The Christmas Palace, Ft. Lauderdale

The Christmas Palace first opened as a seasonal business idea 20 years ago. Today, the expansive holiday department store receives waves of visitors year round who stroll amid more than 30 styles of faux Christmas trees, shelves full of elegant ornaments, and novelty items such as a 38-inch Santa swinging on a hammock. Collectors stock up on train sets and Department 56 village-collection pieces, and gift givers load their sleighs with goods from Fontanini, a business that began sculpting nativity scenes more than 100 years ago in Italy.