If there’s any place in Texas that captures the magic of the holiday season, it’s Grapevine. Main Street glows under strings of lights, and the whole town leans into the season with a sincerity that’s hard to fake.
Named for the wild mustang grapes that once grew across the region, the bustling city between Dallas and Fort Worth first dubbed itself the “Christmas Capital of Texas” in the 2000s. It invested heavily in holiday decorations and installations, including its own vintage North Pole Express train, and in 2009, the state Senate made the nickname official, hoping to boost winter tourism. The gamble paid off.
Last December, I took my family to Grapevine to see what all the fuss was about, and I can confirm: It lives up to the hype. We didn’t have to look for the holiday spirit here—it found us the moment we walked out the door.
For the Most Festive Stay
Where you stay can set the tone for your entire trip. With more than 1,800 rooms, the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center decks the halls with enchanting décor, winter-themed installations, holiday shopping, Santa photo ops, ice-tubing, and more. It also hosts an annual interactive ICE! sculpture exhibit (this year’s is Harry Potter), with slides and an igloo-esque bar serving themed cocktails and shots to warm you up. Beyond the holidays, though, this luxury hotel offers year-round amenities, including a massive 4.5-acre indoor glass atrium, a water park for the warmer months, an indoor pool, its own full-scale indoor riverwalk, and 10 different dining experiences. You can spend your whole trip here without ever stepping outside. Note: The resort is cashless.
For an option built around kids, stay at Great Wolf Lodge. In addition to its own indoor water park—one of the largest in the country—Great Wolf offers tons of activities, including duckpin bowling, an on-site arcade, laser tag, a ropes course, a Topgolf Swing Suite, and a Build-A-Bear Workshop. The hotel also offers free activities throughout the day, plus meet-and-greets with characters like Wiley the Wolf and Brinley the Bear. My kids were especially impressed by the on-site ice cream shop and the breakfast buffet, a loaded spread with pastries, cereals, and a waffle station with whipped cream and sprinkles. Best of all: During the holidays, the entire hotel seems to live in Christmas pajamas, no matter the time of day—which means you don’t have to feel guilty about being too festive or too relaxed.
If you prefer to be in the middle of it all, book a room at Hotel Vin for panoramic views of downtown and the community plaza, steps from the action.
Dine Where the Locals Eat
If you ever leave your hotel—and you should—stop at Weinberger’s Deli. One of the few true Chicago-style sandwich shops in Texas, Weinberger’s prides itself on its Italian beef—a slow-cooked, seasoned roast beef sandwich ladled with gravy. Use the guide on the wall to help you order your sub your way (wet, hot, sweet, mild, naked, cheesy, loaded?). They also sell Reubens, Cubans, and all kinds of sandwiches. Come hungry. The portions are huge.
Esparza’s Restaurante Mexicano is a great pit stop for comforting Tex-Mex: frozen margaritas, a loaded queso flameado, fajitas, nachos, and its signature fried avocado stuffed with cheese and brisket.
Make it a special occasion at Dino’s Steak & Claw House, a cozy Main Street steakhouse serving expertly cooked cuts of prime beef, crab cakes, crab claws, and rich lobster bisque, sometimes set to live piano.
Get into the Spirit
From late November through early January, the city hosts 1,400 holiday events across 40 days. Start by wandering Main Street in your most festive gear to take in the dazzling lights. Christmas Village offers plenty of photo ops with themed installations and a holiday shop where the kids can take photos with Santa.
Spend the day at Grapevine Main Station, home to the Texas-sized Peace Plaza Ice Rink and Harvest Hall, a European-style food hall with several restaurants. This is also where the Grapevine Vintage Railroad departs, hosting the Christmas Wine Train for adults and the family-friendly Santa’s North Pole Express, a magical ride with Saint Nick’s crew that starts with a singalong and chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Claus. Tickets go on sale each year in early October, so book ahead; they sell out fast. (If you can’t secure tickets, ask the staff or conductor on-site to add you to the waitlist for openings that pop up during the day; you may need to check back at various times.)
Catch a special show or holiday movie screening at Palace Arts Center, which houses two theaters, including the historic Art Deco Palace Theatre.
If you’re planning your trip around the kickoff of holiday festivities, try to make it for the Carol of Lights. Held this year on November 23, the annual event packs in hours of family-friendly activities, including performances across three stages, live reindeer, holiday crafts, bounce houses, food vendors, and late-night shopping on Main Street. The city follows up with its Parade of Lights (December 3), the largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas, now in its 47th year, which supports the local school district.
Need a break from all the holiday hoopla? Treat the sports fan in your life to a tee time at Cowboys Golf Club. This stunning player-friendly 18-hole championship course goes all out to make golfers feel like MVPs, with rolling greens and access to 60 yards of game-used AT&T Stadium turf. For a more relaxed experience, try the Huddle, an 18-hole putting course. No matter what you do, you’ll kick things off with a video pep talk from Cowboys players. All packages include practice balls, a dine-in meal, snacks on the course, and nonalcoholic drinks. Upgrade for special souvenirs, including a hat with the logo.
Grapevine is also home to one of only two Meow Wolf locations in Texas (the other is in Houston). Here, you can step into the Real Unreal, with trippy art installations and portals into other realms, including one accessed through a washer and dryer.
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