This Thanksgiving, my family and I ventured to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort for our feast and the "Christmas at the Princess" celebration. As the sun set, we were greeted by an awe-inspiring sight: over 7.5 million lights transforming the resort into a magical winter wonderland. Can you imagine the look of joy on the kids’ faces when they saw all those twinkling lights? It was an unforgettable start to our holiday season.

This year, the resort outdid itself with new light displays. From towering polar bears and toy soldiers to an enormous Christmas tree, the decorations were breathtaking. We also thought it was amazing to experience the Aurora Ice Lounge, a glacier lounge made entirely of ice. The hand-chiseled ice sculptures are amazing.

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All Aboard the Princess Express

The Princess Express Train took us on a tour of the light display which included a 12 foot hippo, hot air balloon, octopus and an infinity tunnel. Sipping a warm drink from Comet’s Caboose made the ride even more fun.

Our kids absolutely loved the Desert Skating Rink. It's a real ice experience, spanning 6,000 square feet. We pre-purchased tickets for one evening, and the kids enjoyed it so much that we returned every night of our stay. It's a popular attraction, so booking in advance is highly recommended!

The Winter Village was a busy area with activities for adults and kids. We enjoyed The Ice Maze and Nordic Nine Mini Golf. If your group will want to take a break from the festivities, there are a couple of options I recommend: fire pits where you can gather round and warm-up, or climate-controlled igloos which offer a more luxurious and intimate setting to relax and enjoy the celebration. These are ideal spots for adults, teens, and older children to enjoy and I highly recommend you make advanced reservations. If you have little ones it might be hard for them to sit still and enjoy the ambience. Because we had young children, my family chose to walk through S’moresland where we took the chance to make a yummy marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker treat to end the evening.

You can watch a video of our time together here on my Instagram.

Dressing for the Occasion in the Scottsdale Winter

What should you wear to Christmas at the Princess? The dress code is casual and comfortable. It's a good idea to keep in mind Scottsdale's typical seasonal temperatures. From late November to December, days are comfortably cool, often in the 60s (°F), while evenings can be crisp, sometimes going into the high 40s (°F). We saw families in cozy sweaters and pants, some even in matching pajamas, perfect for those memorable holiday photos.

Our time at "Christmas at the Princess" was magical, filled with activities that catered to all ages. It has become a much-anticipated family tradition! As we said goodbye to the Princess, we all agreed that this was one of our most memorable holiday adventures yet.