Christmas at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville
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Asheville is a great base for exploring the Blue Ridge region anytime of the year. I lived in this gorgeous area for a few years and one of my favorite activities was visiting this resort over the winter season. While the city itself isn’t buzzing with holiday events, you will find the most amazing holiday decor and an award-winning gingerbread display at the Omni Grove Park Inn, a luxurious 4 star property in the mesmerizing Blue Ridge mountains. If you feel like splurging, this is a really beautiful resort to stay at over the holiday season.
The wonderful 360 degree mountain vistas, the gorgeous architecture, and fantastic on-site spa and restaurants make it a wonderful staycation choice. But, if you want to get out and explore, you can enjoy easy access to many incredible natural wonders in Western North Carolina. Keep in mind that the resort is pricey (and often sold out) this time of the year. Book early to ensure availability.
Even if you are not staying at the resort, it’s worth planning a visit to enjoy the beautiful decor, shop & dine, and marvel at the mountain scenery. I planned many daytrips here to enjoy the wonderful breakfast buffet and the shops. I love sitting by the grand lobby fireplace and enjoying a cup of coffee or hot cocoa.
The mountain views are still gorgeous even during the barren winter months!
The resort is home to a luxurious spa (advance booking required), a beautiful indoor pool and outdoor hot tub, as well as several bars and restaurants. The Blue Ridge Artisanal dining room features a daily breakfast and dinner buffet in a gorgeous room featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the tranquil mountains. They offers some amazing holiday buffets including: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and a New’s Day Good Luck brunch. The food is actually really decent for a buffet. I love the made to order omelet bar, the chia seed pudding bar, and the mini pastries.
For more dining options, simply take a 15 minute drive over to downtown Asheville to explore the thriving local food and craft beer scene. Additionally, Biltmore Village, located just outside the famous Biltmore Estate, is a beautiful old-world shopping and dining village. There is a great year-round holiday shop here and a lot of great restaurants (I recommend Andaaz for their fabulous Indian lunch buffet).
Winter at the Omni
Come December, dazzling holiday decor decks the entire resort, both inside and outside. Multiple Christmas trees, a beautifully decorated lobby, a world-class gingerbread display, and festive hot cocoa drinks make it a really special experience this time of year. I have always wanted to stay here, but living in the area it didn’t make sense to splurge so much on a room. I imagine it would be a magical experience!
Below is a tour of some of the festive decorations throughout the property. I love enjoying breakfast in the Blue Ridge Dining Room followed by a coffee by the fire, then a stroll around the property: it’s a great way to get into the holiday spirit!
The standout features of this property is the 2 massive stone fireplaces with cozy rocking chairs. Keep in mind that the seats will likely be filled by mid-morning. Grab a coffee at The Marketplace, treat yourself to a homemade salted caramel hot cocoa via the gingerbread stand, catch up on some reading, or simply relax and take in the beauty all around you. I love kicking back and relaxing after eating way too much at the buffet!
Seasonally, they open this adorable gingerbread themed hot cocoa stand in the Great Hall. They are well known for their Salted Caramel hot cocoa. I have tried to duplicate the recipe at home, but somehow it never turns out just right. Most of the time, I stick to a cup of black coffee, but a treat once in a while around the holidays keeps things interested.
If you want to get some holiday shopping done, there are a few cute shops to browse around. I love to look at all the trinquets. You will find a gallery, a Christmas shop, an outfitters shop, and several gift shops. As a bonus, the shops are all spiritedly decorated this time of the year. A quick tour of some of the holiday knick knacks and adorable resort themed souvenirs (I love the snowglobe and ornaments).
The National Gingerbread Competition
This amazing annual holiday competition has been going strong for over 30 years now. Creative gingerbread artists from around the world enter the prestigious competition. In 2021, the furthest distance traveled award went to a women from Guatemala.
The entries are judged by nationally renowned experts in food, arts, and media. The competition began in 1992 as a small scale event. The entries become more intricate by the year. The creations here look like something that would be featured on the Food Network baking competition shows.
After just a quick stroll around on my first visit, it was so evident that a massive amount of work was put into each house. If you look closely at each, you can really see the fine detail and skill involved in creating each masterpiece. According to the Omni, each piece has to be 100% edible and constructed of at least 75% gingerbread. Most of these houses are artistic masterpieces.
The display, which includes talented masterpieces across 4 categories, including youth, child, teen, and adult, is open to the public for viewing on select dates (only resort guests on weekends). For more details, please review the rules on the Omni website. Note that the self parking fee is pretty steep ($30) although justifiable as one of the region’s best holiday events in my opinion. For me, there is no way I would miss out on this event while living in or visiting the area.
A few of the magnificent creations from year’s past. Note you really have to see these in person – pics do no justice! Out of these creations, I have to say that the Advent calender and nutcrackers are the best. I couldn’t imagine having the patience to create something so detailed. I hate to think of what happens to these houses after the event. I hope they are at least donated instead of thrown in the trash.
My personal favorite and one sure to impress Harry Potter fans is this beautiful recreation of Hagrid’s Hut. As a big fan of the books, movies, and Orlando theme parks, I have to say I was impressed. Look at the fantastic detail on this one!
For more details on this event and a lot more pictures, you can check out my gingerbread post.
Additional Details
How much is a basic room? Standard rooms usually range between $300-500 this time of year, with weekends being more expensive. If I didn’t live in the area, I probably would have booked a room because the resort is just so gorgeous.
Is there a parking fee? Yes, during the holiday months the resort charges a self parking fee to keep the traffic down. As of 2025, the fee is $30.
What time does the dining room serve the buffet? 7am-10:30 am daily and Noon-2:30pm on Sunday.
What else can I do in WNC during the winter season?
Hike in the mountains is my #1 assuming the weather is not snowy and the Parkway is open (it often closes due to ice). There are endless hiking adventures to be had, all within a reasonable daytrip from the resort. Here’s a list to get you started. there are so many incredible waterfalls and overlooks to enjoy within such a quick drive. Also, the NC Arboretum is a great place to explore anytime.
Enjoy a stress free drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of America’s most scenic drives is easily accessible from the city. Winter is a great time to plan a sightseeing adventure as traffic will be virtually non existent. I also love the icy views this time of year. I recommend planning a stop at Mt. Mitchell. There is a short walk here that takes you to the highest peak east of the Mississippi.
Treat yourself to a liquid truffle at French Broad. French Broad Chocolate Lounge serves a full menu of chocolate goodies including truffles, drinking chocolate, and hot cocoa in many varieties. It’s a cozy place to spend a winter day. I like to enjoy a cocoa then walk around the galleries, bookstores, and boutique shops downtown.
Hike to a waterfall. Whether you feel like getting in a great cardio workout or keeping it easy, here are a handful of roadside and easy waterfall hikes I recommend adding to your bucket list. Winter offers a welcome break from both crowds and heat and humidity. Winter is a great time of the year to check out Triple Falls, featuring 3 waterfalls via a moderate 2 mile hike.
Check out the local coffee scene. I love hanging out at local coffeehouses on the weekend before hitting the trails. There are so many wonderful options in the area. High Five (which serves the tastiest bagels and veggie cream cheese in town) is my personal favorite.
Take a drive-through the Lake Julian Park Festival of Lights. Affordable and whimsical display located just outside of the city limits. Check out my guide to holiday fun in and near Asheville.
Stroll downtown Asheville. Browse through unique local shops, dine at a cozy restaurant, shop for unique art at Woolworth Walk, and enjoy a cup of joe at a local coffeehouse. Also check out the beautiful decor at The Grove Arcade.
