Consider our 2025 gift guide your newest cozy holiday read. | Graphic by 6AM City
Happy holidays, Orlando. We’ve spent hours curating our collection of 2025’s best holiday gifts. Read on for 90+ gift ideas, including local finds.
Gifts for your significant other
Local pick: Sips in the Sky experience package | $70+ | Get 360° views and a private capsule as you ride The Orlando Eye with your choice of drink.
Shiatsu foot massager | $79.99 | Nothing says “I love you” like a foot massage — give your hands a break and gift one complete with heat, vibration, and rolling compression.
Full-zip flannel jacket | $36.99 | Flannel, cotton, and fleece combine in this ultra-soft, stylish hoodie.
Gifts for parents
Snack organizer | $36.95 | Kids will love this snack spinner’s push button and slidable compartments — and parents will love how it makes snack time portable and stress-free.
Car backseat organizer | $25.99 | Gift parents peaceful car rides thanks to a two-pack of car organizers complete with clear tablet holders.
Local pick: Florida Tea Sampler | $28 | Unwind after a busy day with a local, loose-leaf tea that embodies the Sunshine State from this Orlando Tea Co. variety pack.
Garden kneeler and stool | $30.90 | Gardening’s more fun without the knee and back pain — we love this all-in-one stool that functions as both a bench and seat.
Smart birdfeeder with camera | $129.99 | Birders can watch special visitors up close with this durable and weatherproof birdfeeder.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back — daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. yesterday, ushering in brighter mornings and earlier sunsets. Need help adjusting to the change? Enjoying a sun-soaked morning at Stemma Coffee should do the trick.
Traffic
Drivers in Orlando were delayed ~78 million hours by traffic in 2024. Per person, that amounts to 68 hours, and data shows the most congestion happens between 3 and 6 p.m. Let us know how you spend your time in traffic, so we can help the folks stuck on I-4.
Transit
SunRail is adding more rides this December. Two new evening trains will roll out, running both northbound and southbound across Central Florida. See the new schedule. (Click Orlando)
Development
After two years of delays, Unicorp is making big moves in Orlando. The developer is rolling out $475 million worth of new communities, including Sutton Grande, The Luxe at Dr. Phillips, and Selene Lake Nona. (Orlando Business Journal)
Outdoors
Prolific mountaineer Jim Morrison recently became the first person to ski down the Hornbein Couloir — an exceptionally steep section of Mount Everest’s north face. National Geographic is releasing a documentary about Morrison’s death-defying feat, with no release date yet set. A local hike is enough of a challenge for us.
Eat
Are you looking forward to a deep-fried turkey? That’s Florida’s most unique Thanksgiving recipe, according to The Food Network. Try it with a salt-and-brown-sugar brine. Keep it locally grown by buying the ingredients at the local farmers market.
Edu
Southeastern University’s Homecoming is Friday, Nov. 14-Saturday, Nov. 15. We’re highlighting 3 alumni making waves in Florida and beyond, from the MLB to nonprofits + fashion lines. Read their stories.*
Jobs
Whether you’re a small business looking to grow your team or a large company filling a key role, our Job Board can connect you with engaged, qualified locals who are ready to work. Post your open roles for free + watch the applications roll in.
Did you know that black cats are less likely to be adopted? Fur real.
Now Halloween is gone, we want to make sure that Orlando’s adoptable inky felines get the love they deserve all year round. Here are a few cuties that caught our eye at Orange County Animal Services:
Kitty Boy is the shelter’s oldest black cat, and was recently surrendered at the age of 12.
At the other end of the spectrum, Boo is only a few months old.
A food warming mat — perfect for holiday hosting so your dishes don’t get cold before serving. It features seven temperature settings and is made from premium silicone to provide uniform heating.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Bet you weren’t expecting my face down here. That’s because your beloved editor, Patrick is taking a well-deserved break for his birthday. I’m just stepping in.
