Texas is admittedly not a place I’d associate with the festive season. I arrived during a record-breaking November, with 27c heat and clear blue skies, hardly the weather to make me feel like donning a Christmas jumper and sitting by a fireplace. 

However, the city of Grapevine, which has been dubbed the Christmas Capital of Texas, was undeterred by the heatwave, with its annual festive preparations in full-swing. As we drove down Main Street in the evening, nearly every store was already covered in twinkling lights, and during our stay it felt like every time you blinked another surface was adorned with baubles and glitter. It’s fair to say that in Grapevine, Christmas is a serious business. 

It’s no surprise that Grapevine loves the festive season. Over two million people visit this small, charming city in the run up to Christmas, lured in by its cosy, historic vibes that make the perfect backdrop for celebrating the holiday season.With its 19th-century buildings, indie shops, and Town Square gazebo, it feels like stepping into a Hallmark movie.

The city’s official website claims Grapevine hosts a whopping 1,400 Christmas events over 40 days, from parades and Christmas markets, to Santa’s grottos and festive-themed drone shows. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes Christmas celebrations. 

One of our first stops was at the Gaylord Texan Resort, a sprawling lakeside hotel which has a huge atrium at its heart. The resort’s indoor botanical gardens were decked out in Christmas lights, and in the centre, the giant tree was already lit up. It’s a popular place for families to take a break over the Christmas season, offering not just a cosy atmosphere but lots of festive activities from crafts to baking. 

One of the highlights of the Gaylord resort is its huge ice sculpture trail. This year, it’s presenting ICE! featuring Elf™, based on the beloved 2003 movie. We got a sneak peek of the trail before it opened, stepping into the chilled rooms that are set at around -13C. Luckily, there are giant parkas you can borrow, although my cheeks were numb by the end of the walk. 

As well as the Elf-themed sculptures, which provide plenty of photo opportunities, there’s an ice rink, snow flow mountain where you can glide on a tube, and even a snowball making machine, so even in the Texan heat you can enjoy a white Christmas. 

Stepping back into the warmth, we then visited the Great Wolf Lodge, a resort known for its impressive indoor waterpark and fun themeing. Guests are even given a free pair of furry wolf ears at check-in, and you may see tourists wandering around town wearing them. In the lobby, a roaring fire was lit in the rustic stone fireplace, with a huge tree covered in woodland-inspired decorations. 

The lodge’s indoor waterpark is open year round, with features such as a lazy river and a wave machine. There’s also a relaxing hot spring pool for the adults. During the summer months, there’s also an outdoor waterpark, with guest passes for those not staying at the resort.

Heading back to Main Street the next day, we went to visit the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which currently operates a vintage steam train dating back to the early 50s. This beautifully restored train had already been decorated for Christmas, with garlands running along the length of each carriage.

This vintage train takes passengers on a number of themed tours throughout the year, but some of the most popular routes run at Christmas time. This includes Santa’s North Pole Express, where kids can meet Santa onboard, enjoy singalongs and activities, and sample Mrs Claus’s chocolate chip cookies. For the grown ups, there’s the Christmas Wine Train, where passengers can sample Texan wines while enjoying their journey on this plush train.

Grapevine is less than half an hour from Dallas, so it’s worth heading into the city for their festive events too. We visited the Dallas Arboretum for the launch of their Holiday at the Arboretum event. As the sun went down, millions of tree lights lit up, giving the trails a magical festive atmosphere. Guests can follow the 12 days of Christmas trail, with 12 individual gazebos, each one decorated to represent a different verse.

At the end of the trail, guests can book a visit with Santa, explore the Christmas village and enjoy the food and drink stalls. It’s also worth visiting the historic DeGolyer House, where the founder of the gardens once lived. Each room was individually decorated for Christmas with a different theme, and the decor is particularly gorgeous amid the backdrop of this hacienda-style house. 

And it just wouldn’t be a Christmas-themed break without some serious shopping. On our final day, we headed to Grapevine Mills, a sprawling mall with designer outlets for Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s, as well as popular American high street stores. I managed to pick up plenty of stocking fillers at Bath & Body Works and Sephora, before having a nosey at some pretty handbags in Kate Spade and Michael Kors. The only problem came when it was time to weigh my suitcase at check-in, with some frantic repacking needed to get my bag under the weight limit. 

While Grapevine may not be a Christmas destination that’s on your radar, it’s the ultimate destination for those who love all things festive. It’s perfect for families, with so many resorts offering endless Christmas activities and themed fun, as well as plenty of kid-friendly attractions to fill your days. But you could equally visit and enjoy a more grown-up break, with wine tastings, upmarket dining, or simply enjoying the romantic Christmas movie atmosphere of Grapevine.

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