Holiday travel is moving in a new direction this year. Instead of relying on a few wreaths and a decorated tree, resorts are rolling out full holiday worlds designed to pull guests straight into the season. Think millions of lights, themed pop-up bars, storybook trails, over-the-top gingerbread displays and entire suites transformed into cozy Christmas scenes.
Photo credit: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.
Across the country, destinations are adapting to higher demand for festive experiences that feel effortless and thoughtfully curated. Families want ready-made traditions; couples want something a little magical. Resorts have responded with celebrations that take over entire grounds, blend nostalgia with spectacle and make the holiday mood impossible to miss.
Mountain escapes with big holiday energy
In the Rockies, the season arrives with bigger-than-ever decorations and an expanded lineup of programming. At Gaylord Rockies in Colorado, seasonal events spread throughout the property with choreographed light displays, hands-on activities and enough indoor snow experiences to make the whole resort feel like a winter playground.
The signature ICE! attraction returns with more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice, giant slides and scenes from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” all kept at a brisk nine degrees. New additions for 2025, including indoor snow tubing and themed character dining, give families even more ways to enjoy the holidays.
A classic holiday glow in the Midwest
The Midwest takes a different approach, leaning into warmth, nostalgia and the kind of holiday scenes that feel instantly familiar. At Grand Geneva in Wisconsin, the long-running Christmas in the Country celebration transforms the resort into a vibrant enclave lit by more than 2 million lights. The season begins as Santa leads an illumination ceremony, followed by fireworks, cider and the first look at the property’s expansive decorations.
This year brings a new twist with Tinsel & Tonic, an adults-only holiday bar filled with vintage decor and playful cocktails that channel classic Christmas charm. Families stop by for gingerbread displays, letters to Santa and trolley rides through glowing outdoor installations, and guests can even request a decorated tree in their room.
Southern resorts that go big on holiday spirit
Across the South, the holidays bring a mix of charm, tradition and larger-than-life displays built for families. In Florida, Gaylord Palms turns its sprawling property into a full holiday production, centered on its ICE! exhibit featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer carved from more than 2 million pounds of colorful ice. Guests bundle up in the resort’s signature blue parkas as they walk through frozen vignettes, glide down icy slides and explore a nine-degree winter scene. The resort adds a cirque show, glowing tunnels, snow play areas and family activities that run throughout the season.
Sea Island in Georgia takes a more coastal approach, blending Southern elegance with cheer. Dozens of Christmas trees, miles of garland and a life-size gingerbread creation set the scene, while traditions like the Yule Log Ceremony and the popular Reindog Parade bring a sense of community to the holiday lineup. With kids’ parties, cooking demonstrations and evenings filled with music, the resort creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Virginia lights up the season at Boar’s Head Resort
At Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville, the holidays unfold across rolling lakeside paths and glowing forest edges. The centerpiece is Winter Wander, a half-mile illuminated trail that leads guests through imaginative displays, from towering herons and lotus flowers to a shimmering grove wrapped in 75,000 pixels of coordinated light. New this year, Glistening Grove circles Firefly Pond with more than 700 illuminated posts that shift in sync with a custom musical score.
The trail opens into an area filled with live music, family activities, fire pits and visits from Santa, and select nights feature a drone show that lights up the sky. Workshops, wreath-making sessions and gingerbread events round out the season.
Holiday magic in the desert
In the Southwest, the holidays arrive with bold color and plenty of spectacle. At the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the desert becomes the stage for one of the region’s most extravagant celebrations. About 10 million lights wrap the property, a 6,000-square-foot outdoor ice rink serves as the plaza’s focal point, and the nightly Starlights show turns the water into a canvas of synchronized color and music. Guests move between fire pits, rides, igloos and food stands, creating a blend of winter-carnival energy and luxury escape.
A warm, festive welcome in Texas
A few states east, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines offers a distinct seasonal experience shaped by the quiet landscapes and wide skies of Texas Hill Country. Families settle into the new Christmas Suites, complete with trees, decor and a ready-made holiday backdrop, while poolside cabanas turn into cozy gathering spots with movies, s’mores and hot cocoa. Santa appears throughout the season, and a full lineup of workshops, wagon rides and kid-friendly activities gives guests an easy, unhurried way to enjoy the holidays without ever feeling overscheduled.
In Grapevine, Hotel Vin leans into its role in the Christmas Capital of Texas with a blend of whimsy, style and over-the-top holiday charm. The season starts with the return of its Winter Wonderland Bubbles, private chalet-inspired domes outfitted this year with Pendleton blankets, decor and an in-bubble shopping experience via QR code.
Guests can settle in for themed cocktails or call on the martini butler to shake up a tableside Texas tini, then wander over to the Holly Jolly Bar at Harvest Hall for playful holiday drinks surrounded by oversized ornaments and twinkling decor. The celebration extends across the property, from Veuve Clicquot’s Champagne Yurt to special menus in its restaurants, all set against the backdrop of Grapevine’s citywide festivities: drone shows, parades, ice skating and more just steps away from the hotel.
Coastal celebrations with a West Coast twist
On the California coast, Terranea brings its own version of holiday cheer to the bluffs above the Pacific. The season begins with the resort’s tree lighting, followed by weeks of family-friendly programming that combines traditions with coastal scenery. Kids search for Terra the elf around the property, outdoor movie nights draw families to the beach cove, and the Gingerbread Lounge fills the lobby with sweet aromas and celebratory treats. With craft workshops, storytelling sessions and holiday dining, the resort delivers a relaxed, sunlit take on the season that feels distinctly Southern California.
Festive escapes shining bright in Florida
In South Florida, The Boca Raton opens the season with a waterfront tree lighting that sets the tone for weeks of holiday celebrations. The resort hosts Santa meet-and-greets, pajama story nights and gingerbread decorating, with festive programming spread across its expansive waterfront grounds. These moments add up to a bright, breezy holiday setting that appeals to families, couples and returning guests who make the destination part of their yearly tradition.
Holiday adventures in the Alaskan mountains
At Alyeska Resort, the holidays take shape against the dramatic backdrop of the Chugach Mountains, where winter celebrations feel both spirited and unmistakably Alaskan. The season brings back the Nordic Noël Market on Dec. 14, a festive day with artisanal vendors, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and kids’ crafts. Guests can also book the Santa Suite, a fully themed retreat dressed in twinkling lights, nostalgic decor and a whimsical Christmas tree overlooking the valley.
Early-season traditions include the lively ULLR Fest on Dec. 6, complete with bonfires and a ski-burning ritual, while complimentary Mountain Host Tours begin Dec. 19 for guests wanting a guided look at the terrain. Evenings wind down in the new GREATLAND Bar & Lounge, where fireside cocktails and sweeping mountain views offer a warm, cozy break from the winter chill.
Why these resorts stand out
What separates these destinations is the way they treat the holidays as something to build, not just decorate. Each resort works with its setting, whether mountains, coastlines, deserts and small towns, and turns that backdrop into part of the celebration. The festivities feel natural rather than staged, with enough variety and depth for guests to make the season their own. Some places feel cozy and nostalgic; others go big on spectacle. But across all of them, the goal is the same: to make the holidays feel easy, joyful and memorable long after the lights come down.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.
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