While Christmas cheer can be found in myriad ways throughout the season (eggnog, anyone?), there’s something to be said about a weekend getaway where red and green holiday decorations and bright twinkling lights transform the buildings on Main Street, parks become ice rinks or open-air shopping venues, and theaters dish up festive programming to sway even the most Grinchy member of the family.
Plan a holiday weekend in one of the following cities for a true Christmas extravaganza. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Orlando, Florida
There’s so much more to this popular Florida destination than theme parks, and there’s no better time than Christmas to experience Orlando’s lively energy, starting in Lake Eola Park. Head to Washington Plaza, where you’ll see impressive nutcracker statues and a beautifully lit tree. (It’s smaller than the one at Rockefeller Center in New York, but you’ll enjoy balmier temps as you soak up the spirit here). Plus, you’ll find live entertainment and mouthwatering bites from a bevy of local food trucks.
The Orlando Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees features gingerbread houses, holiday wreaths, and of course, gussied-up trees, all of which are available for purchase.
A larger-than-life locomotive also makes its way to Orlando this holiday season. Hand-carved from 2 million pounds of ice, ice!™ featuring The Polar Express™ rolls into Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. In this one-of-a-kind retelling of the beloved Christmas film, guests will see the iconic train, Santa’s village, the elves, and even Santa himself in more than 10 dazzling ice displays.
Nashville, Tennessee
There may be no city in the United States hotter than Nashville right now — and we aren’t talking about the average daily temperature. The Southern city’s energy never wanes, but it’s best observed during Christmastime via an illuminating stroll through the Holiday LIGHTS Experience at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. S’mores, hot cocoa, and visits from Santa round out the wholesome experience.
Take a load off with a visit to Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center for its annual Music City Christmas Production. Enjoy the city’s very own symphony decked out in holiday attire and spreading the joy of the season through song and dance — and perhaps an appearance by Santa Claus himself.
Is watching “Home Alone” part of your family’s holiday tradition? This year, a weekend getaway to Music City brings the movie to you in ice form. At Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Kevin McCallister, the Wet Bandits, and other characters from the film are ready for their close-ups. For the first time in ice! history, recreations of the McCallister house and Kevin’s booby traps tell the story of “Home Alone,” all in stunning ice sculptures.
Dallas, Texas
As with most things in Texas, Christmas is big in Dallas. Kick things off with a stroll through a magical winter wonderland. The Dallas Arboretum, which is also where carolers sing beloved Christmas songs, transforms into a Christmas village where the “12 Days of Christmas” displays compete with the Christmas Music Tree for visitors’ attention.
Forget about the items in your online cart in favor of stocking stuffers and gifts selected at Galleria Dallas, where you can catch a holiday performance, ice skate around a festive tree, or meet Santa.
Make sure to head to the annual Christmas ice! attraction at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, which for the first time is showcasing ice! featuring Harry Potter™. You’ll be delighted as you walk through tunnels and down slides, see the Harry, Ron, and Hermione sculptures, and remember your favorite holiday moments from the series — all carved from 2 million pounds of colorful ice.
Denver, Colorado
In Denver, ’tis the season for weekends spent romping with snowmen that never melt, enjoying theme park rides, and soaking in bold light displays at Elitch Gardens’ holiday experience. If you’re traveling with little ones, Breakfast with Santa at the Downtown Aquarium is a weekend agenda must — both for the buffet breakfast and the chance to watch Santa swim with the aquarium’s fish.
In nearby Aurora, ice featuring Disney “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” arrives at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center for the holiday season. Constructed with 2 million pounds of ice and 3 million Christmas lights, scenes and characters practically come to life before your very eyes. Keep an eye out for Jack Skellington, Sally, and Santa Claus (as ice sculptures, of course) and remember why you fell in love with this slightly spooky — but totally heartwarming — tale that captures the holiday spirit.
And if you need even more ice sculptures in your life, be sure to head to the Denver Zoo, where Zoo Lights, special animal feedings, and icy characters help spread the Christmas cheer.
San Diego, California
If your family loves to watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” each year, add a visit to Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center to your holiday agenda. The resort is hosting the delightful ice! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas” this season, which means you’ll get to enjoy a retelling of the classic television special, all done up in ice.
Hang with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang as you wander through the ice-sculpture scenes, including ones displaying Snoopy’s doghouse, Lucy’s psychiatric booth, Charlie Brown’s little Christmas tree, and Linus sharing the story of Christmas.
San Diego also embraces the holiday spirit with a slew of holiday markets and fairs where you can stock up on last-minute gifts. Catch a performance of “The Nutcracker” at San Diego Civic Theatre (Golden State Ballet), Balboa Theatre (World Ballet Company), or the Magnolia (San Diego Ballet). Or shake things up with tickets to the family-friendly “The Hip Hop Nutcracker.”
Washington, D.C.
Another holiday classic is visiting the annual Christmas ice! experience at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. At ice! featuring Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”, the classic Christmas tale comes alive in an icy wonderland.
Race your friends down two-story ice slides, come face to face with enormous ice statues of the Grinch, wander through immersive scenes carved completely from ice, and spot your favorite characters across 10 vibrant ice scenes. Explore the grumpy Grinch’s lair, wander through Who-ville, and see the Grinch carve roast beast, all crafted from 2 million pounds of colorful ice.
Of course, no visit to D.C. this time of year would be complete without stopping to see the National Christmas Tree at the White House. After snapping some photos of the iconic tree, dazzling with red, green and white lights, warm up indoors with a show at the National Cathedral.
Still, one of the city’s ultimate holiday experiences — eating, drinking, shopping, ice skating, live music, and appearances by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus — is reliably found at Enchant at Nationals Park , which dares anyone not to be swept up in the spirit of the season.
San Antonio, Texas
In San Antonio, don a cozy parka before stepping into ice! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. It’s a one-of-a-kind holiday experience that wows visitors and entices adventurous sorts with a trip down a slide made of, you guessed it, ice.
At the interactive ice! display, you’ll wind your way through larger-than-life sculptures and walk through dazzling archways made of ice to arrive at Christmastown, where pushing a “Make It Glow” button will make Rudolph’s famous red nose light up.
Phoenix, Arizona
While Phoenix remains fairly temperate through the season, the city sure knows how to celebrate the winter holidays. A go-to event for families is the annual Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo, which runs from late November through the new year. Another beloved tradition is the Holiday Pops Spectacular featuring festive music performed by the Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix Symphony Chorus, and special guests.
For an exciting new experience, head to JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, which is showcasing an ice! attraction for the first time. At ice! featuring Elf™, you’ll wander through the candy cane forest, marvel at the magical Gimbels display, and relive Buddy’s epic journey to save Christmas — all of which are created from millions of pounds of ice.
ice! is a cool 9-degree winter wonderland, but don’t worry — the signature blue parkas will keep you warm and toasty. You’ll find whimsical masterpieces of scenes from your favorite holiday classics carved entirely out of boldly colored ice, zoom down epic frozen slides, and discover endless festive activities and entertainment across our sweeping resorts. Put a bow on your holiday plans with a trip to Gaylord Hotels and unwrap So Much Christmas fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Related Articles
