Planning a Christmas vacation in Texas this year? We’ve got the ultimate list of family resorts in Texas that go all out for the holiday season. Resorts like the Gaylord Texan and the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country host some of the most festive light displays, Santa sightings, and holiday entertainment in the state.
Get ready to be surrounded by the Christmas spirit on your next Christmas getaway in Texas because these resorts bring it right to your doorstep! Updated for 2023!
Celebrate Christmas Vacation in Texas
1. Christmas at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine
In December, the entire Gaylord Texan Resort transforms into a magical land of holiday enchantment! From rotating Christmas trees to two million lights and a life-size gingerbread house, you will be completely immersed in holiday cheer at this resort.
This year ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will be at the Gaylord Texan. Guests will enjoy favorite scenes from The Grinch brought to life in this colorful winter wonderland. More than two million pounds of ice transform into colorful, larger-than-life, story-driven holiday showplaces featuring characters and scenes from the classic book and movies.
20% off ICE! tickets with code VALUE23 for Trekaroo readers through November 16, 2023. Book your experience now!
Christmas at Gaylord Texan runs November 10 through December 31, 2023. It features ice skating, snow tubing, gingerbread house decorating, a scavenger hunt, photos with Santa, a light show, Holiday Heist Escape Room, Grinch character breakfast, Christmas carousel, Elf Training Academy and so much more!
Book your stay at the Gaylord Texan.
You also won’t want to miss “The Greatest Story” stage show which is performance about the life and death of Jesus Christ or the “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” live stage show. This Cirque-styled live show features incredible acrobatics and high-flying stunts. The story centers around Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
If you can’t make it this year, definitely put this resort on your bucket list for Christmas getaways in Texas!
See what else is going on in Grapevine, Texas this Christmas season.
2. Christmas at the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin
The Barton Creek Resort & Spa reopened in the spring of 2019 after a multi-million dollar renovation. It debuted a new and improved pool complex, multiple golf courses, and seven on-site restaurants.
For the holiday season, the resort’s Holiday in the Hills hosts Caroling and Cocktails, Holiday Cinema, gingerbread workshops, breakfast with Santa, a light and snow show, and a build your own stuffed animal class.
Don’t miss the Holiday in the Hills Light Trail which leads guests to Santa’s Magical Toy Shop where you can play glow-in-the-dark mini golf. On select dates, there will even be snow!
You can check out their full holiday calendar on their website.
3. Spend Christmas Vacation in Texas at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort
This JW Marriott Hill Country Resort gets decked out for the holiday season in exquisite taste! The light show inspires holiday cheer around the clock and there are more than enough holiday activities scheduled throughout the day to keep your family busy.
Relax on a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the massive property, enjoy gingerbread decorating, take photos with Santa, and fulfill your crafting dreams with ornament decorating and magnet making. Of course your kids will want to slide down Snow Flow Mountain, the tubing hill.
To make the day even sweeter, decorate a cookie or gingerbread house and hit the hot cocoa bar or firepit for s’mores. Finally, end the day cuddled up in front of a holiday movie on the lawn.
The Light up the Night holiday kick-off weekend is November 11th! Read more about Hill Country Christmas.
4. Christmas at Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston
Moody Gardens hosts one the biggest Christmas experiences in the state from November 18, 2023 through January 6, 2024.
There is a Rudolph 4D experience, an Arctic slide, train rides, S’mores, a four-story-tall dancing tree of light, Cirque Joyeux Holiday Show, evening boat cruises, and the Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights is a walking trail filled with treats, activities, and carolers.
Stay at the Moody Gardens Hotel for a front seat pass to ALL of the action.
5. Christmas at the La Cantera Resort in San Antonio
The La Cantera Resort’s Hill Country Holiday kicks off with a family friendly tree lighting event on December 1, 2023. The lighting will be conducted by Grinch himself and will include festive cocktails and snacks, kid’s activities, and a nationally acclaimed jazz musician.
The fun continues with the How the Grinch Stole Brunch at the SweetFire Kitchen on December 3rd, a local holiday market every Saturday in December, and holiday themed craft classes and events for kids on the weekends. Proceeds for the Grinch Brunch went to the Children’s Bereavement Center of San Antonio so you can have a fun meal while donating to a great cause.
6. Christmas Vacation in Texas at the Great Wold Lodge in Grapevine
It’s snowing…indoors at Snowland from November 24, 2023 through January 8, 2024! At Great Wolf Lodge, you can play in the indoor water park AND the snow in the lobby!
Great Wolf Lodge will impress you the moment you see the enormous wolf statues at the front door, but its grandeur doesn’t end there. The lobby is a giant forest complete with a tree house and picture windows looking onto the water park.
In addition to the normal activities like a wolf walk and pajama story time, kids can race a polar bear down a water slide, meet Santa, play reindeer games, and dance the night away at the Snowland Snowball Family Dance Party. Your children will be talking about this trip for years to come!
Be sure to read our full article on Great Wolf Lodge’s Christmas offerings and check out our Great Wolf Lodge tips before you go!
7. The Hilton Anatole in Dallas
The Hilton Anatole grounds turn into the spectacularly decorated North Pole Texas on weekends December 8-30, 2023. Treat your little ones with a visit to this winter wonderland for some magical memory making.
Decorate cookies, enjoy a train ride, watch Santa’s Magical Marionette Theater, dance at the Reindeer Dance Party, write letters to Santa, and more! This experience is open to hotel guests as well as those not staying on property. Reservations are required.
Of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be providing plenty of good cheer, photo ops, and a special Breakfast with Santa.
8. Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop
The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort does not hold back when it comes to decorations for the holiday season. It’s festive, but still classy meets country as always.
The Holiday Light Stroll, open from November 24, 2023 through the New Year, will feature light displays, 50 live cut, decorated trees, and an animated tree. Explore the property on foot or grab some hot chocolate and catch a horse-drawn hayride to see the grounds.
The kids will have lots of holiday themed activities to choose from at the hotel, from letters to Santa and cookie decorating to cuddling up in front of the big screen for a classic Christmas movie.
Santa and Mrs. Clause will visit the lobby every weekend in December for photo opportunities. Plus, Santa will be at the Firewheel Cafe every Sunday morning from November 26th – December 24th for Breakfast with Santa.
If you want to venture off the property, the small town of Bastrop is charming and hosts quite a few of its own holiday events. Events include performances of Christmas Chaos at the Bastrop Opera House, the downtown Christmas Tree Lighting on November 26th, and a Holiday Homes Tour and Christmas Lighted Parade on December 10th.
Find more Christmas events near you! Trekaroo has guides for dozens of cities across the country.
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