Usually people associate the holidays with snow, snow and more snow! However, Arizona resident and Multidimensional TravelingMom, Kristi Mehes, recently stayed at the Wigwam, near Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and 4 year old son, and discovered that it’s one of the best resorts to experience the holidays in Phoenix.
The Wigwam Resort
The Wigwam is a resort located in the Phoenix area, specifically Litchfield Park. My family and I have stayed at the Wigwam twice, once during summer, and now during the winter. It’s near Goodyear, and easily accessible from the freeway. The resort itself is very spread out, with plenty of things to do. While it’s known for outstanding golf courses, it also has several swimming pools and activities for families, including children. And for those who like to explore off property, there are several attractions nearby, like the Wildlife World Zoo, the Phoenix Zoo, and for sports fans, the University of Phoenix Stadium and the Goodyear Ballpark. But the fun doesn’t stop there. You can also add holiday magic to the list!
One of the Best Resorts to Experience the Holidays in Phoenix
There are several reasons it’s one of the best resorts to experience the holidays in Phoenix. From taking a stroll and seeing holiday lights at night, ice skating, making s’mores, breakfast with Santa, and an elf delivering a stocking to your child, there’s plenty for your family, especially children, to enjoy
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Seeing Holiday Lights at Night
This is one of the highlights of staying at the Wigwam. There are several pathways located near the main entrance that have lights on display. We took a stroll down the pathways, and my son loved seeing all the different displays, from teddy bears to Snoopy. It was also very relaxing – it wasn’t crowded at all, and we could just walk at our own pace.
During certain Friday nights, guests can also travel by trolley to see the lights. Because the forecast called for rain the night we planned to take the trolley, the trolley rides were cancelled. But my son was still able to sit in the trolley, and I know he would have loved taking a ride in it to see the lights at night.
Breakfast with Santa
This was another highlight of our stay! During select Saturday mornings in December, you and your family can make reservations to have breakfast with Santa at an additional cost and partake in an all-you-can breakfast buffet. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is very low key (and non-intimidating to younger children), and Santa stopped by our table on more than one occasion, to my son’s delight. Last year, my family and I attended a breakfast with Santa at a different resort, and it was nowhere near as nice as the breakfast with Santa at the Wigwam.
Traveling Mom Tip: Be sure to book your reservations way in advance. Breakfast with Santa was sold out when we went, and it was the last Breakfast with Santa at the Wigwam for the year.
The Pancake Station
I’m still dreaming about the pancake station. Mostly because of the variety of the toppings, like crushed M&Ms, sprinkles, whipped cream, strawberries, and many more.
Photos with Santa
My son’s favorite part about our trip? Seeing Santa! While Santa stopped at our table a few times, he was also available for photos in a separate room.
Photos with Santa also include a craft station. My son enjoyed making a craft after having a photo taken with Santa.
The Ice Skating Rink
The ice skating rink at the Wigwam is another reason it’s one of the best resorts to experience the holidays in Phoenix. Even better, it’s kid friendly. We rented ice skates, and my husband took our son out on the ice skating rink while I took pictures. The resort also had two skate trainers on hand for younger children (skate trainers are devices that children can hold on to so they can maintain their balance).
Making S’mores Over the Firepit
A station of complimentary s’mores is set up on the Wigwam Patio during select evenings. My son loves s’mores. Even though it doesn’t get super cold in Phoenix, it was still a little chilly, so it was nice to warm up by the fire.
Elf Delivery
You can arrange for an elf to deliver a stocking to your child for an additional cost. An elf delivered a stocking to my son during one of the evenings we were there, and my son still talks about it! The stocking contained a stuffed Frosty the Snowman, candy canes, among other fun items. It’s definitely a unique experience and one that I recommend to add that special magic during the holidays.
The Amenities
Guests have a variety of rooms to choose from, but the particular room we stayed in is extremely family friendly and has two connecting rooms.
The Option of Connecting Rooms
One of the rooms consists of two queen beds, a TV and several sitting areas, and the other connecting room consists of a couch, a kitchenette, a fireplace, a TV and several other sitting areas.
The Fireplace
We really enjoyed having a fireplace during our stay, especially since it was a bit colder outside. At night, my son enjoyed lounging on the couch, watching cartoons on the TV above the fireplace.
The bedroom is also very spacious – not only are there two beds, but I really enjoyed the chaise lounge.
Special Touches
The Wigwam also excels with the special touches. For example, child size robes are available upon request. My son loved wearing the robe! And for an additional cost, you can request that a teepee be set up in your room.
It was a magical weekend at the Wigwam, and I’m glad we were able to experience it during the holidays.
Christmas at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville
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I loved this article so much that we will be going next year.