A Frosty Family Tradition: Santa’s Village at SkyPark & A Stay at Lake Arrowhead Resort

For the third year in a row, we made our annual trek to Santa’s Village at SkyPark in Lake Arrowhead. This time, though, we ditched our usual Airbnb and opted for the Lake Arrowhead Resort—a decision we were cautiously optimistic about. Spoiler: It had its highs, its lows, and its huhs?

Walking into the resort, you feel like you’ve stepped into the lobby of a very grand cabin. Think roaring fireplace, cozy seating nooks, and Christmas trees multiplying like rabbits. The rooms? Let’s just say the real charm came from the stunning lake view, lightly obstructed by a photogenic tree. The snow-dusted ground added a magical touch, even if the room itself was more “okay” than “amazing.”

We sprang for the s’mores package because, of course, we did. Sadly, Mother Nature wasn’t feeling cooperative on the first day, and rain sidelined our plans. Day two? Game on. Or so we thought. The sign in the lobby claimed s’mores were from 6:00-8:30 p.m., but the front desk corrected us: it was actually 3:30-5:00 p.m. Then began my own scavenger hunt—wandering the property to find the s’mores station. The lakeside fire pit was suspiciously empty, but thankfully another guest pointed me to a fire table by the pool. Yep, the Costco kind. Not exactly the magical lakeside vibe we’d imagined, but hey, gooey marshmallows and chocolate fix everything.

Speaking of scavenger hunts, the resort’s actual one for kids was a surprise hit. Mack loved solving the clues scattered around the property. Her reward? Ice cream, courtesy of the resort’s restaurant. That restaurant, by the way, had incredibly friendly staff, though they seemed to be running on a “seat yourself and hope for the best” system. Low-key chaos, but we’re low-key people, so it worked.

The game room became our go-to spot after dark. While the resort’s movie night showing of Home Alone fell flat (a conference room with 16 chairs and a noisy game room next door? Hard pass.), Mack made a beeline for the foosball table, air hockey, and giant Connect Four. She loved it so much, we went back both nights. It’s amazing how quickly kids can make new friends when there’s a competitive foosball match on the line.

As for Santa’s Village itself? It delivered its usual festive fun, though this year’s Santa seemed to be on autopilot. Sure, he looked the part, but he didn’t smile for photos, nor did he ask Mack what she wanted for Christmas. (She didn’t seem to notice, thankfully.) Breakfast with Santa was still the highlight of her trip. She also adored the Kids Imagination Show, even though it’s essentially the same every year. They did toss in a new song and offered to include kids’ names via Instagram comments, which was a cute touch.

The SkyBike—where you pedal a bike attached to a rail three stories high—was my personal adventure. The 30-minute wait felt like eternity, but once strapped in, I channeled my inner Tour de France champion and zoomed through the circuit in under two minutes. Pro tip: If you’re nervous about getting stuck, pedal like your life depends on it.

Other highlights at Santa’s Village included cookie decorating (minimal decorations, mediocre cookies, maximum fun), riding the toy carts, and running into Mrs. Claus in the gift shop. She’s usually reserved for tea parties, so seeing her out and about was a pleasant surprise.

Back at the resort, breakfast was a win. The food was excellent, and the lake view made it even better. Housekeeping, however, was…confused? They cleaned half our room—emptying one trash can and removing towels—but left the rest untouched. The front desk apologized and credited $75 toward our stay, which was fair.

Overall, the Lake Arrowhead Resort delivered on cozy, festive vibes and fun family moments. Sure, their execution could use a little polish (I’m looking at you, s’mores logistics and housekeeping), but their staff was warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly. We’ll definitely be back next year, ready for another round of snow-dusted chaos and holiday cheer.