Families Find Their “Home for the Holidays” at Lanier Islands

Buford, Ga. – December 1, 2017 – As a beloved holiday destination for countless families since the launch of its renowned Magical Nights of Lights tour 25 years ago, Lanier Islands has become quite adept at serving as a “home away from home for the holidays” for countless families who are either vacationing or staycationing in the South. Through specially themed activities and family-centric accommodation packages, the Islands seeks to add a little holiday magic of its own to the guest experience this year. Whether traveling from a neighboring Southern state or from Downtown Atlanta, families can enjoy anything from a weekend stay in a cozy lakeside bungalow showcasing a nightly drive through hundreds of holidays themed light displays throughout the resort to a luxury overnighter in the Legacy Lodge – proud member of the Southern Living Hotel Collection – complete with a roaring fire in the lobby’s massive fireplace and story time with a resident elf.

“Families are at the heart of everything we do here at Lanier Islands,” said Grier Todd, VP of Hospitality at Lanier Islands. “We regularly host corporate groups and weddings, but they often come back with their families – which is really saying something about how we invest our energy in the guest experience. Regardless of what package they select or whether they merely choose to spend the night and see the lights, we can assure our visiting families that their stay with us will be among the memories they’ll cherish for years to come.”

Special Holiday Accommodations Packages for Families at Lanier Islands include:

The Ultimate Santa Package – Ideal for families with little ones, guests can enjoy luxurious overnight accommodations at Legacy Lodge, a special Christmas ornament welcome gift, a holiday story with cookies and milk at bedtime shared by one of Santa's elves, and a festive breakfast with Santa Claus* for up to four guests the following morning in the Grand Ballroom.

The Magical Nights of Lights Package – A terrific package for families with kids of all ages, guests can enjoy luxurious overnight accommodations at Legacy Lodge, entry to Magical Nights of Lights and Holiday Village, a sheet of 25 carnival tickets to enjoy at the Holiday Village, and a breakfast buffet for up to four guests the following morning at Sidney’s Restaurant. This package can be upgraded to include accommodations at Legacy Villas or Legacy LakeHouses.

New Year’s Eve Celebration Package – In addition to a thoroughly grown-up, utterly exclusive New Year’s Eve Party at Peachtree Pointe overlooking the lake, complete with a dinner buffet, open bar, live entertainment from Party Nation, dancing, champagne, fireworks over the water and shuttle service to and from the Lodge, this overnight accommodation package also includes the option to add the Kid’s New Year’s Eve Party. While the adults ring the New Year in on one end of the Islands, the kids can enjoy their own dinner, movie, games, arts & crafts and New Year’s Eve balloon drop at Legacy Lodge under the watchful eye of a Legacy Kids Camp Counselor. The following morning, the family can regale one another with their epic tales of the night before over a sumptuous breakfast buffet at Sidney’s Restaurant.

During the course of their stay, families can also take advantage of Lanier Islands’ exclusive Legacy Kids Club which includes special themed holiday crafts and activities, Family Movie Nights, Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus**, and Kids Night Out – where the kids get a break from their parents to hang out with other cool kids and a Legacy Kids Camp Counselor while Mom and Dad have to go do boring grown-up stuff like enjoy dinner by candlelight or have a few cocktails and watch a game at BullFrog’s Bar & Grille. To learn more and make reservations, fun-seeking families are encouraged to call 770-945-8787 or visit www.lanierislands.com.

About Lanier Islands: Nestled on the southern-most shoreline of Lake Sidney Lanier at the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains lies the truly distinctive Lanier Islands. Situated less than 45 miles from downtown Atlanta on 1,500 pristine acres of forests, meadows, and beaches, this luxury resort is quickly growing in size, scope, and reputation as one of the Southeast’s leading lakeside retreats. As the resort’s crown jewel, Lake Lanier is one of the United States’ most popular man-made lakes, encompassing 38,000 surface acres and 690 miles of shoreline in Northeast Georgia. Legacy Lodge, Villas, and LakeHouses enhance the park’s broad assortment of accommodation choices and meeting sites – making it the ideal choice for corporate meetings and company retreats. Popular excursions like fun in the sun at the boardwalk-themed LanierWorld, zip lining through the trees with Lake Lanier Canopy Tours, horseback riding on a lakeside trail from the Equestrian Center, and renting a boat and ski equipment from Harbor Landing make the islands a terrific choice for families vacationing or “staycationing” in the South. Tranquility – the Spa and the picturesque 18-hole Lanier Islands Legacy Golf Course are major draws for visitors looking to relax or play, and with more than 20 wedding venues to choose from, the Resort is rapidly gaining favor with brides- and grooms-to-be as a highly sought-after Destination Wedding site.

Lanier Islands is steadily securing a solid standing for their unique vision of the future of this luxury retreat, their unswerving dedication to the comfort and enjoyment of their guests, and their signature brand of Southern Hospitality. In 2014, the Resort became a member of the highly esteemed Southern Living Hotel Collection. The Islands has also been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for four consecutive years, was named “Best Place for Family Fun” by Best Self Atlanta Magazine in 2015 and made TripstoDiscover.com’s #3 slot of 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotels & Resorts in Georgia in 2017. For more information, visit www.lanierislands.com.

* Breakfast with Santa and Elf Tuck-ins only available on certain dates.

** Reservations required for certain activities like Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus and Elf Tuck-ins. Please confirm with a Reservations Specialist during booking. May incur a “No Show” fee.