Gaylord Texan's Lone Star Christmas

Right down the road from us sits a wonderful Christmas adventure for the whole family.  The Gaylord Texan hosts Lone Star Christmas each holiday featuring holiday events, productions, and meals like no other you will find in the DFW area.   This year, the Gaylord Resorts have teamed up with DreamWorks Pictures to present, " Merry Madagascar" for their ICE! production this year.

 40 artisans from China are brought in starting in September to design the colorful ice sculptures and 20-feet tall ice slides.  It is carved out of two million pounds of ice y'all!! You can see all your favorite characters from Madagascar - Alex the Lion and his friends tell the story of how they saved Christmas after Santa crashed on the island of Madagascar (pulled from the DreamWorks animated Christmas special).  Everything is so bright and cheerful, you almost forget they are carved out of ice....that is, until you are reminded by the chilly 9 degrees the display is kept at.

But don't think you have to dress for the North Pole!  All guests are provided with hooded winter coats to keep them warm through out the display (including infant & child sizes). Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required and we brought hats and gloves as well.

Another fun event at Lone Star Christmas was the Kung Fu Panda Awesome Snow Tubing. This eight-laned tubing hill is covered in REAL snow and is not for the faint-hearted. I went with the 3 year old in a double tube but both of my big kids enjoyed tubing by themselves, trying to spin as they flew down the hills. You can get a combo ticket for ICE! and ten runs down the hill for a pretty decent price.

Make sure to sign up for Gingy's Gingerbread Decorating too!  Gingy - the famous gingerbread man from Shrek! gets the whole family  involved.  You can choose to decorate a Gingerbread Cookie Family (complete with family pet), a Train, a Christmas Tree, or a traditional House.  The price includes all the materials and time you need to create your masterpieces.  And you even get to meet Gingy and pose for a photo.

The Gaylord Texan itself is beautifully dressed up for the holidays, with a gorgeous 52-foot rotating Christmas Tree in it's atrium - the perfect place to take that family Christmas card photo.  Santa Claus visits the resort for photos, see the miniature trains, and look for singing cowboys and stilt-walkers to entertain you.  It is a fun place to spend an evening with the family.

Pricing for ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda Awesome Snow Tubing, and Gingy's Gingerbread Decorating can be found here.

North Pole Express at Grapevine, Texas

A timeless tradition (well, one that has become popular in the last ten years...) is taking a steam train ride during the Christmas Holidays.  Ever since The Polar Express was published (and the movie didn't hurt either),  kids of all ages have been dying to recreate the experience on a real, old-fashioned steam train.  Trains all across the country put together Christmas events, and lucky for us, we have one right down the road.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is hosting rides on the North Pole Express.  Running each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December, the North Pole Express is another one of those "can't-miss" Christmas events. When our kiddos were younger, we rode on the North Pole Express several years in a row and never tired of it's wonder.  I highly recommend it for anyone with young kiddos, for it truly is a memorable experience.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad dresses up it's steam engine holiday style and takes families on a one-hour adventure from the downtown Grapevine Depot on Main Street.  The event begins with pre-boarding holiday fun, we sang carols and made Christmas crafts.  And as you make your way to board the train, you wind yourself through a maze of Christmas trees.  Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so get there early.  We recommend purchasing tickets in advance online.

Everything is very official on the North Pole Express, down to the conductor punching your tickets.  It always ends up being my favorite picture pose of the event.   And as the conductor calls "All-Aboard", the excitement builds as we are taken to far-away North Pole.

Stories are told, joyful Christmas Songs are played and Santa's elves even jingle their bells, adding to the merriment of the ride.  And before you know it, Santa Claus has arrived in your car to visit with all the children.

Santa poses for pictures and asks what they would like for Christmas - always spending a good deal of time with each one. What a fun setting to meet the Big Guy in!

As a mom of 2 boys who love trains, this is a special event for them.  The excitement of being on a train ride combined with meeting Santa is almost too much!  It is a great opportunity to get some terrific photos as well,  but mostly you will be there creating some incredible family memories.

Tickets for the North Pole Express are $18/person.  Children under 24 months are free and can sit on an adult's lap.  Don't forget to wear your favorite Christmas PJs!

Christmas Capitol of Texas ~ Grapevine, TX

One of my favorite cities here in North Texas turns into a Christmas fairytale each season. Hosting over 1400 Christmas events in 40 days, Grapevine turns into the Christmas Capitol of Texas. Starting back on November 8 and lasting until December 31st, there are so many fun events taking place!

Just look at some of the fun they have planned this season:

Ride the Rails on the North Pole Express® – Take a ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad with your family aboard the North Pole Express!  This classic Grapevine event has been entertaining families for years.  We have gone at least 3 times in the last 5 years. This one hour event includes a ride on a historic train, pre-boarding holiday fun, Santa, journey through the Christmas tree maze, ornament making, caroling and more. Don’t forget to wear your special Christmas pajamas! Tickets are $18 per person and are on sale now. Children 2 and under can sit on an adult’s lap, but must have a complimentary ticket to board. The North Pole Express runs November 23, 24, 25 and 30 and December 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23. Grapevine Vintage Railroad, 705 S. Main St. Grapevine, TX

Chill Out at ICE! featuring DreamWorks’ “Merry Madagascar” during Lone Star Christmas at the Gaylord Texan Resort – The ICE! winter holiday attraction returns with an all-new, hilarious theme: ICE! featuring DreamWorks’ “Merry Madagascar." From November 8 to January 1, see all your favorite characters including Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria carved from more than two million pounds of ice. You’ll be delighted as these colorful creations set the perfect holiday mood. And while at the Gaylord Texan Resort, don’t miss Kung Fu Panda Awesome Snow Tubing. Open daily November 8 to January 1, experience an extreme eight-lane tubing hill that’s covered in real snow. Watch your children smile and sparkle at Lone Star Christmas at the Gaylord Texan Resort. This winter wonderland includes 1.5 million holiday lights, a 52-foot rotating Christmas tree, a life-sized Gingerbread House, 12,000 ornaments and Santa Claus. Christmas hotel packages are available. Visit www.gaylordtexan.com for ticket prices and times.

Happy Howl-idays at Great Wolf Lodge – Take a visit to the North Woods in Grapevine at the Great Wolf Lodge’s Snowland! And don’t miss visits from Santa, North Pole University for Elves in Cub Club, holiday carol sing-alongs, the life-size Gingerbread House, Santa's workshop, writing depot, wrapping depot, toy creation station, Polar Wolf Walk, Great Clock Tower holiday snow show, nightly story time, Rowdy the Reindeer and a Polar Bear Race inside the 84-degree indoor water park. December 1 – 25.

Christmas parades on land and water – Bring the entire family to the Parade of Lights in Historic Downtown Grapevine December 6 at 7 p.m. The largest lighted Christmas parade in North Texas, this Grapevine tradition features more than 100 lighted floats and marching bands. Look for Santa Claus on the last float! Free. And if you’re looking for a different sort of Christmas parade to float your boat, make your way to Lake Grapevine. The Twinkle Light Boat Parade is one of the most unique Christmas parades you will ever see. See watercrafts decorated in all of the finest sparkling lights to celebrate the season. This floating festival begins at Twin Coves Marina and picks up entries at each marina, Scott’s Landing and Silver Lake. The parade is visible from the shores of Lake Grapevine. December 1, 6-9 p.m. Free.

Sparkling Nights and Twinkling Lights – Twinkling lights abound at the Light Show Spectacular in the heart of Historic Downtown Grapevine. This brilliantly-colored show runs continuously from 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. nightly starting November 20. Sing along with the city’s Christmas tree, enjoy the lights and see the joy on the faces of everyone in the family as you watch this show at the Town Square Gazebo. Free.

Musicals, Movies and Magical Moments at the Palace Theatre – From country to classic Christmas, Grapevine is the place to be for all your holiday entertainment. Set in the beautiful setting of the restored Palace Theatre in Historic Downtown Grapevine, you’ll delight at all of the spectacular Christmas music and movie offerings.

• Texas Tenors –December 13, 14, 16, 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.


• An Elvis Kind of Christmas with Kraig Parker –December 2 at 4 p.m.


• Classic Christmas Movies – See such classic Christmas movies for $5 - Die Hard, Christmas Vacation, White Christmas, A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Charlie Brown Christmas/How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• 
  
• Grapevine Opry – Several Christmas shows

Grapevine Vintage Train

A true treasure lies in the heart of Grapevine, Texas.  The Grapevine Vintage Railroad takes passengers back in time each weekend. Everyone loves a gentle ride on a vintage train - from the little boys who are slightly obsessed with trains, to the Daddy's and Grandpas who love them too!

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad has 2 historic locomotives, Puffy (a 1896 steam engine) and Vinny (a 1953 diesel engine) and 6 beautifully restored Victorian coaches.  During the summer, the GVRR offers the Trinity River Run on Fridays, along with their regular Saturday & Sunday runs to the Fort Worth Stockyards.  The Friday trips are only one hour long, perfectly timed for those little ones.  During the rest of the year, you can enjoy a longer day ride - a perfect way to spend a fall day!

Seating was first come, so get there early to get sets together - especially if you are with a big party.  After the train leaves the station, the conductor comes around to punch your ticket.  I loved that they will stop to take pictures and visit with your little ones.

The beginning of the ride is through Grapevine.  We found it charming that folks were so friendly.  At every crossing everyone in their cars waved at the adorable little hands waving at them. Honestly, how could you not wave at these kiddos having a ball?

You have two options on most rides - The open air coaches, one of which includes a snack bar that features popcorn, candy, and bottled drinks.  Or you can choose to sit in the air conditioned coach.  This one is much cooler, but you loose the sounds and smells of the train ride (maybe you want that?).

The hour long ride was perfect for my crew - we enjoyed a quick ride though what looks to be country, as the majority of the ride is through tree-hidden neighborhoods and suburbs.  I just assumed we would be looking at roads, stores, and homes the whole ride. Not so. And that added to the charm.

But my favorite part of the ride?  This sight - my guy, even though he is 10, is still fascinated with the train.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad offers fun all year round.  Each month, fun events are planned from the Halloween Scream Train in October to the North Pole Express around the Holidays to Easter Bunny Fun Run in April.  And I even hear that Thomas the Tank Engine visits each April too.  During the summer, the weekend runs are filled with a Train Robbery!  All of these events are extremely family friendly and very affordable.

Texas Travel Facts for Grapevine Vintage Railroad:

Location: Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051

Days: September - November / February-May (Saturday & Sunday only)

             June-August - (friday, Saturday & Sunday)

Admission:
Round Trip Prices : Adults (13 & up): $28(first class) $20 (touring class)

Children (4-12): $18.00 (first class) $10 (touring class)

Recommended Time: 4.5-6 hours

Good to know: Prices & times above based on all day trip down to the Ft. Worth Stockyards; Expect 1 1/2 hours each way with a 1 1/2 hour layover; Snack bar is available

Website: https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/ThingsToDo/GrapevineVintageRailroad/tabid/267/Default.aspx

Dining Out near Tour 18

Looking for a nice restaurant for date night, or just don't want to be surrounded by kids munching pizza? There are plenty of finer dining options within a 30 minute drive of home that can offer everything from cordon-bleu cuisine to down home barbecue.  We are not going to attempt to list every restaurant in the Flower Mound  / Roanoke / Southlake areas, but rather try and give you a few options and hopefully some inspiration to try a new place or two, not that there's anything wrong with the pizza-delivery guy knowing your birthday, favorite topping and family nicknames!

Get out there and enjoy the wonderful world of food, who knows, you might discover your new favorite haunt.

Flower Mound  & Highland Village Restaurants:

Blue Goose Cantina - a fun atmosphere with delectable fresh Tex-Mex cuisine, great Margaritas and catering.  In the Shops at Highland Village, enjoy dinner on the patio while listening to live bands perform in the courtyard ( Thursdays throughout the summer).

Patrizio - Pizza, Pasta & Vino.  In the Shops at Highland Village, Patrizio's offers traditional Italian fare with a modern twist. Especially good value for lunches, with a fresh menu and delightful mini-desserts to finish off the meal.

The Grotto - A Salerno Steakhouse.  In Highland Village at the intersection of Fm 407 and Highland Village Road.  New American cuisine with an italian flare, the Salerno family love their food and it shows in their menu and service.  A rich atmosphere and delicious food, you can even sign up for cooking classes to bring the Salerno magic home!

Rockfish Seafood Grill. In the Shops at Highland Village, Rockfish is your home for all things seafood.  Try the Copper River Salmon when it's on special with a wine or beer pairing, or indulge in some Ahi Tuna Nachos for a sushi twist on the game-day favorite.  You won't regret a single mouthful!

Thai Ruby Restaurant.  On FM 2499 just south of Firewheel, Thai Ruby is a gem tucked away in a rather unassuming strip mall.  The menu is fresh, delicious authentic Thai cuisine; there's even a macrobiotic menu for the truly health-conscious.  The staff are friendly and the atmosphere will send you straight to the shores of Phuket and the streets of Bangkok.

Agave Azul - Tequila Sanctuary.  Zagat Rated Agave Azul proudly serves Upscale Mexican Cuisine combined with a unique touch of cooking with the wonderful spirit of Tequila. Dallas' first and foremost Premier Tequila Bar serving over 200+ pure 100% Blue Agave Tequilas.  Eat dinner on the patio and watch the fountains jump, or, better still, watch the kids run off that dessert playing the fountains while you enjoy your beverages in peace!

Alongi's Italian Market &  Deli.  A treasure waiting to be discovered!  Serving dinner 7 days a week, come and enjoy New York Italian at its finest, bring your own bottle and enjoy their homemade pastas, sauces and, of course, delicious desserts!  While you're at it, stock up on your Italian essentials and luxuries. Just south of FM 3040 on FM 2499.

     Roanoke

Roanoke is known as the Unique Dining Capital of Texas, an accolade awarded to the city by the Texas House of Representatives back in 2009, so you can be sure of a fun night out in Downtown Roanoke!  This is just a sampling of our favorites, if you want the full list, click here!

Hard Eight Bar-B-Que - Authentic mesquite smoked Texas-style barbeque slow cooked over an open pit. 205 S. Oak St. Roanoke, TX   817.837.8888

Cowboy Chow - “Open range dining,” a mouth-watering concept inspired by chuck wagon cooking. 101 S. Oak St.; #300, Roanoke, TX  817-491-4442

Babe’s Chicken Dinner House - Down-home and delicious, famous fried chicken served family style. 104 N. Oak St., Roanoke, TX  817-491-2900

Brix Pizza & Wine Bar - Hearth baked pizza and zesty pasta. 101 S. Oak St., Roanoke, TX  817-890-4280

Twisted Root Burger Co. - Chef made classic to exotic burgers, fries, shakes, and special treats for kids. 101 S. Oak St; #100, Roanoke, TX  817-490-6628

Southlake

Kincaid's Hamburgers. For burger buffs it “doesn’t get any better” than the juicy, handmade patties at this circa-1946 institution housed in an old grocery store with decor from days past, where you serve yourself and sit at communal picnic tables.  100 N. Kimball Ave. (Southlake Blvd.) Southlake, TX 76092  817-416-2573

Coal Vines.  Uptown Italian specializing in crisp, Greenwich Village–style pizzas and incredible, reasonably priced wines; get there early because the brick-lined interior and patio tend to overflow.   1251 E. Southlake Blvd. (Carroll Ave.)Southlake, TX 76092  817-310-0850

Trulucks.   If you want steak or stone crab, proceed directly to this surf ’n’ turf restaurant with great fare in portions big enough to share; service is attentive and the  setting is enjoyable with a fun bar and excellent by-the-glass wine list.  Southlake Town Sq.1420 Plaza Pl. (Grand Ave.)Southlake, TX 76092  817-912-0500

Cheesecake Factory.  Want to eat your daily calorie intake in cheesecake, fantastic salads, and well-crafted main dishes and still bring home left-overs?  Then the Cheesecake Factory is for you!  Located in Southlake Town Square across from Harkins Movie Theater, it's date night in without the driving!

For more Southlake restaurants check out Zagat's guide to the area.

Worth The Drive

Here's our selection of "Worth The Drive" restaurants.  Some days you feel like going someplace new, or, perhaps, your favorite ethnic food isn't well represented locally, for you, we have the following:

Fort  Worth

Joe T Garcia's - Outstanding Mexican Food in Downtown Fort Worth, with delicious recipes handed down through the family that originally opened the restaurant, and stunning outdoor dining - definitely worth the drive! 2201 N  Commerce  St, Forth Worth TX, 76164  (817) 626-4356

Reata Restaurant - Cowboy inspired cuisine, this four story restaurant has something for everyone. The rooftop bar and dining patio provide a great place to unwind after a long day at work , the restaurant also boasts six private dining rooms which are also ideal for private parties and meetings.  Located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth, 310 Houston Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102   817.336.1009

Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine - Crafted from locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, Chef Bonnell's menu dances with flavor and inspiration from Southwestern, Creole and Mexican traditions.  A foodie's paradise in your backyard!   4259 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76109  817.738.5489

Indian / Pakistani

Our Place Indian Restaurant- The closest Indian Restaurant, with a  classic Indian Atmosphere, excellent lunch buffet, good A la Carte menu and take out too!   8150 N Macarthur Blvd # 150, Irving, TX 75063  (214) 574-7117

Al Markaz - Excellent Indian /Pakistani food in a casual setting attached to an ethnic grocer.  They also cater, so for your next Bollywood movie party you can have the food to match!  1205 W Trinity Mills Rd, Carrollton, TX 75006

Kalachandji's Restaurant & Palace.  Outstanding Vegetarian Indian Restaurant located inside a Hare Krishna Temple.  Well worth the drive, or if you are already on the South/East side of  Dallas.  5430 Gurley Ave, Dallas, TX 75223

Addison

Chamberlain's Steak & Chop House - Since it's opening in 1993, Chamberlain's has been hailed as one of Dallas' finest restaurants, worth the drive for fine steak and fine wines.  5330 Belt Line Road, Dallas, TX 75254  972. 934. 2467

Fogo De Chao - Authentic Brasilian Churrascaria (Open-Flame Steakhouse) renowned for its incredible buffet, unlimited sliced-at-the-table steak and ambience rivaled only by the best churrascaria in Brasil itself.  Well worth the drive for a taste of Brasil.  4300 Belt Line Rd., Addison, Texas 75001  (972) 503.7300

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

When my kids heard that LEGO was building an entire theme park in Grapevine, they were thrilled! The questions immediately started, "Will there be rooms filled with LEGO bricks to build whatever I want?"  "Are there going to be LEGO rides?"  "Can I take anything I build home?" Their imaginations went wild.  Being that we had not been to a LEGOLAND theme park in California or Florida, we really didn't know what to expect.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth in Grapevine, Texas is a smaller version of the big parks, however it is packed with fun for anyone who loves these tiny little bricks.

Your adventure at LEGOLAND Discovery Center begins with a tour of the LEGO Fun Factory with Professor Brick-a-Brack.  With some help from the "little workers", we all created a few LEGO bricks to take home.

My 9-year old's favorite attraction was the LEGO Racers: Build & Test.  He patiently built and tweaked his car to race on the various ramps.  He honestly could have spent all day there if we would have let him.  Truth be told, several Dads enjoyed this attraction too.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center has some fun LEGO-themed rides. Battle evil skeletons and giant trolls from within your LEGO chariot in Kingdom Quest.  Conjure magic by peddling around in Merlin's Apprentice.  And drive your own off-road vehicle in LEGO CITY: Forest Pursuit.  We also enjoyed a fun 4D LEGO movie.

I am always amazed at what can be built out of LEGO Bricks.  As a mom of boys, my LEGO creations never exceed more than a tower.  LEGOLAND Discovery Center has some amazing LEGO Brick creations - a cement truck, a giraffe, and Dirk Nowitzki!  But the most impressive display is seen in MINILAND.  Every memorable landmark within the Dallas/Fort Worth area is created out of LEGO bricks.

So many fun things to see here - DFW International Airport, Texas Stadium, American Airlines Center, the beautiful skyline of Dallas - all seen in day time & night time modes.  Make sure you take your time in this area - there are so many "hidden" surprises - look closely at all the LEGO characters scattered about.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center has two fun play areas for the kids - DUPLO Village for little ones and LEGO City for big kids - so make sure to bring a pair of socks to play here. And for the girls, Princess Palace is full of pink & purple bricks - perfect to make that fairytale castle.  It also has a karaoke machine to rock out!

Parents beware, the only exit is out the LEGO Store - ideally, your children have played with a new LEGO they just have to have.....

We really enjoyed our time at LEGOLAND Discovery Center.  We did go on a weekday during the summer, so it was pretty packed, but it didn't seem to bother my kids and the wait time for the rides never exceeded 10 minutes.  As a mom of kids who love LEGO, we purchased the LDC Unlimited Pass, as it is a much better deal if you are planning to go more than once.  If not, make sure to grab your tickets online, as you can get a much better deal.

Know Before You Go:

Location: Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 am - 8 pm (last admission at 6pm)

             Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm (last admission at 7pm)

             Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm (last admission at 4pm)

Admission: Adults (13 & up): $19.00

                    Children (3-12): $15.00

                    Children (0-2): free

                     *Receive a 25% discount by purchasing online

Recommended Time: 2 -3 hours

Good to know: Admission is good for all day; Adults must be accompanied with children; Children must be accompanied with an adult and supervised at all times; no outside food or beverages; stroller friendly; bring socks for some exhibits

Website:http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/dallasfw/

My family and I were invited to visit the center and were provided admission. I was not financially compensated for this post.  All opinions of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth are strictly my own based on my experience.