Millions of people love Florida because it's warm in winter, but some of us will visit a hotel in Orlando for the holidays just to get a dose of cold.

Really cold, like 9 degrees above zero.

For the fourth year, Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Fla., is mounting its ICE! attraction - two million pounds of ice handcarved in various shapes and scenes, including a life-sized horse and carriage, Christmas castle and a trio of ice slides. New scenes this year include a walk-through train depot and locomotive.

The attraction will be open from Nov. 18 to Jan. 2. Adult admission: $19.99 weekdays, $24.99 Friday-Sunday ($3 less if booked on line); seniors $16.99 and $21.99; children 4-12 $9.99; ice-skating, skates included: $5. Parkas are supplied. Information: (407) 586-4-ICE, www.gaylordpalms.com.

At the Florida theme parks tree lightings, parades and processions, caroling, visits by Santa, performances of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet or Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," and boat parades will mark the holiday season.

In other cities around the United States, bonfires, ice-skating, gingerbread houses and glittering shop windows will herald the season. Here's a partial list:

Theme parks

Walt Disney World, Orlando: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, which features live stage shows, a parade, characters in holiday dress, fireworks and even snow on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, runs 18 nights between Nov. 13 and Dec. 22 and requires a separate admission ($45.95 for ages 10 and up, $37.95 for ages 3-9; advance tickets are $6 less). In Epcot Center's Holidays Round the World, 11 nations present their traditions and storytelling Nov. 24-Dec. 30. At Disney-MGM Studios, the Streets of America backlot area is illuminated by the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights, whose millions of lights are embellished with choreographed dancing lights set to holiday music. (407) 824-4321, www.disneyworld.com.

Universal Orlando: Macy's famous Thanksgiving Parade moves to Universal Studios Dec. 8-Jan. 1, complete with balloons, floats and marching bands. New is "Universal 360 - A Christmas Spectacular," which combines movies, spherical projections, lasers and pyro effects in a waterfront show. At the Islands of Adventure park, guests can meet Dr. Seuss' Christmas nemesis, The Grinch. (407) 363-8000, www.universalorlando.com.

SeaWorld Orlando: This marine park's Yule celebration runs Nov. 24-Dec. 25 and includes nightly shows at the Waterfront. Makahiki Christmas Luau, featuring South Seas foods, music and dancers, runs daily Nov. 24-Dec. 31 except Christmas Day. Cost is $45.95 adults, $29.95 ages 3-9, plus park admission. 800-327-2420, www.seaworld.com.

Busch Gardens, Tampa: Busch trims trees and topiaries with holiday decor. Come Nov. 30, the park will launch its chief holiday event, Christmas Celebration, a holiday musical show given four or five times a day to Jan. 2. (888) 800-5447, www.buschgardens.com.

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Winter Haven: An Old Fashioned Christmas features millions of lights and many animated displays Nov. 24-Dec. 30, including a living nativity scene, musical performances, strolling carolers and visits from Santa. (863) 324-2111, www.cypressgardens.com.

Cities

Key West: The Captain Morgan Lighted Boat Parade, led by sax player Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, cruises the evening of Dec. 16. Five private homes are festively dressed for the annual Holiday House Tours Dec. 29 and 30. Tickets are $25. (305) 294-9501, www.oirf.org; also (800) FLA-KEYS, www.fla-keys.com.

New York: Beginning with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov. 23, New York creates a memorable six weeks of holiday-themed glitter, performances and exhibits. Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center Nov. 29 puts the season into high gear.

On Fifth Avenue, a giant snowflake hovers over the intersection of Fifth and 57th Street. The world's largest menorah is lit for eight days starting Dec. 16. Store windows burst out in inventive holiday displays. Ice skating charms spectators as well as skaters at rinks at Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Bryant Park and Chelsea Piers.

Get more info at NYC & Company, (212) 484-1200, www.nycvisit.com.

Atlanta: Downtown's Centennial Olympic Park opens its annual Holiday in Lights display Nov. 18, continuing through Jan. 7. The park also will open an outdoor ice-skating rink when weather permits. In Buckhead, Priscilla the Pink Pig - a miniature train that runs through a life-sized storybook tent at Macy's Lenox Square - will ride again starting Nov. 5, as it has since 1953. (404) 521-6600, www.atlanta.net.

New Orleans: Celebration in the Oaks is a light show that turns the New Orleans Botanical Garden into a holiday wonderland with nightly entertainment, visits with Santa, miniature train tours and other amusement rides. It runs weekends only from Nov. 24 to Dec. 4 and nightly thereafter to Dec. 30 (except Dec. 24 and 25). Another tradition: Christmas Eve lighting of bonfires on the levees of the Mississippi River from Gramercy to Lutcher. (800) 672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com.

Asheville, N.C.: Historic Biltmore Village turns back the clock Dec. 1-3 for its annual Dickens Festival with live music, storytelling, street entertainment and shopping. Dozens of Christmas trees, more than 400 wreaths and thousands of ornaments, tinsel and garlands go on view at Biltmore Estate Nov. 4-Jan. 1. Nov. 13-Jan. 7, the Grove Park Inn will display more than 200 gingerbread houses entered in its National Gingerbread House Competition. (828) 258-6101, www.exploreasheville.com.

Philadelphia: This is the last year for the annual Holiday Light Show at Macy's in the Wanamaker Building, Nov. 24-Dec. 26, which has been a tradition since 1955. Featured are music from the store's historic organ, lighting effects and animated characters. Another unusual event is the Morris Arboretum's Holiday Railway Display Nov. 24-Dec. 31. A quarter-mile-long model train with seven loops and tunnels, nine bridges and 15 different rail lines winds past model houses and scaled replicas of historic monuments.(800) 537-7676, www.gophila.com.

Washington, D.C.: President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in the Ellipse Dec. 7. Musical performances continue there nightly until Dec. 31. At Union Station, the annual Norwegian Christmas celebration features a model train coursing through a stunning Norwegian landscape. A Christmas Carol runs at historic Ford's Theater Nov. 15-Dec. 30, Handel's Messiah is given at the Kennedy Center Dec. 21-24, and visitors can take their pick of three different Nutcracker productions - two traditional, one jazz hip-hop. The National Gallery's outdoor ice skating rink opens in November, depending on weather. (800) 422-8644, www.washington.org.

Colonial Williamsburg: The Grand Illumination on Dec. 3 kicks off this restored colonial town's holiday season. The day includes entertainment on outdoor stages, fife and drum performances, and fireworks at three locations. Special family weekends are scheduled for Dec. 9-10, 16-17 and 30-31 and include storytelling, puppet shows, caroling and other activities. (800) 447-8679, www.colonialwilliamsburg.com.