8 Great Christmas Getaways for Families

A holiday trip makes a great gift for the entire family. Hotels, resorts and theme parks sparkle with Christmas lights, and offer lots of fun activities you can do together. And even if you choose a vacation spot without a chimney, don’t worry. At this magical time of year, Santa can find you anywhere.

By: Lynn Coulter

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Photo By: Gaylord Opryland Resort

Photo By: The Resort at Paws Up

Photo By: Hershey Entertainment and Resorts

Photo By: David M Doody/The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Photo By: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Photo By: Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts

Photo By: The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee

Book by Nov. 18 for a discount on Gaylord Opryland Resort's Country Christmas package, offered on select dates in November and December. Billed as one of the most "Christmassy destinations in the country," the resort is offering special attractions like a gingerbread decorating corner, a Build-A-Bear Workshop, a General Jackson Showboat holiday cruise and much more. ICE!, a popular, annual attraction, opens Nov. 9 to Jan. 1. It uses over two million pounds of ice, hand-carved by Chinese artisans, to depict scenes from a different Christmas classic each year. Visitors can walk through this frosty winter wonderland, but bring your coats and mittens; it’s kept at 9 degrees F. Don’t miss the Nativity scene, also carved in ice, and glide down one of four, two-story-tall ice slides. There’s more to do, including snow tubing and ice skating. Adults 21 years or older can warm up later at the bar with specialty drinks like the Jolly Mint or Merry Margarita.

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Come to The Resort at Paws Up for an old-fashioned tree-trimming party, a gingerbread house contest, cookie decorating, dog sledding or a horse-drawn sleigh ride. This luxury resort is about 35 minutes from Missoula, in Blackfoot Valley, and sits on a 37,000-acre working cattle ranch. Christmas packages run for five nights and include meals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Santa shows up, of course, at a festive party on Christmas Eve. Elegant vacation homes and luxury tents are also available, but inquire about availability.

Great Wolf Lodge Snowland Celebration, Multiple Locations

Snowland celebrations begin at Great Wolf Lodges across the U.S. on Nov. 24 (check your desired location for end dates). Each will have indoor snow showers (the flakes melt as they land in the lodges' water park features, kept at a balmy 84 degrees F). Kids can also enjoy visits from Santa, Polar Wolf Walks (educational walks to learn about wild animals), and fun things to do at North Pole University, where they'll earn a "Snowploma." Book early to reserve a Snowland Suite; a limited number are available. Each is furnished with a decorated Christmas tree, twinkling lights and other decorations. At bedtime, lodge mascots like Violet the Wolf or Wiley stop by with milk and cookies to tuck in the little ones. This year, each lodge will feature a life-size, dine-in gingerbread house. You can’t eat the iced and candied houses themselves, although each one is made from 600 pounds of dough and 1,320 pounds of sugar. But you can dine inside them, and 100 percent of proceeds will go to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses.

Hershey Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania

A trip to Hershey Park sweetens the season with cookie workshops, holiday-themed roller-coaster rides and more festive activities. Kids can share their Christmas wishes with Santa and meet his nine live reindeer, including Rudolph. Later, hop in the family car and drive through two miles of wooded trails to experience Hershey’s "Sweet Lights," a festive display of over 200,000 lights that "dance" to popular Christmas tunes. Christmas Candylane Packages are available on select dates. Make reservations for your children to have breakfast or lunch with Santa on a Saturday or Sunday from Nov. 24 through Dec. 23. See the website for dates, times and more details.

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

Step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg, and let the kids discover how early colonists celebrated the season. Grand Illumination takes place on Dec. 2; this 18th-century custom is a spectacular display of fireworks and the firing of guns. Join carolers at the Courthouse, catch a candlelit concert at the Governor’s Palace, warm up with hot cider after a spin on the ice skating rink, or share a holiday feast and other events with the whole family. Click on the calendar for a full list of things to see and do.

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Overlook the glittering Vegas strip from the ice rink at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It’s actually the resort’s Boulevard Pool, frozen into more than 4,200 square feet of ice from Nov. 21 through Jan. 6. See the website for a "forecast" (actually, a schedule) of light snow showers; they occur every 30 minutes on select days. When you get chilly, toast marshmallows for s’mores at an outdoor pit. Adults can indulge in holiday-themed cocktails like The Griswold, Naughty or Nice?, Scrooged and Egg Noggy Nog.

Grand Wailea, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii

There may be a shortage of chimneys on Maui, but Santa still shows up, riding in a traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe. In December, children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui will throw the switch for the Grand Wailea's 25-foot Christmas tree. It will sparkle along with more than eight miles of white lights in the monkeypod trees lining the resort's driveway. The theme for December is "'Tis the Season of Aloha," and the Club children will build a gingerbread village to celebrate. Of course, you'll also want to hit the beach to paddleboard, kayak and take in more sun and fun.

The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

The kids will be awed—and so will you—when you step into The Roosevelt's block-long lobby, decorated with 60,000 sparking lights, 46 Christmas trees, 22 birch trees, and 30-feet of garland. Reserve your spot early for the Teddy Bear Tea, where Mr. and Mrs. Claus will stop by as the kids enjoy Christmas goodies and the adults toast with Champagne. Holiday brunch is a tradition at the Roosevelt, with a Christmas Day feast that includes traditional breakfast fare as well as Louisiana specialties like crabmeat eggs Benedict and shrimp and mirliton au gratin. (Don’t worry, parents of picky eaters. There are kid-friendly dishes, too.) Adults, drop by the lounge or bar for a chilled Mrs. Claus’ Cookie Cocktail or Cajun Hot Buttered Rum. Ask about special Papa Noel rates (based on availability) when you book.

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8 Great Christmas Getaways for Families

Related To:

Shop This Look

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana

Great Wolf Lodge Snowland Celebration, Multiple Locations

Hershey Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada

Grand Wailea, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii

The Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana

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