10 Best: Hotels that go all-out for the holidays
Being away from home at the holidays doesn't mean missing out on Christmas fanfare. Some hotels lavish their lobbies and grounds with elaborate displays that attract as many locals as visitors. “Some of the most festive places in cities are hotels. They are beautifully decorated spaces,” says Colleen Clark, managing editor of Jetsetter.com, an online magazine and hotel-deals website. She shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Gaylord Opryland
Nashville
Don’t be surprised if the carols have a country twang at this Music City resort. Christmas trees decorated by Nashville stars and celebrities dominate the hotel’s multiple lobbies. Ornaments are then auctioned off to support charities. There’s also a walk-through ice sculpture exhibit along with stage and dinner shows. “It’s about as over-the-top as you can get for Christmas,” Clark says. 615-889-1000; marriott.com
Mission Inn
Riverside, Calif.
With live reindeer, four million lights and 400 animated figures, there’s nothing subtle about the “Festival of Lights” at this historic Spanish Mission-style hotel. The display even includes what’s called the world’s largest manmade mistletoe. “It hangs over one of the big arches. It’s a great place for romance,” Clark says. 951-784-0300; missioninn.com
The Plaza
New York
This grand Manhattan hotel feels special any time of year, but come Christmas it goes all-out. “The combinations of these beautiful historical interiors with their classical Christmas decorations is truly stunning,” Clark says. Young ones will want to see the movie or read the book Eloise at Christmastime, set at the hotel. To get the full effect, make a reservation for afternoon tea in the hotel’s Palm Court. 888-850-0909; theplazany.com
Willard Intercontinental
Washington
Christmas comes to the capital with grace and style at this historic hotel, just down the block from the White House. “This is one of the grand dame hotels for the U.S.," Clark says. “They keep it classy with white lights and red ribbons.” Make sure to check out the lobby tree, decorated with official White House Christmas ornaments. 202-628-9100; washington.intercontinental.com
Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Sarasota, Fla.
Although hardly typical Florida snowbirds, penguins set the tone for the celebration at this Gulf Coast resort. "They call it a penguin wonderland with all these adorable gingerbread penguins flocking around,” Clark says. A slide built through a life-size gingerbread house lets children zip through the middle of the display. 941-309-2000; ritzcarlton.com
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Palm Desert, Calif.
Talk about Christmas magic. Even though it’s in the middle of the desert, this resort has a network of canals, which are decorated for holiday gondola rides, Clark says. “There are stops are along the way with seasonal snacks and candy stations for kids. It’s like a Christmas answer to trick-or-treating.” 760-341-2211; marriott.com
Bellagio Resort and Casino
Las Vegas
In a city not known for understatement, Christmas offers a chance to push the envelope at this luxury Strip hotel. In the hotel’s conservatory and botanical gardens, visitors find 12-foot animated snow globes, a model train running through a chocolate village, animatronic polar bears and a 42-foot tall tree glittering with 7,000 lights and 2,500 ornaments. “It’s a spare-no-expense display. The Bellagio is the embodiment of Vegas holiday glitz,” Clark says. 888-987-6667; bellagio.com
Get lost in Las Vegas' winter displays
Swissotel
Chicago
Immerse yourself in virtual holiday reality with a customized video production on the lobby walls. The so-called video mapping uses 10 projectors and a deluxe sound system to put visitors in the middle of a story about a teddy bear who travels from the North Pole to the hotel’s Santa suite. “This is really cool. It’s as if the walls transform into the movie,” Clark says. 888-737-9477; swissotel.com
Coeur d’Alene Resort
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Christmas announces itself with 1.5 million lights, 400 animated figures, a 160-foot-tall floating tree and a fireworks show at this waterfront hotel. Families often come just for the boat tours that visit Santa’s workshop. “It’s so beautiful to have the Christmas lights and the fireworks reflecting in the lake,” Clark says. 855-999-7998; cdaresort.com
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, Ariz.
An artful projected image makes it seem that night-time hotel visitors are entering a giant gingerbread house instead of a hotel. But they may not even notice. There’s also a four-story musical tree with 70,000 lights and a lagoon covered in additional two million lights. And don’t forget S’mores Land, a Christmas campfire area with seven fire pits and free carousel rides. 866-540-4495; scottsdaleprincess.com
Photos: Small towns go all out for Christmas