Christmas is another holiday my family and I love celebrating, and one tradition we get excited to partake in each year is Gaylord Opryland’s Christmas festivities. With less than an hour of a drive from my house, Gaylord Opryland is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway to relax and take in all the hotel has to offer especially around the holidays. There are always themed activities for the kids, Christmas lights galore and fantastic food options for every meal.
This past weekend, Chris and I decided to take the kids on our annual holiday adventure to Opryland. After arriving and checking in, we headed out to explore the different Christmas decorations including all their beautifully decorated Christmas trees. This particular tree was one of our favorites and made for the perfect backdrop for a quick family photo. Gaylord Opryland does a fantastic job with their “Parade of Trees” which you can find located in the Garden Conservatory. Such a magical spot to walk through!
After we snapped some family photos, Rylee and Jackson were anxious to get outside and give ice skating a whirl. We went back to the room for a quick change and to bundle up a bit warmer since cooler weather has hit full force. The ice skating rink was easy to access, and there was minimal wait time especially with the ice skating rink being 9,000 square feet. Lessons are available which is a great option for families wanting to learn! Chris decided to take the reign on this one and assist the big kids with a couple laps.
Reese and I enjoyed being bundled up and cheering them on from outside the ice rink. She kept pointing and grinning as if she was so proud. It was the sweetest thing!
One thing I loved that Gaylord Opryland had at the ice skating rink was “mini polar bears” for the kids to hold onto while ice skating. This allowed them to feel more independent without having to hold onto Chris the whole time. Once Jackson got the hang of it, he was even able to ice skate on his own which he was so excited about!
After we went inside and warmed up a little bit, my kids were bursting at the seams to begin the scavenger hunt. The theme for this year is “Reindeer Games featuring Rudolph and The Misfit Toys” which Jackson and Rylee loved! They were given a booklet of clues to find the different Misfit Toys located throughout all of Opryland while making sure Rudolph tagged along to help. Watching their faces beam with excitement and listening to their giggles when finding the Misfit Toys made for the perfect family adventure! Reese even enjoyed strolling through helping her big brother and sister look for clues. It truly was a magical experience my kids are still talking about.
After a full day of fun activities at Gaylord Opryland, we decided to wind down with dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse. It’s our favorite restaurant at Opryland not just because of the delicious food but also the atmosphere. With the lush greenery and the river running alongside the venue, a peaceful and relaxing ambiance is enjoyed by everyone. The restaurant menu itself has a wide range of choices from their appetizers to their side dishes and everything in-between. I highly recommend everyone to give this steakhouse a try!
We ended the day with touring through the different areas of the hotel and enjoying all the sceneries especially during the Christmas holiday. Gaylord Opryland does a fantastic job decorating for the Christmas season even with the smallest added touches. We made sure to catch a water fountain show in Delta which is always a hit with my kids. The festive music, lights and water fountains soaring “high into the sky” are the highlight of the evening especially if you choose to sit right next to the fountains.
The next morning we ate a quick breakfast and headed over to the Gingerbread decorating station. This station is always a hit with my kids! Gaylord Opryland has two options for kids to choose from which worked perfect with Reese being younger. Rylee and Jackson chose to do a Gingerbread house, and Reese got to decorate a Gingerbread cookie. Gaylord Opryland had everything setup perfectly with the Gingerbread decorations allowing easy access for the kids with minimal mess. They had the best time!
I highly recommend everyone checking out Gaylord Opryland and all it has to offer. It is such a magical place in it’s own unique way. My kids are already counting down for our next adventure at Gaylord Opryland. We truly love it that much! #hosted #paidpartnership @gaylordoprylandresort
