From neighbors’ houses adorned with twinkling lights to the hint of a chill in the air, there’s no denying that the holiday season has officially arrived in Austin. And even if you don’t want to travel too far this year, there are plenty of unique places where you can sip a winter cocktail, enjoy some festive decor and have a laugh with friends or family.
Whether you’re snapping photos by a Texas-shaped swimming pool or enjoying perfectly curated art, here are five ideas for places where you can soak in the season.
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, San Antonio
ICE! joins the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa this winter. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country photo
If you’re looking for close-to-home holiday fun, look no further than the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, which this season welcomes a brand-new attraction: ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
Already known for having one of the most spectacular holiday programs in the country, the AAA 4-Diamond resort is sure to slide into your heart with ICE!, a winter wonderland that will bring Who-ville to life through nearly 20,000 square feet of life-sized sculptures and scenery hand-carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice.
ICE!, which will be kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit, will be at the resort Nov. 23 to Jan. 5, 2025, and will be open to both resort guests and the general public. Tickets are special room packages are one sale now at www.JWHillCountryChristmas.com. To stay warm, guests will be provided with signature blue parkas to wear while enjoying the attraction.
In addition to ICE!, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa will also be transforming the Exhibit Ballroom into “Reindeer Ridge” that will include 40,000 square feet of beloved Hill Country Christmas activities, including:
- Snow Flow Mountain, a multi-lane tubing hill made of real snow and providing hours of alpine fun for all ages.
- Snowball Build & Blast, an interactive game where guests can make and throw snowballs to score points, boosting the power of the snow-making machine.
- Claus’ Christmas Traditions, which is hosted by Mrs. Claus and includes a retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a sing-along of holiday carols, complete with Santa’s favorite cookies and milk.
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner, where guests can decorate gingerbread houses with sweets and treats and even meet Nutmeg the gingerbread man.
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Exclusive ICE! Stay & Play Packages are available for advance online reservations. These packages offer overnight accommodation and two tickets to ICE! for each night’s stay, using booking code 1GC at JWHillCountryChristmas.com. Guests can add a round of golf to the ICE! Stay & Play Package using booking code ZJ4. Overnight guests will be able to access resort-only benefits including the Extra Cool Hour and Chill Pass, which allow overnight visitors early admission into ICE! and the Christmas Village, as well as front-of-the-line access to the attraction.
The Crescent Hotel, Fort Worth
Fort Worth is a vibrant, bustling city filled with history, art, and wonderful food. If you’re an art enthusiast, you appreciate its variety of amazing museums, public art projects and even hotels that embrace the city’s love of art.
The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth opened in late 2023. Contributed by Kristin Finan
An ideal home base for any art lover is The Crescent Hotel, which opened in November 2023 and offers the perfect place to stay with an artistic twist. This boutique hotel, which is located directly across the street from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, features more than 20 works of art inspired by the neighboring museums and spanning a variety of mediums. The hotel also has an on-site Canyon Ranch Wellness Club and an incredible dining program, including its Coastal Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, Emilia’s, and the fine dining experience at The Blue Room.
Even the food is a work of art at The Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth. Contributed by Kristin Finan
While you’re in town, don’t miss the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, a leader in collecting, showing, and interpreting art from the 1940s to the present. Situated in the heart of the Cultural District, the creative center of the city, the Modern has been housed since 2002 in an elegant concrete, glass, and steel building designed by the renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
In addition to 53,000 square feet of soaring, light-filled gallery space and landscaped grounds with outdoor sculptures, the museum features a reflecting pond, theater, education center, gift shop, and café, creating a thriving hub for the local community and beyond. Founded in 1892, the Modern is the oldest museum in Texas; however, the mission has changed over the years. Today, it strives to connect audiences of all ages and backgrounds with the most compelling art and ideas of our time.
https://thecrescenthotelfortworth.com/
Great Wolf Lodge, Webster
A brand new Great Wolf Lodge just opened in Webster, Texas, near Houston, and there’s no better time to visit than during its winter celebrations, when the entire property transforms into a winter wonderland.
Great Wolf Lodge is fun for all ages. Contributed by Kristin Finan
One feature sure to attract families of all shapes and sizes: the indoor waterpark. Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor waterpark in addition to outdoor pools, making it a fun family escape no matter the weather. Families can also expect to find a popular interactive treasure hunt game called MagiQuest, an Adventure Trail, bowling, mini golf, a ropes course, and more.
The lodge has a variety of room options that make it really fun for families, such as the KidCabin Suite with bunk beds, the Wolf Den suite with a cave-themed sleeping area, and much more. This new location is awesome because it’s near a lot of other wonderful Houston attractions, too, such as NASA, Kemah, Galveston, and Houston.
https://www.greatwolf.com/webster
Marriott Marquis, Houston
Houston is home to myriad hotels, but the Marriott Marquis Houston is one of our very favorites, thanks to its incredible service, fabulous food options, and yes, its Texas-shaped pool.
The hotel’s Altitude Rooftop & Pool is home to the famous one-of-a-kind Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river — which snagged the No. 1 spot in Travel + Leisure’s Amazing U.S. Hotels with Lazy Rivers — a rooftop infinity pool, and a large-scale special events pavilion overlooking Discovery Green Park. The hotel features 1,000 guest rooms, over 150,000 square feet of meeting space — including Houston’s largest ballroom — a full-service spa and fitness center, and six food and beverage outlets, including MLB legend-owned Biggio’s, which is steps from Minute Maid Park. Find bold poolside encounters all year long, including signature event, Texas Winter Lights, and new Concerts Under the Stars.
The Marriott Marquis in Houston is located steps from Discovery Green. Contributed by Kristin Finan
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/houmq-marriott-marquis-houston/overview/
The Archer Hotel
For a close-to-home staycation, book a stay at the Archer Hotel in the Domain. It’s the perfect place to explore all of the outdoor shopping district’s winter fun, from vibrant decorations to Pinkmas, a festively drenched occasion at the Museum of Ice Cream.
The Archer Hotel is perfectly situated in Austin’s Domain shopping and entertainment district. Contributed by The Archer
