Courtesy of Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Christmas in the Cities
Seasonal attractions in nearby metro areas
Light Up the Lake & More / Chicago
Just east of Millennium Park’s The Bean, across the winding Frank Gehry–designed pedestrian bridge, Maggie Daley Park’s quarter-mile ice-skating ribbon might be described as “alpine in the city.” The seasonal skating spot is situated just a block from Lake Michigan and within walking distance of Navy Pier, which itself transforms into a winter wonderland. Its Light Up the Lake event, November 25–January 7, includes interactive light displays, a skating rink, a birch tree maze, and visits with Santa. There’s also a light display at other institutions (Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Botanic Garden, Morton Arboretum, the Museum of Science and Industry); shopping on the Magnificent Mile, State Street, and Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza; and no shortage of holiday-themed shows (as well as engagements with Michelle Obama, John Oliver, and more) at area theaters.
ICE! at Gaylord Opryland Hotel / Nashville
After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, ICE! returns to Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Hotel from November 11–January 1. This year, the holiday pop-up brings to life the classic animated TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, featuring Yukon Cornelius, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, the Island of Misfit Toys, and a certain red-nosed reindeer. Guests don blue parkas while walking through the immersive 19,000-square-foot exhibit filled with more than 2 million pounds of brightly colored ice. And beyond ICE!, the sprawling hotel offers a host of other holiday happenings, including breakfast with Rudolph, photos with Santa, a gingerbread-decorating corner, snowball games, a Rudolph-themed scavenger hunt, bumper cars, a 15-foot-high tubing hill, ice-skating, carriage rides, a Christmas-themed cruise on the Delta Riverboat, and the Oak Ridge Boys’ Christmas in Tennessee dinner show. Elsewhere in Music City, there are other holiday pop-ups, including Camp Bobby at the Bobby Hotel (resembling a ’70s-style campsite) and Chalet 27 at The Westin (like the French Alps in the heart of Tennessee).
Courtesy of Graceland
Graceland decorated for the holidays
Christmas at Graceland / Memphis
After watching Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling biopic of The King, you might have a new appreciation for “Blue Christmas”—and an urge to visit Graceland. This year marks the 45th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, and his former abode is hosting a yearlong series of ELVIS 45 events and giveaways. Among the happenings, St. Louis native Nikki Glaser will perform December 2. From November 17 to December 23, Graceland also offers Christmas tours of the unparalleled estate, including Elvis’ lawn decorations, Presley family Christmas artifacts, and blue lights lining the driveway.
Courtesy of Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures
Icy Adventures
Where to go dog sledding
Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures | McMillan, Michigan
Based on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, just an hour from Canada, Nature's Kennel provides totally immersive experiences. It has a variety of dog-sledding options: 10-mile (three hours), 20-mile (six hours), and overnight (two days, one night, with lodging at Musher’s Village). And for the truly adventurous, there are guided ice-climbing trips with Down Wind Sports in Munising, Michigan.
Cragun’s Resort | Brainerd, Minnesota
Two and a half hours north of Minneapolis, Cragun’s Resort sits on the banks of Gull Lake, a popular summer getaway destination. During winter, however, the area is also a scenic setting for other outdoor activities, including skiing and snowboarding at Mount Ski Gull. Guests at Cragun’s Resort can also enjoy other activities, such as ice-skating (with a nearby bonfire and marshmallows), ice fishing (complete with ice-fishing houses), dog sled rides (most Saturdays with a local musher), and riding snowmobiles (with a track for kiddos).
Wolfsong Adventures | Bayfield, Wisconsin
On the shores of Lake Superior, near Bayfield Peninsula (home of the Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race), Wolfsong offers a slate of dog-sledding adventures: morning, afternoon, sunset, and late-season runs. With a team of about 40 Siberian huskies, the service gives visitors the chance to help harness, hook up, feed, sled, and interact with the dogs. Nearby Bayfield also has a range of lodging options overlooking the lake—pleasant respite after a mushing adventure.
All Downhill
5 options in 5 Midwest states, near and far
SLM Staff
Sled Ride
Luge like an Olympian at Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, home to one of just four ice luge tracks in the United States. After learning how to maneuver the sled, visitors can slide down a 650-foot kunstbahn track at speeds of up to 30 mph—not quite as far or fast as an Olympian but still a step up from Art Hill.
Courtesy of Greater St. Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau
Small-Town Retreats
These historic Missouri settings provide a quaint backdrop for holiday memories.
Holiday Christmas Festival | Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Gen is steeped in history. Established in 1750, it was the first permanent European settlement in Missouri and was recently recognized as part of the National Parks Service. So, fittingly, its holiday festival, December 3 and 4, is a cultural celebration of 500 years, with music in historic churches and other downtown venues. There will also be colonial decorations, historic-site open houses, and the Art Guild Art Show & Sale, in addition to other old-fashioned trappings.
Christmas Traditions | St. Charles
The cobblestones and historic brick buildings along St. Charles’ Main Street set the scene for the town’s popular monthlong celebration, November 25–December 24. Visitors can smell hot-roasted chestnuts, hear Victorian carolers, see historical interpreters and a delegation of Santas donning the attire of their home countries—Jack Frost and other special guests will also be in attendance. It’s quite a festive spectacle, whether shopping or just taking a memorable stroll.
Christmas Candlelight Walk | Defiance
For a serene Christmas experience, visit Defiance during its annual candlelit, ticketed event, December 9 and 10. Tour the Daniel Boone Home—the Georgian-style stone house where the legendary frontiersman lived in the early 1800s—and learn some history as interpreters portraying Boone and his wife, Rebecca, describe long-ago winters. Listen to the carolers, sip hot cider, and hear from other storytellers while strolling past the village’s buildings lit up by lanterns.
Kristkindl Markt & More | Hermann
On December 3 and 10, Deutschheim State Historic Site hosts Weihnachtsfest, a German-style market, along with German-inspired treats and traditions. Likewise, Stone Hill Winery hosts its Kristkindl Markt on December 3 and 4 and a gingerbread-house competition throughout the weekend. The 5th Annual Hermann Cookie Walk occurs December 16 and 17, with area shops serving up a variety of cookies. Holiday carriage rides and tours are also available the first three weekends of December.
Christmas Festival, Cookie Walk & More | Kimmswick
On November 19, Kimmswick kicks off the season with a Christmas open house and parade, complete with a tree-lighting ceremony, carolers, horse-drawn trolley rides, Santa, and refreshments from area shops, which stay open late. The Christmas Cookie Walk, December 1–4, brings similar offerings, along with sweet treats. And Elf on the Shelf weekends, December 10 and 11 and 17 and 18, is a sort of elf-inspired scavenger hunt, where kids can find elves all over town.
Courtesy of Big Cedar Lodge
Cozy Retreats
Luxe lodgings for the cold winter months
Blackberry Farm | Walland, Tennessee
It started as a rustic retreat for Ruby Tuesday founder Sandy Beall and his wife, Kreis. They dressed up the main house of the pastoral 4,200-acre estate, opened their home to guests, and added some cottages and a spa on the picturesque property, which is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was their son Sam, though, who put the place on the map as a culinary destination, introducing farm-to-table cuisine at The Barn, the James Beard Award–winning restaurant with an equally acclaimed wine program in a grand red historic structure, where executive chef Cassidee Dabney carries on in the late culinary pioneer’s footsteps. Nearby, Blackberry Mountain, a wellness-focused companion hotel, opened several years ago. On December 3, it hosts a tree-lighting and toast, as well as a holiday mixology class and wine tasting on December 23 and 24. And as you might imagine, the original estate is as cozy as ever, with crackling fires, fragrant wreaths, and gingerbread houses.
Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale
Somehow, there’s always something new at Johnny Morris’ wilderness resort, overlooking Table Rock Lake in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. That’s especially true during Home for the Holidays, November 6–December 31. There’s no shortage of kid-friendly things to do: breakfast and photos with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus, elf visits, an ugly-sweater party with the Grinch, crafty classes (from gingerbread houses to holiday wreaths, holiday centerpieces to stuffed animals), ice-skating, holiday lights tours, a tree-lighting ceremony, and more. But adults can also find respite at Cedar Creek Spa and Worman House Bistro. On the way back to St. Louis, consider stopping at the new Finley Farms in Ozark, where the Ozark Mill Restaurant serves farm-to-table fare in a historic mill.
Deer Path Inn | Lake Forest, Illinois
Located on Chicago’s North Shore, the 1929 inn is reminiscent of a 15th-century manor, complete with an English garden. The dining options are equally English inspired, with afternoon tea, a polished dining room, and an inviting bar. Last year, during the holidays, the inn offered a particularly Chicago-centric option: the “Lost in Lake Forest Suite Experience,” with robes, candy, pizza, and a screening of Home Alone.
Courtesy of Silver Dollar City
Family Fun
Where to find kid-friendly holiday wonder
Crystal Bridges’ North Forest Lights | Bentonville, Arkansas
Think of it as an enchanted forest—with an artist’s touch. Through January 2, the woods outside the museum come alive at night with five nature-inspired installations, including light, sound, and sensory effects. And during the day, kids will appreciate the nearby Scott Family Amazeum children’s museum.
Holiday World | Santa Claus, Indiana
OK, it’s technically not a wintertime destination, but the amusement park answers the question of what to do when the kids are asking about Christmas or other holidays when it’s only June. The name of the town and amusement park say it all: It’s a sort of holiday mash-up. The park’s themed areas include Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, with rides named after reindeer and such food options as Polar Expresso and Sugarplum Scoop Shoppe. Is it over the top? You might say that. Will the kids love it? Almost certainly.
Silver Dollar City | Branson
The theme park goes all out for An Old Time Christmas festival, November 5–December 30, with 6.5 million lights and 1,000 Christmas trees. You can also catch Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade (twice nightly) and Broadway-style musical shows (A Dickens Christmas Carol and Home For Christmas), as well a living nativity show at the Dockside Theater.
