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 2024!
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 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be at the Gaylord Texan. Guests will enjoy favorite scenes from Rudolph 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.
Christmas at Gaylord Texan runs November 15 through January 5, 2025. 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 “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 Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and 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 (November 30 – January 3) hosts Caroling and Cocktails, Holiday Cinema, gingerbread workshops, breakfast with Santa, and a build your own stuffed animal class.
The Holiday in the Hills Snowdown, light and snow show,, takes place Thursday through Sunday in December. There will also be a Reindeer Meet & Greet December 7 and 14.
Don’t miss the Holiday in the Hills Light Trail (November 30 – January 3) 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! This year they will debut Ice! How the Grinch Stole Christmas! More than two million pounds of ice transform into cscenes featuring characters and scenes from the Dr. Seuss tale.
There will be 10 scenes to enjoy as well as ice slides, gingerbread building, snowball build and blast, Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions experience, and a scavenger hunt.
There is also a light show that 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, take photos with Santa, and reindeer encounters.
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.
4. Christmas at Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston
Moody Gardens hosts one the biggest Christmas experiences in the state from November 12 2024 through January 1, 2025.
There is a Rudolph 4D experience, ice skating rink, an Arctic slide, train rides, S’mores, breakfast with Santa, a four-story-tall dancing tree of light, Holiday Fantasy: A lIve Show Spectacular, evening boat cruises, and the Festival of Lights. The Festival of Lights is a walking trail filled with treats, activities, and carolers.
They also have Ice Land: Pole to Pole which is an ice carving display where carvers transform two million pounds of ice into creatures from the North and South Poles including penguins, polar bears, and reindeer.
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 November 22nd at 7pm. The lighting will include festive cocktails and snacks, kid’s activities, and a nationally acclaimed jazz musician.
The fun continues with the Holiday Brunch with Santa at the SweetFire Kitchen on December 14, 21, and 22. A Sip and Shop event will take place December 12th and feature several local vendors and artisans. Reindeer will make and appearance on December 20th and there will be storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus December 21 – 22.
6. Christmas Vacation in Texas at the Great Wold Lodge in Grapevine
It’s snowing…indoors at Snowland from November 25, 2024 through January 6, 2025! 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 Bavarian Christmas village. Treat your little ones with a visit to this winter wonderland for some magical memory making.
On weekend there will be a tree maze, Ferris wheel, and towering 40-foot super slide. Bavarian Village is designed to look like a European Christmas market with lights, artisanal crafts, and seasonal treats.
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 on weekends November 20 through December 22, plus 23 and 24.
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 29, 2024 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 in December for Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
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.