Last night, Adam and I got all dressed up and did fun adult things. We got to go to a fun Christmas Party at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. We had been to this beautiful hotel a few times before, but never during the holidays and I have to say, it was stunning! The whole hotel is lit up and decorated. With amazing ocean views and fun Holiday happenings, it’s the perfect Orange County stop for Christmas.
We arrived for our party a few minutes early so we had a chance to walk around the lobby and main floor. I had heard about the amazing Gingerbread Displays that the Ritz-Carlton creates every year so I headed straight there! At 24 feet long, it was definitely impressive! Created by Sylvain Haage, Executive Pastry Chef, the theme was “Twas the Night Before Christmas” complete with flying Santa and miniatures of famous world landmark’s such as The Golden Gate Bridge and St. Basil’s Cathedral. The display is located at the end of the main lobby and will be up until January 2, 2019.
The hotel also hosts a family gingerbread decorating party for families! This years event will be held on Sunday, December 16th from 2pm – 4pm. They provide everything you need to decorate your own large-scale gingerbread creation, with a little help from Executive Pastry Chef Sylvain Haage. I wish I had known about this sooner! I would have loved to take Little A. Next year!
Along the main hall near the Gingerbread display are several beautiful hand-painted surfboards. The Annual Holiday Surfboard Auction to benefit Surfer’s Healing is in it’s 11th year. Honoring the resort’s commitment to Community Footprints and supporting worthy causes, this seasonal holiday auction supports Surfers Healing whose mission is to enrich the lives of people living with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing. While you can view the incredible boards in the lobby, you can also bid on them online here.
I think the cutest Holiday Offering has to be the Holiday Storytelling at the Eco-Adventure Center. On select Friday and Saturday evenings in December from 5pm – 6pm, the hotel invites you to sit down and take in the magic of beloved holiday stories. Rudolph, the Grinch and Jolly Ol’ St. Nicholas are just some of the holiday classics that will be read. Families are invited to bring a new children’s book which will be donated to Miracles for Kids. Check the Events Calendar for upcoming times.
If you are staying at the hotel over Christmas, the Ritz-Carlton is offering 2 special Christmas Day dining options. The 1st is a Christmas Buffet from Noon to 4pm ($125 for adults and $65 for children). For those wishing to enjoy a Christmas Dinner, you can go to the lovely Raya restaurant from 4pm to 9pm for a 4-course holiday dinner ($125 for adults and $65 for children)
Adam and I had such a fun night at the resort. It really is absolutely stunning and you can’t beat those sunset ocean views. And it’s the Ritz-Carlton, so the staff is always so helpful and lovely.
I really wish I had known sooner about all the fun at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel during Christmas time. They also offer a special holiday tea time that I would love to take Little A to. I am going to put it on my list for next year! If you are a local, I highly recommend stopping by to check everything out! And of course, if you are looking for a beautiful Orange County hotel, the Ritz-Carlton really can’t be beat. It’s quintessential Orange County and it does not disappoint!
