Have yourself a merry little Christmas getaway
By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
Holiday Getaways with Kids
Classic Broadmoor Christmas (The Broadmoor)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at top family resorts around the country, some of which are already busy breaking out the tinsel for the busy holiday season. With children around the country enjoying as much as two weeks of school holidays, many families will turn Christmastime into an opportunity for a vacation.
Here are six luxurious resorts pouring on the Christmas cheer for families with festivities ranging from cookie decorating and elf tuck-ins to visits with Santa.
Christmas at Paws Up (The Resort at Paws Up)
Where: Greenough, MT
Why: Because this luxurious Montana resort is offering an all-inclusive holiday escape that gives your family its own decorated Christmas tree and even—gasp!—your very own Santa. The five-night Montana Christmas Vacation starts at $570 per person per night for a family of four and includes 5 nights of accommodations, all meals, snacks and beverage, your own personal Santa, Christmas Eve dinner with special Christmas menu, Christmas dinner feast, a decorated tree in your home, and horse-drawn or sleigh rides, a gingerbread house-building contest, cookie decorating, and a selection of holiday DVDs to watch.
Holiday lights at Hotel Del Coronado (Photo: John Bahu)
Where: Coronado, CA
Why: Because the iconic grand beach resort near San Diego goes all out for the holidays, with a beachfront ice skating, fun activities, lavish feasts, festive decor, and thousands of white lights adorning the historic Victorian building on top of a holiday festival and Sunday brunch with Santa. The Ice Skating & S’mores starts at $339 a night and includes one ice skating session for up to two people, one-hour private beach bonfire with a s’mores roast for up to 5 people, and complimentary access to DELights Available for stays November 27, 2015 to January 3, 2016.
Where: Colorado Springs, CO
Why: Because this luxurious and sprawling mountain resort is outdoing itself this holiday season with a spectacular decorations, sumptuous holiday buffets, a life-size gingerbread house, live Christmas show, daily holiday culinary demonstrations, and cupcake and gingerbread decorating. The Classic Broadmoor Christmas package starts at $190 per person and includes accommodations for one night, dinner show tickets for each person on the package to the Classic Broadmoor Christmas show, and suites available at 25% off of published rates. Available Available on December 12, 18, 19, 20*, 24, and 27, 2015.
December Delight at Mohonk Mountain House (Mohonk Mountain House)
Where: New Paltz, NY
Why: Because this all-inclusive family-friendly retreat in the Hudson Valley is less than two hours from New York City, making it a perfect midweek escape during the holiday season. On display are spectacular handmade swags, elaborate gingerbread creations, and decorated Christmas trees, while holiday activities include a family Yule log hunt, holiday craft-making, and caroling. The December Delight package starts at $199 per person–a wink to the historic landmark hotel’s founding in 1869–and includes include Afternoon Tea and Cookies, a three-course dinner, bountiful breakfast buffet, charming accommodations, and most resort activities like ice-skating, swimming in indoor heated pool, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowtubing. Available for midweek stays, Sunday through Thursday, from now through December 21, 2015.
(TRIP PLAN: Make your own holiday vacation planning easy by using MiniTime’s free Trip Plan tool.)
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa (Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa)
Where: Dana Point, CA
Why: At the Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, the holidays are all about the family… and the kids. From December 12 through December 25, 2015, several yuletide events are available for families staying at the Dana Point resort. Meet, have breakfast and take photos with Santa on December 12 at Breakfast with Santa, where arts and crafts, face painting, cookie decorating and a holiday movie are also on the menu ($55 for adults, $35 for kids 5 through 12). The complimentary S’mores and Stories are also on hand on December 12 and December 19 for families who want to enjoy a holiday movie in their pajamas (popcorn, drinks and breakfast the day after are included). There’s also the Christmas Eve dinner and the four-course Christmas Day dinner ($95 per person) that include a children’s menu for families looking to dine at the resort.
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher contributed this to MiniTime.
