Christmas is right around the corner, so I’m finally rounding out my posts on Christmas lights and decorations with one of Nashville’s most famous hotels: The Gaylord Opryland Resort. Each year, Opryland puts up massive Christmas decorations in their gorgeous atriums. Opryland has a variety of holiday activities (see the full list here), but this post will only discuss the Christmas decorations around the resort.

Cascades

We parked near the Cascades Lobby, so our journey through Opryland’s Country Christmas started with the Cascades area of the hotel. You can start anywhere on the resort, though! Cascades is home to 2 restaurants, a bar, a coffee house, and a store and is one of the smaller atriums. The area is decked out with gorgeous hanging lights and beautiful poinsettia set ups. Make sure to look up to the ceiling, down to the linings of the paths, and even over to some of the balconies, as decorations are scattered everywhere!

Garden Conservatory

The Garden Conservatory is my favorite area in the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The small waterfalls, picturesque gazebos, and numerous southern plants littered around the conservatory are beautiful year round. During the holidays, the area is extra special. There are two ways to explore the Garden Conservatory: the pathway that runs above the room and the winding paths on the ground floor. I highly recommend exploring both.

Upstairs you’ll see several large guitars and banjos decorating the path. Music notes hang from the ceiling, Christmas trees line the tops of the restaurants, and there’s even a giant, country music snowman that makes for a great photo-op! Downstairs has trails lined with poinsettias (including pink ones!) and the Garden Conservatory’s 2 restaurants and bar. You’ll wander past the Crystal Gazebo and through the Lion’s Head Fountain, which is staged for Christmas.

Delta

The Delta Atrium is the Gaylord Opryland Resort’s largest decorated area. There are 3 restaurants, a bar, an ice cream shop, and several stores. Visitors will see many decorated topiary animals and animal statues throughout the Delta Atrium, like reindeer, penguins, and bears. Stars hang down from the ceiling and the entire room has a bayou vibe. Visitors can even snag a photo with Santa under the Delta Island Bridge.

As you head towards the back of the Delta Atrium you’ll start to see the top of a massive Christmas tree. The Delta Atrium’s Christmas tree is one of the most gorgeous trees I’ve seen this holiday season. It’s covered in giant bows, wrapped gifts, stuffed animals, and more. Seriously, it’s worth making the trip to Opryland just to see this tree.

Magnolia

The Magnolia Pavilion is the final area of the resort you’ll want to explore. Make sure to bring a jacket because the majority of these decorations are outdoors.

Outside, you’ll see white Christmas lights covering trees and a path leading away from the resort. You’ll come to a clearing and boom! You’ll see this breathtaking white Nativity. The scene is so big that I couldn’t even capture the whole thing in one photo. Walk around to the right and you’ll see a Christmas tree made up of white lights and a scene featuring shepherds on their way to see Jesus. It’s seriously stunning.

Inside, you’ll come across a beautiful poinsettia tree in the Magnolia Lobby. There are 3 restaurants and 5 stores in the Magnolia Pavilion, making it the perfect place to relax for a while.

Need to Know

A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Resort runs until January 1, so make sure to visit soon! Walking around the resort to look at the decorations is free, but it costs $29 to park at Opryland. You can park at the Opry Mills Mall for free and walk over, but I’d only do this if the weather is nice. There are tons of additional activities at the resort that visitors can do for a cost (full list here). Consider staying overnight at the resort if you’re really wanting to get the full Opryland experience.

I highly recommend dropping by Opryland Resort before the decorations are taken down! This was the second time I visited the Opryland Resort at Christmas. The decorations were completely different from my last visit, which surprised me! I cannot wait to see what they do with the resort for future holiday seasons.

xoxo,

KB

PS: Looking for more fun holiday activities? Check out my posts on Cheekwood Holiday Lights, Lights Under Louisville, Merry and Bright at My Old Kentucky Home, and the Kentucky Horse Park’s Southern Lights!