With just two days to experience all the seasonal activities in the Christmas Capital of Texas, I’m in Grapevine, USA for a holly jolly good time, not a long time. However, I’d recommend a less hectic pace to pack in all the joy, wonder and food – here’s why.
Ever wanted to wake up in a bona fide Hallmark Christmas movie? You can in the Christmas Capital of Texas: Grapevine.
The heritage town boasts one of the state’s few surviving historic main streets and hosts the magical month-long Christmas Capital of Texas festivities as part of its jam-packed annual calendar with more than 1,400 events across 40 days.
There’s a lot to get among as everything’s bigger in Texas (hence the hint to linger longer), so how much Christmas can you experience in 48 hours? Let’s find out in the Christmas Capital of Texas. Yee-haw!
Touchdown at Dallas-Fort Worth
The first thing you need to know is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is located right in Grapevine, Texas, so I waste little time getting to the Christmas Capital of Texas.
In fact, with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne – and now Brisbane – to DFW and train and hotel shuttle connections from the airport to downtown, I reach my festively adorned hotel in just 15 minutes.
With an unseasonably cold snap sweeping Southern USA, Grapevine, Texas delivers the crisp counterpart to a steamy Australian summer, plus all the festive trimmings you could wish for.
Day 1
4:30pm – Texas Star Dinner Theater
We are seated for Dismay in the Manger – a two-hour, Christmas-themed murder mystery whodunnit show and festive dinner that gallops along at a rollicking pace.
6:30pm – Grapevine Main Station/Hotel Vin
Could this be the ultimate festive hub? Grapevine Main Station on Historic Main Street has the Texas-sized 418sqm alfresco Peace Plaza Ice Rink (complete with a hot cocoa stand), a towering 1.5m live Christmas tree (direct from Oregon) and oversized ornaments galore – and that’s just outside.
Indoors within the boutique Hotel Vin, we pop into the pop-up Holly Jolly Bar at Third Rail inside Harvest Hall with live tunes, festive décor and Christmas cocktails.
7pm – Grapevine Observation Tower
We ascend the elevator at Grapevine Main Station for a Santa’s sleigh view of Historic Main Street from the 12-storey-high Grapevine Observation Tower, spanning the twinkling Christmas lights over the Grapevine and Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex area.
7:30pm – Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau HQ
We ricochet across the road to where the magic happens (Grapevine CVB) for the Hometown Christmas Exhibit – an interactive, Instagrammable indoor village of nostalgic photo opp props and settings from singing reindeer to post office packages and sleigh rides to festive floral boutiques.
8pm – Historic Main Street District
I dare you to find a more charming Christmas scene than Historic Downtown Grapevine, where independent boutiques, nine winery tasting rooms (!), cafes, restaurants, markets and galleries aim to outdo each other with festive finery. You can see the Christmas movie unwind in your mind as you walk. While we could while away the time wandering up and down Historic Main Street alone, we end up at…
8:30pm – AJ’s On Main
This Texan-style barbecue joint has a hot smoker and oversized grinning Grinch décor adoring a low-slung bungalow that also houses a kitschy interior with a story or two to tell. It’s famous for its pulled pork and pickle shots. While not technically Christmassy, the homemade pickle shots (pickle juice-flavoured vodka) are (Grinch) green, so we down a double and head back to Hotel Vin.
9pm – Hotel Vin
We’re back for our Winter Wonderland Bubbles booking on the Hotel Vin WineYard lawn to enjoy chocolate s’mores or gooey cheese fondue and wine within a cosy igloo decked out with après-ski décor. It’s a fitting end to a first night in Grapevine and the Christmas Capital of Texas.
Day 2
9am – Chez Fabien
The next morning, we’ve up and at some more experiences in the Christmas Capital of Texas, starting with a cracking breakfast at the French-inspired Chez Fabien on Main Street and a peek at the adjoining Main Street Bistro & Bakery, complete with festive Gallic treats such as Bûche de Noël.
10am – Great Wolf Lodge
Today I’m chauffeured around town, but you can also take advantage of the convenient hotel shuttles and complimentary Grapevine Visitors Shuttle (from 11am Wednesday – Sunday) that stops at all the major attractions, including DFW International Airport.
One of Grapevine’s largest hotel accommodations, the family-friendly Great Wolf Lodge goes all out for the holidays. We take a peek at the Snowland spectacular with festive décor, Christmas trees and even snow showers at the onsite indoor waterpark.
10:30am – Bass Pro Shops
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops offers a free photo opp with Father Christmas himself, along with activities for the littlies, while adults shop for loved ones at this outdoor emporium that just has to be seen to be believed. Think BCF on steroids.
11am – Grapevine Mills
There’s time for a quick turn around the 150-store Grapevine Mills designer outlet and shopping and entertainment centre directly across from the Bass Pro Shop. Grapevine Mills also has special holiday entertainment on offer at the Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium but we’re here to check out Meow Wolf.
12pm – Meow Wolf
We’re first in line for the intriguing Meow Wolf interactive and immersive art experience – the first one in Texas and featuring 40 North Texas artists among the 150 collaborators – with a Christmas-themed storyline for the season. Without giving too much away, Meow Wolf is “Texas’ favourite wormhole” where you enter “The Real Unreal”. It’s definitely a portal to an amazing experience.
1:30pm – Farina’s Winery & Café
Adorned in Yuletide spendour inside and out, lunch is at Farina’s Winery & Café on Main Street. Be sure to sample the signature spaghetti pizza, which is just as advertised.
3pm – Nash Farm
Fuelled up for more festive activities, we visit Nash Farm, a 19th-century farmhouse set on two hectares. This living museum allows visitors to step back in time with hands-on experiences and rooms to explore. For the holiday season, Nash Farm is decorated according to the traditions of the time.
4pm – Bingham Family Vineyards
You can’t come to Grapevine and not sample the wine. We enjoy a wine flight of seasonal drops with expert commentary in the Christmas Capital of Texas and then we’re sufficiently merry to board Santa’s North Pole Express.
6pm – Santa’s North Pole Express
Think of the most fun Christmas singalong. Now transport that magical feeling onto a heritage train. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s authentic 1920s-era coaches offer a 40-minute ride where the journey is the experience. Mrs Claus and two elves warm up the captive crowd on each carriage with cookies and milk before Santa himself makes an appearance. Note: Don your Christmas apparel or pyjamas to avoid FOMO. Stop by the North Pole Neighbourhood Store and markets for post-train treats.
7pm – Historic Main Street District
We’re in time for one of the standout highlights of the Christmas Capital of Texas – the Merry & Bright Christmas Drone Show where a fleet of 400 drones create awe in the sky with Texan and festive motifs.
8pm – Piaf Kitchen + Wine + Bar
I bookend my day with dinner and drinks upstairs at The Perch at Piaf Kitchen + Wine + Bar, the Mediterranean sibling of Chez Fabien. The menu offers seasonal cocktails, so I warm up with a hot baked apple cider after a stroll down Main Street, checking out the festive decorations that include singing snowmen and Christmas trees with dancing lights, nativity scenes and much more.
Day 3
10am – Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
Is it my final day in Grapevine already? I start my last hours with a slap-up Tex-Mex breakfast at Riverwalk Cantina within the seriously sprawling, 1,814-room Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. Fans of the Netflix doco, America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, will recognise the resort where some of the hopeful dancers stayed during their tryouts. There’s so much festive fun going on here as part of the Christmas Capital of Texas celebrations, but we’re ready for an icy spectacle.
12pm – ICE! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Every year, more than 40 ice artisans from Harbin, China, descend on the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center to create a stunning, interactive exhibit carved from over 900,000kg of coloured ice. This year’s theme, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, does not disappoint, sharing the classic tale with larger-than-life ice sculptures, an igloo bar and even an ice slide.
Rug up with the parkas on offer (it’s kept at a cool -12.7 degrees to preserve the ice) and then enjoy the festival area with snow tubing, markets, a Christmas carousel, festive food and drinks and more.
1:30pm – WINEstein’s Tasting Room
Grapevine’s newest winery tasting room is tucked into the northern end of Main Street. We stop by to sample the seasonal Christmas Cookie & Wine Flights that pair homemade sweet treats, such as gingerbread and snickerdoodles, with white or red drops sourced from around the world. It’s as cosy and delicious as it sounds.
3pm – Palace Arts Theatre
Now we do some carolling with The Texas Tenors trio at the historic Palace Arts Theatre, formerly the Grapevine Opry. It’s a special send-off for my whirlwind Grapevine, Texas sojourn and chalks up a total of 24 top things to do in 48 hours in the Christmas Capital of Texas. I’ve barely scratched the surface, but, hey, I have a whole year to plan my next visit and so do you.
Check out the year-round calendar of festivals and events in Grapevine, Texas – there’s a reason to visit in every season!
Want to stay longer in Grapevine? Here’s a four-day itinerary to inspire your clients.
Read our review of the new American Airlines Brisbane–Dallas-Fort Worth route.
For more info, head to grapevinetexasusa.com
