Ready to traipse a trail decked in holiday splendor? Visit Charlottesville, Virginia’s Boar’s Head Resort for its fifth-annual Winter Wander Trail of Lights. From Nov. 14 to Jan. 3, the property’s rolling landscape at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains will be transformed into a sparkling wonderland, complete with a half-mile lakeside stroll of glowing installations.
New this year is Glistening Grove, where more than 700 illuminated light posts will “dance” in harmony with a 20-minute musical composition around Firefly Pond.
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Other glittering displays include a 35-foot holiday tree; a 9-foot illuminated heron with a 14-foot wingspan and its frog companion, complete with lily pad; and Lattice Lane, which features a 200-year-old oak tree wrapped in lights.
Post stroll, head to The Enchantment District for nightly live music, fairytale-inspired dancers in illuminated costumes, outdoor games, fire pits and food trucks.
In Santa’s Mill, you’ll find the jolly father of Christmas near the shops and a hot chocolate toppings bar. Visit winterwander.com for holiday details and a trail map.
Boar’s Head Resort’s 168 rooms were updated in spring 2023 with new carpet and furnishings, plus in-room espresso machines.
Set on the sprawling resort grounds, the 19th-century-estate Birdwood Mansion is scheduled to reopen in early 2026 as a seven-room boutique-style hotel surrounded by gardens.
The resort’s focus on wellness and athletics is evidenced in an expansive sports club offering pickleball, squash and tennis courts, a state-of-the-art aquatic center and award-winning spa. Rates begin at $219.
Boar’s Head Resort, 200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia, 844-611-8066