Living in Nashville, TN has a ton of perks and one of them is being close to Gaylord Opryland Resort. Our family has made it a yearly tradition to plan a staycation weekend during the holidays at the hotel. If you have yet to experience Gaylord Opryland during the holidays, you must plan a visit! Here are 5 tips to help you plan an unforgettable, fun filled staycation to Gaylord Opryland Hotel during the holidays!

1. Plan your stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort from Friday to Sunday.

There are so many things to do and see at Gaylord Opryland during the holidays that a three-day stay is a must. I also like to head down early on Friday to go shopping at Opry Mills Mall before check-in. Not only do you beat the Nashville traffic but you can grab a new outfit too! There are over 200 stores for you to shop with family dining and entertainment options as well. Some of my favorite stores at Opry Mills are Express, Aerie, American Eagle, and Adidas.

ABraidedBlonde Tip: Bring a Wagon! Not only can your kids hop in for a break, but you can put your bags in there too!

2. Spend all day Saturday checking out the holiday activities.

We spent the entire day doing all the things that Gaylord Opryland has to offer during the holidays. The indoor/waterpark Soundwaves is a family favorite! Can you imagine swimming in the winter time? They have a lazy river, fast river, water slides, and so much more! Don’t forget about the outdoor activities at Gaylord Opryland Resort. We went ice skating, ice tubing, and ice bumper cars! Ice tubing had to be our family’s favorite. They also have snowball build and blast where you create your own snowballs and throw them at a target. Our family enjoyed getting to make our own gingerbread house at the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. Annie enjoyed the icing the most. You can also meet Nutmeg! We continued the fun with the Reindeer Games™ Scavenger Hunt!

I loved hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles of my family while we made these special memories! Gaylord Opryland Hotel knows how to create magical family holiday fun. They offer an array of other activities as well. Check out the entire list here.

ABraidedBlonde Tip: Bring matching PJs for the whole family for the perfect photo op!

3. Check out ICE! Featuring Frosty the Snowman

Journey through 2 million pounds of ICE! sculptures. It is so magical and fun! My kids loved sliding down the slide made entirely of ICE! People come from all over to visit this holiday tradition. If you follow me on social media then make sure you check in on stories because you get an exclusive discount code for ICE!

ABraidedBlonde Tip: Make sure you wear a lot of layers! It’s under 10 degrees in ICE! They do provide you with a blue parka but you will still need the appropriate clothing!

4. Check out the restaurants inside the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

After your family fun-filled day, head over to the Jack Daniels or Fuse Sports bar for dinner. Jack Daniels is one of the many places to eat inside the hotel but it is one of our favorites. If you want a nicer, sit down restaurant then you have to check out Old Hickory Steakhouse! You do have to get a reservation for this restaurant but the steak there is so amazing. They also have 3 different Starbucks locations if you are a coffee lover. Before you leave on Sunday, make sure to have brunch at The Falls.

ABraidedBlonde Tip: Make reservations to avoid the long wait times!

5. Take advantage of tons of places for the perfect photo ops.

Gaylord Opryland goes all out when it comes to decorating for the holidays. There are tons of beautiful Christmas lights to see inside and outside. When I was a kid, I would just walk around the resort and look at all of the lights. They also have a delta river boat ride where you can ride in a boat and see all the Christmas decor! One of the most iconic photo spots is the massive Christmas tree! The Christmas light fountain light show in the delta is one of my favorites as well.

FAQ:

1. Do we have to stay there to do all the Christmas stuff?

The resort access plan is to manage capacity and crowds on peak dates (weekends) and to ensure an enjoyable experience for overnight guests and event ticketholders. 

At the same time, non-overnight guests and non-ticketholders are welcome to visit weekends by arriving on campus by 2 pm and can stay as long as they like; or can visit anytime Monday-Thursday

ABraidedBlonde Tip: Bring a tripod and use a self-timer to get the perfect family photos!

These are just a few things that you must do during your visit at Gaylord Opryland Hotel during the holidays. Our family looks forward to our stay every year. We can’t wait for next year! If you are ready to book your staycation to Gaylord Opryland Hotel, head on over to their website to book your visit!

Our family also loves to visit Opryland Hotel during the summer as well! Check out my other blog post about our summer stay and activities! Looking for more tips about Nashville, TN or travel? Make sure to follow me on Instagram or TikTok!