It truly is the most wonderful time of the year in Colorful Colorado. The Christmas spirit has begun to fill the air with neighborhood decor. Colorado is a winter wonderland, a gorgeous state that brings snowfall that dusts the mountains beautifully.

If you have kept up with my blog, you know that family adventures are my thing. During our Christmas adventures, my husband and I sought out a new tradition for our family – Christmas at Gaylord Rockies.

We told the girls we had a surprise coming as we packed our bags with winter snowsuits, gloves, hats, and different outfits for our series of events. We buckled up and headed out for our getaway. With an itinerary in hand and a 4-year-old and 2-year-old full of curiosity, we arrived at our winter wonderland destination.

Arriving at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies

Our family arrived at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies for the weekend. We checked into our hotel room at the front desk and were shown the direction to our room. As we walked through the 5-star resort, the Christmas spirit filled the halls with décor and stunning lights.

Our girls were excited to see they had a bunkbed to sleep on. The layout of our Deluxe Family King room was perfect for our family of four. The main area had a king-sized bed, couch, desk, and TV. The bunk bed was in its own area separate from the main room with a second tv.

Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Events in Mistletoe Village

Shortly after we checked into our room, we headed to Mistletoe Village, located on the northeast portion of the facility. Walking into Mistletoe Village was like arriving at a magical winter wonderland you only see in movies. The layout was like the streets of a Christmas village, with an Elf Workshop, Reindeer Press Post, Mistletoe Sweet Spot, and more.

Most of the Christmas at Gaylord Rockies events (except for Cirque: Spirit of Christmas) were held in this space. Keep in mind that you need to have a reservation for all Gaylord at Rockies Christmas events.

1. ICE! featuring A Christmas Story

The first event we attended was ICE! featuring A Christmas Story. Beautifully sculptured ice scenes were displayed from the movie A Christmas Story in a chilly 9-degree walkthrough. Upon arrival, we received parkas to wear over our clothing. This is the part where we pulled out our gloves, hats, and the girls’ boots which we packed in our suitcase.

A Christmas Story was my family’s go-to Christmas movie. Seeing the displays with classic lines like “You’ll shoot your eye out” and “Oh. F-f-f-fudge” brought nostalgia to my childhood. Of course, I can’t forget to mention the classic leg lamp scene.

Next was our girls’ favorite part – the ice slides. But, of course, my husband and I couldn’t resist joining the fun. There were 3 long slides perfect for older kids and adults, and one small slide for little kids. Both of our girls (ages 4 and 2) preferred the smaller slide.

After the themed exhibit, the ambiance shifted to the sound of “Oh Holy Night.” We passed through an ice tunnel and were greeted with a beautiful ice-sculptured nativity scene. This was a special touch that we were not expecting but my family appreciated.

2. Gingerbread Decorating Corner

Next up on our itinerary was the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. This was our 4-year-old’s favorite activity. We checked into the front area upon arriving and were given our gingerbread man cookie kits. Additionally, you can purchase gingerbread houses of different sizes.

We chose a table and started our cookie-decorating activity. Our girls loved the creativity that came with decorating our gingerbread family, which included gingerbread people, a dog, and a cat. A character dressed in a gingerbread man costume visited our table to take a photo which was a nice added touch.

After we decorated our cookies, we were given bags to wrap our newly decorated goodies in to take home with us.

3. Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions

We visited Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions after breakfast the next morning. We entered the dim-lit room with an intimate area of bean bags before a fireplace room stage. On the stage was a rocking chair, Christmas tree, and oven. We were given milk and cookies as we waited for the show to start.

The show featured Mrs. Claus and a funny “oversized elf” named Snowflake. The characters were performed by talented actresses who sang, danced, and shared stories. They got the audience involved by asking questions and playing a Christmas game. For a 30-minute performance, it was engaging and entertaining for both kids and adults.

By the end of the performance, our girls were full of excitement. Especially our 2-year-old who couldn’t wait to take a photo with Mrs. Claus. The smile on her face said it all.  

4. Cirque: Spirit of Christmas

The final event of our Christmas at Gaylord Rockies adventure was Cirque: Spirit of Christmas. Actors and actresses performed a story of a child who lost the true meaning of Christmas in the busyness of the shopping season before an encounter with spirits who brought back the meaning of the season.

The performance brought acrobats performing individual and duo stunts on the floor as well as flying stunts from a ring in the air. This was an incredible show of immense talent with lively storytelling which kept the crowd engaged.

Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt featuring Rudolph and The Misfit Toys

Along with the Christmas events we attended over the weekend, our girls each received a scavenger hunt booklet to complete during our weekend stay. The goal was to find the misfit toys throughout the resort with clues to find each toy.

Each toy we found gave a letter or symbol for a message at the end of the scavenger hunt booklet. Once we completed the scavenger hunt and figured out the message, we returned the booklets to receive a prize. Our girls thought the game was a lot of fun, and it was a unique way to see the different areas of the resort.

Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Food & Beverage

As we enjoyed our weekend adventures at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, there were several restaurants we could choose from to dine at.

Vista Montagne: In the morning, we ate a delicious breakfast at Vista Montagne. They had a full breakfast menu to order from as well as an all-you-can-eat buffet. Our family ordered the Denver Skillet, Free Range Omelet, Kids Waffle, and Mini Rockies Breakfast. We experienced excellent service and a tasty breakfast to keep us full for several hours. My husband and I both thought the potatoes were spectacular.

Rockies Marketplace: While attending one event to the next, we found it very convenient to stop by the Rockies Marketplace for a quick bite to eat. The marketplace had grab-and-go foods, beverages, and snacks. We purchased from the marketplace twice during our stay. We particularly enjoyed the personal pan-sized pizzas and pre-made salads.

Other Food & Beverage:

In addition to the places we dined at, there are other restaurants and beverage areas to choose from including:

• Mountain Pass Sports Bar
• Monte Jade (Asian-inspired cuisine)
• Arapahoe Sports Bar & Grill (located next to the outdoor pool)
• Cocoa Bean (serving Starbucks coffee)

Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Review

Christmas at Gaylord Rockies is an incredible magical Christmas getaway for the whole family. Whether you are traveling for the Christmas season, or live nearby and want to take a staycation, the experience is SO worth it. Our girls were skipping down the halls with pure excitement of the Christmas season during our stay. Seeing their faces light up through every encounter was an absolute joy for me to see.

Each of the Christmas events we experienced was unique and added a new element of excitement for our family. Our 4-year-old’s favorite activity was gingerbread cookie decorating, while our 2-year-old enjoyed the ice slides and stories with Mrs. Claus. Personally, I enjoyed walking through the ICE! displays of scenes from A Christmas Story as well as the Cirque: Spirit of Christmas performance. My husband’s favorite was also the ICE! featuring A Christmas Story event.

To enjoy the full experience for yourself, visit Christmas at Gaylord Rockies to book a room and purchase tickets.

***Disclaimer: I received a one-night stay and family package in exchange for a blog post review. All opinions are my own.***