Spend hours splashing and lounging at Sea Island Resort's gorgeous pool. Photo by Jackie Jones

Fabulous Family Resorts to Book Now for the Holidays

1. Sea Island Resort — Sea Island, GA

One of Mommy Poppins' well-traveled writers wrote a glowing review of her family's Christmastime visit to Sea Island Resort. She called Christmas at Sea Island "an unforgettable spectacle", with tons of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, a life-size gingerbread house that doubled as an Advent calendar, and special holiday events such as a Christmas Eve run on the beach and a kids' Christmas party hosted by Santa.

Daytime temperatures at Sea Island tend to reach the mid 60s in December —perfect for throwing on a hoodie and relaxing on the beach. Accommodations vary in size and amenities and include The Cloister and The Lodge, among others.

2. Hotel del Coronado — Coronado, CA

Not only is the famous Hotel del Coronado one of the best family resorts in San Diego, it turns into a twinkling winter wonderland for the holidays (even though daytime temperatures typically reach the mid 60s).

Skating by the Sea, the hotel's beachside ice skating rink, pops up from mid November through early January, as do oceanfront igloos with firepits. There's also a free nightly light show set to music, complete with snow flurries. And on certain dates kids can take photos with Santa, decorate gingerbread houses, get personalized Christmas bags delivered to their room by elves, and more. There's even an annual Holiday Festival, which in 2023 takes place on December 6.

Reserve your family vacation at the Hotel del Coronado now.

RELATED: Best All-Inclusive Resorts with Incredible Kids Clubs (Plus More Resorts with Great Free Kids Clubs)

Enjoy outdoor winter activities and holiday events at Mohonk Mountain House. Photo courtesy of the resort

3. Mohonk Mountain House — New Paltz, NY

We love this all-inclusive resort in the Hudson Valley so much, we included it on our list of the 100 best family vacation destinations. While the Victorian castle-like resort offers tons of family activities year-round, it takes things up several notches during the holidays. There are gorgeous decorations and outdoor lights, plus loads of holiday activities including ice skating, Victorian crafts, campfires, graham cracker-house decorating, theatrical productions of A Christmas Carol, and The Nutcracker ballet selections.

For Hanukkah, Mohonk offers a nightly menorah lighting, Hanukkah crafts and decorating, music by local musicians, and more. New Year's Eve is also a huge event with crafts, a silly photo booth, strolling magic shows, live music, and other festivities.

If you want to feel like you're in a holiday movie, book your stay at Mohonk Mountain House now.

4. Salamander Resort — Middleburg, VA

Middleburg, Virginia is featured annually on our list of the best Christmas towns in the US, and for good reason—its historic downtown feels like A Christmas Carol come to life. Salamander Resort, one of our favorite spa resorts near DC, is a great place to stay during a holiday visit to Middleburg. In addition to its fantastic spa, Salamander boasts indoor and outdoor pools, an equestrian center, loads of sports and family activities, a great Kids Camp (for an extra fee), and more.

As you can imagine, Salamander Resort decorates beautifully for Christmas. It also hosts holiday events including a Christmas Day brunch. And if you don't want to leave your dog home for the holidays, the resort offers several pet-friendly suites. Book your holiday trip to Salamander Resort before it fills up!

RELATED: Visit a Christmas Town or Santa's Village Near You

Experience the beloved ICE! attractions at Gaylord Hotels this holiday season.

5. Gaylord Hotels

The Gaylord Hotels are known for their wide range of Christmas programming at their five family resorts—Gaylord National in National Harbor, Maryland; Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee; Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida; Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, Colorado; and Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas.

Each Gaylord resort features ICE!, a walk-through display of life-size ice sculptures, as well as holiday activities such as ice skating, photos with Santa, gingerbread decorating, dazzling lobby light shows, and lots more. Some locations even offer Christmas-themed suites to make your stay even more festive.

6. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa — Anaheim, CA

Disneyland takes holiday decor to a whole other level, with dazzling Christmas lights, spectacular castle and fireworks shows, holiday-themed food, and more. And while several places made our list of the best Anaheim hotels near Disneyland, the Grand Californian gets extra festive for the holidays with a giant Christmas tree in the lobby and a life-size gingerbread house, complete with a gingerbread Mickey.

While you won't find tropical-level warmth in SoCal in December, average high temps of 67 degrees and plenty of sunshine make for a comfortable visit—and a welcome respite from cold weather. Book your stay at the Grand Californian now.

RELATED: Visiting Every Park at Walt Disney World with Kids: A 5-Day Itinerary

Disney's Wilderness Lodge combines rustic charm with a contemporary flair at Walt Disney World Resort. Photo courtesy of Disney

7. Disney's Wilderness Lodge — Orlando, FL

Like Disneyland, Disney World goes above and beyond at Christmastime—you truly need to experience it to understand the magic. While all of the Disney World resorts do an amazing job with their holiday decor, most Disney bloggers agree that Disney's Wilderness Lodge is the winner when it comes to Christmas spirit.

The resort's rustic feel alone screams Christmas, with fireplaces to cozy up to and soft Christmas music playing.The 60-foot Christmas tree in the lobby adds the wow factor. Though the weather outside won't be frightful—Orlando has an average high temperature of 75 in December—you'll feel like you're in a cabin surrounded by snow. 

Get into the holiday spirit by booking your family's trip to the Wilderness Lodge.

8. Wailea Beach Resort — Maui, HI

Hawaii tourism executives are urging visitors to return to Maui to help boost the economy following the devastating Lahaina wildfires in August 2023. The Wailea Beach Resort, located in the gorgeous southern resort town of Wailea, is the perfect place to gather for a warm and sunny family vacation during the holidays.

The resort's NALU Adventure Pool features four water slides (one of which is Maui's longest), splash zones, and family-size cabanas. There's also a game room, a kids club, a movie house, cultural activities such as lei-making and hula lessons, several on-site restaurants, and more. And what better place to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day than at the resort's Te Au Moana luau?

Book your stay at the Wailea Beach Resort, then start practicing saying "Mele Kalikimaka!"

9. Beaches Turks & Caicos

There's a reason Beaches Turks & Caicos made our list of the best all-inclusive resorts in the US, Caribbean, and Mexico for kids. It features the massive Pirates Island Water Park, a kids camp for babies on up with certified nannies, a teen program, 21 restaurants, several pools, loads of water and land activities, Sesame Street characters, and so much more. Plus, it's located on gorgeous Grace Bay Beach, which is typically adorned with bright lights at Christmastime. Your family will have so much fun here, no one will be dreaming of a white Christmas.

Hurry and book your own Christmas vacation at Beaches Turks & Caicos.

10. Velas Vallarta — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Velas Vallarta is another of our favorite all-inclusive resorts that our founder loved during her 2022 visit. She highlighted its 10 acres of gorgeous beachfront, three pools, kids' club, luxury spa, spacious suites, and on-site activities including tennis, water volleyball, and crafts.

Christmas is a big event at Velas Vallarta. There are Christmas trees, treasure hunts for chocolate coins, and other holiday activities. Plus, Santa arrives on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta via parachute. And Velas Vallarta will give your family an Earth-friendly holiday. Its green initiative has been recognized by EarthCheck—the world's leading organization in certifying sustainable tourism—with gold and silver status.

Book a stay at Velas Vallarta to earn a spot on Santa's nice list.

RELATED: Best Family Resorts with Water Parks: All-Inclusive Family Resorts and More

Spend Christmas in paradise at Nickelodeon Resorts Punta Cana. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

11. Nickelodeon Resorts Punta Cana — Dominican Republic

Spend the holidays with SpongeBob, Dora, and friends at this Punta Cana all-inclusive resort, which is basically every kid's dream. There's the fabulous Aqua Nick water park, a great kids club, nearly a dozen on-site restaurants, a gorgeous beachfront, and loads of family activities. You can even get slimed! The staff provides everything from cribs and bottle warmers, meaning you'll have more room in your luggage for Christmas presents.

But just because you're in paradise doesn't mean it won't feel like Christmas. Each December Nickelodeon Punta Cana (and its sister resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico) hosts a Holiday Extravaganza complete with a tree-lighting ceremony, ornament-making workshops, Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, and other festive activities. Just wait until you see Patrick Star in his Christmas-tree costume!

Book your stay at Nickelodeon Punta Cana now.

12. Baha Mar — Nassau, Bahamas

One Mommy Poppins writer said Baha Bay, the $200-million water park that opened in 2021 at the massive Baha Mar resort, was the most beautiful water park she had ever seen—and she's seen many. The 15-acre park features 24 slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool, and a 1,400-foot "action" river. The resort also has six pools, a gorgeous beach, over 30 restaurants, a kids club, and so much more.

And the holidays are truly special at Baha Mar. We're talking beachside flamingo parades, holiday crafts and treat-decorating, festive wildlife adventures, and more cheer-filled fun. To spend Christmas in paradise, book your stay now at one of Baha Mar's three hotels: Grand Hyatt, Rosewood, or SLS.

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