The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has transformed a large section of their luxurious resort into a winter wonderland equipped with the chilly temperatures of the North Pole. Guests of all ages can enjoy some festive fun at their debut of the sensational ICE! attraction, kept at a frosty nine degrees, and featuring an immersive experience centered around Dr. Seuss’s classic story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
Now open and running through January 5, 2025, the resort’s Hill Country Christmas celebration also features an array of holiday activities at their “Reindeer Ridge” pop-up including snow tubing, a gingerbread workshop, a Grinch-themed scavenger hunt, story time with Mrs. Claus, and the chance to make and throw your own real snowballs.
The ICE! Experience
While the resort has been hosting holiday activities for years, this is the first time the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has presented an ICE! experience. In fact, the holiday tradition of ICE! was created by Gaylord Hotels, and will be featured nationwide across six locations this season, but this San Antonio location is the closest to Austin, offering an easy day-trip or overnight stay.
The 20,000-square-foot exhibit includes ice sculptures of 23 characters, including the Grinch, Max and Cindy-Lou Who, along with two-story ice slides. All guests are provided a parka to wear during their walk-through, but pro tip: dress warmly and be sure to have hats, gloves and closed toe shoes. Inside the exhibit, it feels shockingly cold compared to our current Texas outdoor temperatures.
The Craftsmanship Behind ICE!
A team of 40 master ice carvers from Harbin, China – home of the world-renowned Harbin Ice Festival – traveled to San Antonio to create the intricate display by hand. Working for 30 days, the team carved 6,700 massive blocks of ice using tools such as chisels, tongs, chainsaws and grinders.
ICE! is quite something to behold, and it is appealing for all ages. Surely young fans of the Grinch will find it fascinating, but on our visit we noticed teens, adults and seniors all enjoying the marvel of the ice masterpieces.
Reindeer Ridge
In addition to ICE!, the resort transformed their ballroom into 40,000 square-feet of holiday fun called “Reindeer Ridge”. In this spirited, family-focused area, you will find holiday bars offering hot cocoa as well as festive cocktails, and a fabulously stocked gift shop. Additionally, you can pick and choose from a variety of ticketed activities such as:
- Snow Flow Mountain: An indoor multi-lane tubing hill made of real snow.
- Snowball Build & Blast: An interactive game where guests can make and throw snowballs.
- Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions: Mrs. Claus retells the beloved tale,‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, complete with a sing-along, and cookies and milk.
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner: A great spot to decorate gingerbread houses to take home.
- Feast with the Grinch Character Breakfast: The Grinch and Max are the stars of a special character dining experience.
- The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt: Children can find all of the Grinch’s hidden clues around the resort and win a special stocking stuffer.
- Photos with Santa: Families can visit with Santa Claus for photos.
We had a blast enjoying all of the festive Christmas activities that the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is offering this year. It was a fantastic escape for a heaping dose of holiday cheer. To learn more, reserve tickets, or book overnight lodging, visit www.JWHillCountryChristmas.com.
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