Fun Family Christmas at the Gaylord Texan

Last Updated on December 24, 2012 by Jody Halsted

Last year I was thrilled to experience ICE at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando.  The girls and I had so much fun that we decided to try to visit ICE at the other Gaylord Hotels over the next few years.  So you can imagine how thrilled I was when our recent visit to Grapevine, Texas coincided the the opening of

ICE at the Gaylord Texan!  

ICE is part of the Texan's Lone Star Christmas, which lasts through January 1, 2013.  This year's ICE theme is Merry Madagascar.  You'll find all your favorites- Marty, Sheila, Melman, Alex and those fab penguins- carved in ice and taking on Santa's job!

The Texan provides long, warm parkas for sliding down the ice slides.

But don't forget to bring mittens or gloves- and maybe even a warm hat if you want to stay in ICE for a while.  9° is cold!

One of the most stunning sculptures is at the end of ICE- the nativity carved in crystal clear ice.  Stunning!

More Dreamworks Fun at ICE

Sledding is always popular with my girls, and the Kung Fu Panda Awesome Snow Tubing was a hit!  Each pass buys you 10 rides down the hills and you can use a double tube (great for kids who don't want to slide alone) or a single- which is fun because it can spin!

You can also make tasty gingerbread creations with Gingy, go on a Dragons Holiday Adventure, a Rise of the guardians Scavenger Hunt and dine with Shrek and Fiona! 

You don't have to be a guest at the Gaylord Texan to take part in the fun, but the Christmassy Dreamworks Package includes all these fun activities, lodging,- and a few more features your family will love!

Lone Star Christmas

Besides ICE and all the Dreamworks fun, you'll find the Texan decked out for the holiday.  Thousands of feet of garland, 1.5 million lights and dozens of incredible displays.  It's like a winter wonderland!  Most impressive to my girls was the life-size gingerbread house.  It was incredible- we almost got sugar overload just by standing near it!

As you wander through the Texan you're likely to run into singing cowboys- or even Santa himself!- so be sure to have your camera at the ready!  You'll also find plenty of background for those family holiday photos!

Christmas at Gaylord Hotels is filled with magic and memories…  I recommend the experience if you will be near to one of their locations this Christmas season.

For more photos from the Gaylord Texan's Lone Star Christmas, visit my ICE at the Gaylord Texan Flickr set.

Disclosure:  Family Rambling® would like to thank the Grapevine CVB for arranging our visit to the Gaylord Texan and ICE, which is only one small bit of the fun to be found in the Christmas Capital of Texas!