Want to extend the holidays? Homestead adds ice skating rink, Everglades trolley
Now that the holiday madness is over, more fun can begin. And what better way to start than at an ice skating rink in downtown Homestead, where Losner Park transforms into a hub of activity and magic that extends Christmas through Jan. 18.
The city also has brought back trolley service to the Everglades.
Here’s what to know:
Winter feels in Homestead
Discover Homestead: Winter Wonderland Experience keeps the classic Christmas decorations and lights that debuted in November and features a 20-by-40-foot ice rink to glide on just like when you were a kid.
The attraction is open Tuesday through Sunday, with different themed entertainment each week. Retro music and nostalgia make up “Blast from the Past, through Jan. 15, and Western-style fun with country music, line dancing and a mechanical bull runs Jan. 13–18.
Friday the 16th is market day, with food stalls, crafts and live DJ music. The Farmer’s Market runs from 4 to 10 p.m. and the ice rink is open from 2 p.m. to midnight.
The skating session, which lasts 90 minutes and includes skate rental, costs $22, with a 10% discount for veterans, groups of 15 to 20 people, and city employees. Free parking is at the Miami Dade College campus, 500 College Ter., and paid parking at Homestead Station, 4 S. Krome Ave.
Losner Park is in downtown Homestead at 104 N. Krome Ave.
Homestead trolley service to the Everglades
Homestead is the gateway to two of Florida’s major national parks, Everglades and Biscayne National.
Two trolley routes from downtown Homestead with views of Biscayne Bay and Everglades wildlife are running free on weekends from January through April 5. The decade-old initiative brings the public closer to the national parks.
The trolleys depart from Homestead Station and the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 2905 NE Ninth St., and go to the Royal Palm area to visit the Anhinga Trail, an almost one-mile walk in the Everglades where you can see Florida’s famed crocodiles and a variety of birds and other animals.
Another trolley goes to Biscayne National Park and Homestead Bayfront Park, where you can enjoy island life in the bay and the closeness of the sea.
It’s recommended to take the routes on two separate days, and to plan your trip, check departure and return times and reserve a spot on the trolley at homesteadfl.gov/gateway.
