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Thank Heaven for Christmas Shoppes
Florida's Christmas Shoppes Help Set the Mood

By Dawn Henthorn, About.com

Shell decorated holiday tree at Roger's Christmas House© Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com, Inc.
The weather outside is hardly frightful. In fact it's so delightful. Even if we sing "Let it snow... let it snow..." - getting in the holiday mood in Florida is sometimes just plain hard. So, as we enter this season of giving thanks, I am thankful for Florida's Christmas shoppes. After all, this may be the only place I'll see snow this year.

Enter any of these Christmas shoppes and be transported into a winter wonderland. Lavishly decorated trees, twinkling lights, ornaments that shine, garland that shimmers and snow covering everything combines with the scent of pine to take you into another world.

Perhaps my favorite place in a Christmas shop is the miniature village displays. It would take a small fortune to replicate one of these tiny towns, but they are so realistic that it is easy for your imagination to take you away. It is especially fascinating to watch as tiny ice skaters skate on a perfect little pond and skiers repeatedly tackle the highest slope. One can get lost in these charming little towns, and I do.

Christmas shops are great places to complete your holiday shopping. Not only are ornaments good choices for the hard-to-buy-for on your list, but all the shops carry a variety of gifts for every age and price range.

So, when your thoughts turn to gift giving; your halls need decking; and, more importantly, you need to get in the holiday mood – do what Floridians and tourists alike do... head for the nearest Christmas shop.

Take these links to tour Rogers' Christmas House & Village or Wayside Antiques and Christmas Center.

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