 

  • Universal Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park, inviting guests to explore more than 50 attractions, dining, shopping and entertainment experiences across five vibrant worlds. The adventure begins in Celestial Park, a gateway inspired by the stars and myth, before journeying to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, where 1920s Paris and iconic wizarding landmarks come to life. In SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, guests can play alongside Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong in a fully immersive gaming world. How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk offers a colorful Viking adventure, while Dark Universe brings thrilling encounters with legendary Universal Monsters in a world of myth and mystery. 
  • At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park, the new nighttime parade “Disney Starlight” features characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen and more.  
  • At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Tree of Life Theater has debuted the all-new 4D production “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”, where families can join their favorite herd from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios movie, including Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and more for an exhilarating new wild story. 
  • SeaWorld Orlando’s Expedition Odyssey, the world’s first fully immersive Artic-themed flying theater, combines cutting-edge technology, breathtaking real-world footage and close-up encounters with Arctic wildlife. 

OUTDOOR DINING OFFERINGS

From rooftops lounges and waterfronts patios to Michelin recognized dining and uncommon restaurant fronts, outdoor dining in Orlando can be enjoyed throughout the destination.  

  • One of Orlando’s newest outdoor spaces, Art², opened in downtown Orlando as an urban pocket park featuring food, craft beverages, outdoor seating and murals celebrating local art. 
  • Located at Conrad Orlando, Sophia’s Trattoria, offers wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas on their waterside patio with views of Evermore Bay. Perched on the top floor, Ceiba serves modern Mexican cuisine and boasts panoramic views of Evermore Bay and even theme park fireworks. 
  • A La Cart, in the Milk District, is an outdoor food hall-style venue featuring a rotating collection of local food trucks offering everything from gourmet grilled cheese to global street eats, all in a laid-back, picnic-style setting.
  • With a newly opened location in Winter Park’s Park Avenue, The Glass Knife features luxury desserts, breakfast, lunch and an expanded brunch menu on the weekends.
  • Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe offers an upscale casual dining experience featuring an innovative and fresh menu, all with an amazing view of historic Lake Ivanhoe in downtown Orlando.
  • At Universal Helios Grand Hotel, bar and lounge Bar Helios offers 360-degree views of the Epic Universe park. 
  • For memorable views of Epcot and Magic Kingdom (including nightly fireworks), nearby Capa Steakhouse & Bar, the Michelin Star-rated rooftop steakhouse at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, boasts the best of Spanish-influenced cuisine.
  • Perched on the ninth floor at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek, illume offers a unique rooftop lounge serving contemporary Japanese cuisine and creative cocktails.

For more information on travelling to Orlando:

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | WEBSITE

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR