Visiting the Gaylord Texan at Christmas time has been a tradition in my family for many years. My dad would load us all up in the car, drive an hour from Rockwall over to Grapevine, and buy everybody a hot chocolate to sip while we enjoyed the larger than life decorations in the Gaylord Texan lobby. 

This year we stuck to our tradition, and we added an extra dose of winter wonderland fun! The Gaylord Texan gifted the whole fam tickets to ICE!, Snowtubing, and Merry & Light so that we could maximize the holiday magic. Here’s what it’s like to experience Christmas time at the Gaylord Texan. (Keep reading for a special discount code for ICE! tickets!)

 

Exploring Christmas at the Gaylord Texan

The first thing you’ll notice as a first time visitor for Christmas at the Gaylord Texan are the hundreds of beautiful Christmas decorations that adorn the hotel lobby. There are giant trees, toy trains, and even lights suspended from the glass ceiling that set the scene for Christmas ambiance. Our family loves to visit the Starbucks inside the replica of the Alamo and order hot chocolates to drink while we look out at the fountain below the balcony. Once we got all warm and toasty, our adventures could begin!

 

ICE! The Polar Express

The annual ICE! exhibits at the Gaylord hotels nationwide are truly unlike any other holiday display. Each year trained artisans hand carve colorful blocks of ice into scenes from iconic Christmas movies. It takes 2 million pounds of ice to create the immersive environment, and the temperature inside is kept at a chilly 9 degrees. 

This year the Gaylord Texan ICE! Exhibit theme was The Polar Express, and it did not disappoint! We started our journey with Billy as he boarded the train, watched as friendly waiters served up hot chocolate, spotted ice tunnels and stray reindeer, and concluded our trip at the North Pole where Santa was waiting for those who believe. 

There are so many exciting photo ops throughout the exhibit, and we had a great time reminiscing about the movie while we snapped away with our cameras!

Top Tips for ICE!:

  • Use my blog discount code WELLS at checkout when you purchase your tickets for 50% OFF!
  • Dress really warm! The Gaylord staff will provide you with a parka to wear over your clothes, but we Texans aren’t used to 9-degree weather. Make sure to wear layers and bring a hat, scarf, and gloves with you.
  • Wear closed-toed shoes (duh) with no heels.
  • Don’t miss out on the FREE ice slide inside the exhibit! 
  • For an extra treat, guests 21+ can book seats at the On the Blocks Ice Bar inside the exhibit too!

 

Snowtubing

After exploring ICE!, we all tried snowtubing for the first time! Each person sits in a large inner tube at the top of a steep man-made indoor snow slide. Then an employee pushes the tube off the edge so you can glide straight to the bottom. It was a little bit like sledding or a water slide, but much faster and more thrilling!

 

Merry & Light

We finished off our trip to the Gaylord by exploring the Merry & Light outdoor Christmas lights display after dark. We walked through tunnels of lights and posed next to gigantic snowflakes, penguins, and gingerbread houses. It was super cute, and tickets start at just $18! 

 

How to Celebrate Christmas at the Gaylord Texan

If you want to experience Christmas at the Gaylord Texan this year, there’s still time! The decorations and activities will be open to the public through the end of December.

Remember: use my discount code WELLS at checkout to get 50% OFF tickets to ICE!.

If you’re interested in exploring more fun spots in Grapevine (The Christmas Capital of Texas), check out this blog.

If you’re interested in learning more about activities you can enjoy during an overnight stay at the Gaylord, check out this blog.