The Best Holiday Displays in California
Montage Beverly Hills
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
Every year 16 talented bakers and pastry chefs bake 600 pounds of gingerbread, and 250 pounds of fondant to make the iconic Grand Gingerbread House showcased in the towering lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel. It takes 6 craftsmen, two electricians, and 1,225 cast member hours to design and craft the 7 1/2 feet high and 12 feet wide detailed house. This year the hotel is offering a new Grand Gingerbread House Experience, where guests of all ages get to work with Disney’s talented pastry chefs in a hands-on workshop. It’s a fun holiday activity, complete with hot cocoa and cookies to enjoy. At the end, guests get to take a miniature version home The class takes place in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa from 2-3:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, 11, 20, 21, 22 and 23. For the workshop details, pricing information and to register for this experience, hotel guests may call Guest Services at 714-635-2300.
The Mission Inn & Spa
This year Executive Pastry Chef David Blaine and his team made a life-size “Santa’s Wonderland House” displayed in the lobby. It took ten weeks in the making to bake 800 gingerbread bricks and 200 gingerbread tiles. Exquisite details include a white picket fence, mailbox, planters and candy trees surrounding the house. The interior of the house is decorated with pink and white striped wallpaper, and a fireplace with stockings for each member of the owner’s family, and a Christmas tree with presents underneath. The best way to see this one-of-a-kind sweet creation is to make a dinner reservation in one of the hotel’s restaurants or stay overnight. The gingerbread house is just one of many holiday experiences offered at The Mission Inn & Spa during the holidays.
Other highlights include the Festival of Lights with a record-breaking 5 million colorful lights; 400 animated figures; appearances by Santa Claus and Sugar Plum Fairy ballerinas; and an elf tuck-in amenity for overnight guests. To make a dinner or hotel reservation visit missioninn.com.