12 Hotels With Plenty Of Family-Friendly Holiday Spirit

If you’re looking for a bit of extra holiday cheer, these hotels around the country have plenty of entertainment for families. Some hotels offer experiences for both guests and visitors making them worth a stop during holiday travels. Whether you got in on a good Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal or are looking to splurge for the season, these hotels could be a great experiential gift for the whole family to enjoy.

Gaylord Hotels’ holiday lineup of activities

An annual tradition from Gaylord is its impressive lineup of holiday activities, dubbed “So. Much. Christmas.” Visitors will find the fun at Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee, Gaylord Palms in Florida, Gaylord Rockies in Colorado, Gaylord Texan in Texas and Gaylord National in Maryland. Guests can book special overnight packages or pre-purchase tickets to visit online. Among the decorations at each property are millions of twinkling lights, over 100,000 feet of garland, beautifully decorated Christmas trees and a long roster of interactive activities, carriage rides, ice skating, fountain and light shows, character experiences, live shows and seasonal spa experiences. Larger-than-life ice installations are also making a triumphant return following a two-year break, each with a different theme crafted by 40 specialized ice artisans. The experiences are available through the end of the year.

Hilton partners with Hallmark Channel for Christmas-themed suites

For a limited time, the Hallmark Channel “Countdown to Christmas” Holiday Suites by Hilton transport guests into one of their holiday-themed movies. Special snacks and cozy blankets await in these decorated suites. Named the “Cozy Christmas” suite at Hilton Chicago, the “SoCal Christmas” suite at Hilton San Diego Bayfront or the “Glam Christmas” suite at Hilton Las Vegas at Resorts World, each has a variety of amenities. The Chicago suite has a hot cocoa bar, gingerbread decorating materials and a private Christmas tree for guests to make their own personal tree lighting ceremony. In San Diego, there are custom ornaments and cookie decorating supplies plus a jukebox playing holiday favorites. Christmas wreaths and a photo wall made of sequin holiday trees await travelers in Las Vegas.

Family activities at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya and Punta Cana

In December, travelers can find a variety of holiday activities at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya and Punta Cana. They include celebrations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve plus a tree-lighting ceremony, ornament-making workshops, pineapple and cookie decorating, holiday photos and pajama party breakfasts. Water park activities, swimming pools, spa offerings and character meet and greets from Nickelodeon characters are all part of the family-friendly experience. Many of the themed experiences will continue through Jan. 31, 2023.

Holiday spirit at the Arizona Biltmore

The Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is preparing for the holidays with a bevy of Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired decorations. The lobby will be decked out in festive trees while vintage decorations and furniture will recreate a 1930s living room for the holidays. Sparkling lights outdoors will fill the ground. Guests and visitors can participate in numerous classes from wreath making and gingerbread house building to cookie decorating. The resort is one of many in the area that participates in the Hilton Honors program, which is offering a double points promotion through the holidays.

Christmas at the Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona

For the 13th year, the Christmas at the Princess celebration is a major event in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. It features more than 6.5 million lights illuminating the grounds plus two Princess Express trains to take them around the resort. There are also two, 6,000 square foot outdoor ice rinks, Santa meetups, holiday music light shows, visits from local holiday characters and s’mores. It’s not just hotel guests that can enjoy the event. The resort hosts 150 Make-A-Wish families at its tree lighting event and also grants wishes to families all season long. New this year is Chateau Champagne, which is designed like an Alpine chalet and offers a VIP area with fire pits, bubbly, truffle Gouda fondue, seafood towers and other gourmet surprises.

Winter-themed Fairmont Lodge in Chicago

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park is bringing back its Fairmont Lodge holiday experience for guests and visitors to enjoy this season. It will last through February, but launch with holiday-themed decor. On the menu are festive cocktails, sweet or savory fondues and house-made s’mores that can be enjoyed around fire pit tables. A portion of the sales will support the hotel’s charity partner, Make-A-Wish Illinois. There is also a weekly happy hour, cooking and cocktail making classes, breakfast with Santa and overnight packages that mix special rates with deals on area winter activities.

Festive fun at Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk

Four room packages bring a bit of the holidays to guests. They include an Elf Life Suite with decorations, a hot cocoa bar, candy canes, a take-home elf, breakfast for two adults and two children, and late check-out. Two additional packages come with a fireworks-facing room for New Years Eve, and one comes with a viewing party from the hotel’s club lounge. Other hotel activities include gingerbread house making workshops and an elf scavenger hunt.

Festive season at Four Seasons Orlando

The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort will offer all kinds of holiday activities this year. For starters, the kids club will have Santa’s helpers workshop craft time, “polar plunge” swim times and holiday-themed scavenger hunts. Holiday dinners on Christmas and New Year’s Eve are additional highlights for those staying at the resort. Spa goers can take advantage of the “Winter’s Wonder Facial” treatment using refined hyperbaric oxygen and Cryo globes for skin hydration.

16 Days of Wonder at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Starting Dec. 18 through Jan. 2, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe will host “16 days of wonder” with special events and activities themed around the holidays. These include meet and greets with Santa and a new “S’more & Hot Coco Extravaganza,” where guests can choose from a wall of chocolates, candies and sweet condiments to craft their perfect snack. There’s also a hot herbology session, which is free for guests, allowing them to create their own hot toddy style drink with recommendations from a local herbalist and the property’s mixologist using fresh herbs and spices.

“Santa Suite” at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

To really rev up the Christmas spirit, the “Santa Suite” at Santa Monica’s Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows will certainly hit the spot. Available throughout the month of December, guests can unpack in the hotel’s Owner’s Suite with Santa-themed decor, holiday movies, in-room candy bar and a s’mores making station. As part of the package, guests can enjoy breakfast for four people, a gingerbread house making kit, free parking, free ice skate rentals at a nearby ice park, and comped access to the Pacific Park amusement rides and attractions at Santa Monica Pier. Even if you don’t book this suite, you can enjoy the resort’s decorations including a 20 foot tall Christmas Tree in the Miramar Gardens and 80 foot tall landmark fig tree, both illuminated throughout the holidays.

Holiday cheer at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach

Throughout the season, guests and visitors to Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California can enjoy an array of fun activities. It kicks off with a Christmas Tree lighting, weekly visits by Dickens’ Christmas Carolers that stroll the resort halls and restaurants singing holiday tunes, and special brunches and dinners for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. The resort is part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio and its I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program.

Visit the “Gulf Pole” at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

What the hotel calls the “Gulf Pole,” travelers visiting this luxury resort during the holidays have a lot to explore. There are in-suite tree decorating kits, holiday-themed movies for families and even bike rides in the sun with Santa and his reindeer. Guests can also be part of a Polar Express ride with visits from characters from the movie while they enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores. Other holiday programming includes a “Jingle Jog” featuring peppermint-scented cold towels and “Snoga,” yoga classes fit for all skill levels overlooking the bay.