RESORTS DECK THE HALLS AND RING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Holiday festivities abound at resorts this season, making them the perfect place for families to create lasting memories and get in the holiday spirit. Our staff went looking for properties offering something special this season - from traditional Christmas events to the more innovative holiday activities. These family-friendly properties are sure to please, and have lots of merriment in store for guests of all ages.
Holiday Fun at the Montage Resort and Spa, Laguna Beach
Even though it's only been open since February of this year, the new Montage Resort & Spa has already earned rave reviews from critics and guests alike. In its inaugural holiday season, the resort will celebrate the season of joy by gifting guests with a full spectrum of special activities, packages and gift ideas -- complete with all the trimmings -- to herald the start of holiday traditions at Montage.
Youngsters will have just as much fun as their parents at Montage this holiday season. According to Alison Michaelian, director of the resort's year-round PaintBox kids club, a series of fun-filled holiday events are on tap for the younger set, among them:
- Letters to Santa. Young guests are encouraged to write letters to Mr. Claus and place them in the big red lobby mailbox -- for a swift delivery to the North Pole! Dec. 1-24. Complimentary.
- Christmas Tree Decorating/Caroling. PaintBox will have its own Christmas tree on display and kids will be able to help decorate the tree throughout the month of December. Christmas carols will also be part of the merriment. Dec. 13, 20-24. Complimentary.
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Mrs. Claus will recount this classic tale during special readings in front of a crackling fire in guestroom suite. Dec. 13, 20-24. Complimentary.
- Holiday Cookie Decorating. Young holiday revelers can sip hot cocoa and decorate yummy sugar cookies. This festive event is complete with holiday music, plus plenty of cookies to take to Mom and Dad. Dec. 13, 20-24. Complimentary.
- Special Stocking Delivery. Parents can special order stockings -- chock full of candy, toys and other trinkets -- which will be delivered to their rooms complete with a personal letter from Santa! Dec. 13-24. $80 per stocking.
- Dance the Night Away. Our younger guests are invited to ring in the New Year with a dinner party -- complete with dancing, games and loads of fun! Dec. 31 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. $80 per child.
Each of Montage's 262-luxurious guestrooms has private balconies with ocean views. Depending on room selection, rates start at $395 for standard ocean view accommodations. For more information or hotel reservations, please contact Montage Resort & Spa, toll-free, at 1-888-715-6700; or visit the Web site at www.montagelagunabeach.com.
Families Enjoy Festive Holiday Traditions and Packages at The Homestead
Rich with history and tradition, The Homestead is an upscale mountain retreat set on 15,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains of Virginia. Founded in 1766, The Homestead has hosted 22 U.S. presidents and a number of historic icons.
With a range of activities and amenities including a world-class spa, legendary hot springs, child/teen programs, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating on an Olympic-sized rink and more, The Homestead offers something for every member of the family. Seasonal décor and festive holiday traditions make for a magical family getaway.
The holidays are particularly festive at the resort, where grand traditions are continued each year:
· All through December, The Homestead's great Christmas tree will be center stage, with 25 more live Christmas Trees inside the property, and an additional 34 live Christmas Trees at the Owner's Club cottages.
· Additional decorations include 96 holiday wreaths and 950 poinsettias. "Poinsettia Standards" that are in tree form will be in the Grand Ballroom Foyer and Tower Corridor.
· Grounds are festively decorated with over 3,000 feet of Fraser Fir evergreen garlands, and over 85,000 lights glow brightly on outdoor trees.
· The Homestead's extraordinary Gingerbread Village is the annual creation of our Executive Pastry Chef, Michel Finel, and his expert team. Over 80 pounds of gingerbread, 110 pounds of candy, and 260 pounds of sugar comprise this Homestead holiday tradition - - a favorite of children of all ages!
· Carolers and musicians will be on hand to spread additional holiday cheer.
To make it easy for families to celebrate the holidays at their mountain resort, The Homestead is offering families a number of packages during the holiday season, including:
Christmas Package December 22-26, 2003
Bring your family to our Mountain Home for a Christmas celebration unlike any other. Guests can enjoy a day on the slopes, an afternoon art class or hot cocoa by a roaring fire in the Great Hall. Entertainment will include as theatrical performances by the Hurrah Players, traditional sing-a-longs in the Great Hall with the Staunton Ovation Singers, magic shows and more. Children are sure to be delighted by a traditional visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Rates start at $246.*
Celebrate Skiing Weekend December 26-29, 2003
The Homestead's new multi-million dollar snow making system will deliver mounds of fresh snow this holiday season, covering the property's nine downhill runs and half pipe. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, skating, snowmobile tours, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also available. Activities and family events include concerts, competitions, demonstrations, fireworks and more. Rates start at $246.*
New Year's Eve Celebration December 30, 2003 - January 1, 2004
Ring in the New Year with elegant dining and dancing at one of our two fabulous celebrations. East coast favorite The Fantastic Waller Family will perform a variety of favorite hits including today's Top 40 as well as the greatest in Motown oldies. The Homestead also offers its' New Year's Eve Gala in the Dining Room with performances by the Cool Cats and the Ray Cadell Orchestra. Starts at $253.
*Packages Include: Luxurious accommodations, breakfast and dinner daily, special holiday activities, use of the fitness center and indoor pool, afternoon tea and nightly movies. Rates are per person, per night, based on double occupancy and availability. Rates for single occupancy and other room categories are available upon request. Price does not include 15% service fee, 17% a la carte service fee or 4.5% tax.
For more information or to reserve a stay at The Homestead, call 800-838-1766 or visit their website at: www.thehomestead.com.
Colorado's Vail Cascade Resort & Spa Celebrates the Holidays with Seventh Annual Cascade Christmas
The snow is falling, and the holiday season has again fallen upon the Rocky Mountains. The trees are trimmed in lights and dusted with snow, and a festive holiday spirit fills the air.
At Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, the halls are decked and the staff is gearing up for the resort's traditional holiday festivities, Cascade Christmas. This is the seventh annual Cascade Christmas event. The celebration lasts 16 days and is full of cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, arts and crafts, kids activities, and of course, visits with Santa Clause. Children of all ages will delight in their specially-designed activities, while mom and dad will enjoy a little relaxation in the Fireside Bar. This year's Cascade Christmas promises to bring all of the great events and pleasures of holidays past, with a few extra surprises!
The Cascade Christmas features a complete calendar of family activities is from December 17th through January 1st. For more information on the Cascade Christmas celebration, or to make your holiday reservations, call 1-800-420-2424 or visit www.vailcascade.com.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Offers Families an Illuminating New Mexico Experience for the Holidays
During the winter holidays, the entire state of New Mexico is aglow with luminarias or farolitos --little paper bags filled with sand and radiating votive candles. Continuing a 16th century tradition that commemorated the birth of Jesus and helped guide people to midnight mass, New Mexicans place thousands of luminarias (Spanish for "little lanterns") throughout their communities, outlining the rooftops of homes, churches and buildings as well as sidewalks, staircases and doorways.
To celebrate these distinctive holiday traditions of New Mexico, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa offers an illuminating holiday experience with its "Holiday of Lights" package available online only from November 27 through December 30, 2003. The package includes room rates as low as $100, per room, per night as well as participation in the resort's special holiday activities for children and parents offered on select dates throughout December, including:
** Gingerbread house and Christmas cookie decorating with a chef ($50, adults,
$35, children)
** Santa Claus visit to Tamaya (complimentary)
** "Tales of the Holidays" storytelling with hot chocolate and s'mores outdoors by a warm fire pit (complimentary)
** Holiday ornament making using hand-made pottery and natural gourds ($15.00)
** Pueblo Style dance demonstrations (complimentary) and
** Traditional Native American flute performances (complimentary)
** Guide sheets highlighting the area's holiday light festivities and shopping discounts,
** A souvenir luminaria, and
** Discount coupons for The Galleria Tamaya
Along with the hundreds of luminarias, holiday light displays and activities at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, families can also experience the luminaria displays in Old Town Albuquerque (20 minutes from resort) and Santa Fe (45 minutes from resort) and enjoy the unique holiday shopping offerings. Other local festivities can also be enjoyed, such as the River of Lights tour, the annual holiday Shop & Stroll in Old Town Albuquerque, and Native American dances.
The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa is located on 500 acres of the Santa Ana Pueblo's reservation adjacent to the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande River. Along with its unique cultural environment offering traditional pueblo bread baking demonstrations and tribal dance performances, Tamaya also features its full-service Tamaya Mist full-service spa; 18-hole championship Twin Warriors Golf Club; tennis courts; and Tamaya Cultural Museum and Learning Center.
For reservations or more information on the "Holiday of Lights" package, call 1-800-55-HYATT.
Families Celebrate Traditions at Sunriver Resort
Sunriver Resort, a popular Northwest holiday destination for families, will be holding the fifth year of "Traditions", a resort celebration of the holiday season. Starting over Thanksgiving weekend and continuing through New Year's Day, Traditions showcases an incredible range of over 230 activities and events. You'll find "Elf Tuck Ins", a New Year's Teen Dance called "Black Light Evolution", storytellers, crafts, concerts and more.
A special section of Sunriver Resort will again be magically transformed into the North Pole, and that area will host several family Traditions events. Music and fine dining are prominently featured in Sunriver's Traditions celebration. The Grand Illumination celebrates the lighting of Sunriver Lodge, complete with horse-drawn sleigh rides, hot beverages, holiday music, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Also returning are Breakfast with Santa, Teddy Bear Tea, and the Top Hat Magic Show, each sure to warm the hearts of children and entertain the entire family.
Located 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon, Sunriver Resort offers over 500 deluxe accommodations, including the beautifully renovated Lodge Village rooms and suites. The resort also offers a large rental selection of private resort homes and condominiums.
For more information and a complete listing of events, visit the resort's website at www.sunriver-resort.com or call 800-547-3922.
Holiday Festivities Abound in Telluride
Decorated with colorful ornaments, white lights, fresh garland and red bows, Telluride sets the stage for a picture perfect holiday vacation. From skiing with Santa to a torchlight parade to festive parties, Telluride offers an action-packed line up of holiday events for the whole family.
The town of Mountain Village lights up with holiday cheer during the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19 in Heritage Plaza. Students from the Mountain School sing carols adding to the festive ambiance while merchants in the Mountain Village encourage last minute Christmas shopping with special discounts throughout the evening. Santa visits the Telluride Conference Center (in the Mountain Village) from 1- 4 p.m. Dec. 20, 21, and 23 for free holiday pictures. All the good little boys and girls can take photos with good old St. Nick and his elves atop an antique sleigh. After taking their picture with Santa, children can indulge their sweet
tooth decorating holiday cookies Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21 from 1-4 p.m at the Telluride Conference Center. Sugar cookies, frosting, and a variety of colorful sprinkles will be provided at no charge. Refreshments are also available.
What would the holidays be without those traditional holiday songs? The music gets rolling during WinterSing, Sunday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m at the Conference Center. Telluride's finest performers serenade the audience with seasonal favorites. Over the holidays, Santa flies his sleigh to the Telluride Ski Resort for his annual ski vacation. On Dec. 24 and Christmas Day, Dec. 25, Santa
carves up the slopes on Lift 1, 4 and 10 and will hand out candy to everyone who has been nice. Before he heads back to the North Pole, Santa will be available for photos at Gorrono Ranch the day before Christmas from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Christmas Eve festivities begin at 6 p.m. with the Torchlight Parade. Skiers illuminate Telluride's slopes as they carry torches down Coonskin and Telluride Trail. There are many great places in town to view this glowing parade including Pacific Street, Main Street and Columbia Ave.
Guests can test their luck at Telluride Academy's Casino Night, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The Wyndham Peaks transforms into a swanky casino for this pre-New Year's celebration, which benefits the Telluride Academy. Tickets are $100 per person and $200 per couple. Babysitting is available at the Mountain School. Rates are $40 per child, and multiple child discounts apply. Call (970) 728-5311 for more details. New Year's Eve festivities start at 6 p.m. with a torchlight parade on both sides of the mountain. A spectacular display of holiday fireworks follows at 7:15 p.m. in Mountain Village.
Skiers and riders dreaming of a white Christmas can take advantage of the Holiday Spirit package, which includes six nights lodging and five days skiing starting at $866 per person. Price includes daily continental breakfast and après ski, valid Dec. 25, 2003 through Jan. 4, 2004 (tax not included, some restrictions apply). For reservations, call 866-287-5016 or book a customized package at tellurideskiresort.com. For more information about events, contact Telluride and Mountain Village CVB at 970-728-3041 or the Telluride Ski Resort at 970-728-7432.
