Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville is magical at Christmastime. Nearly every inch of the 9-acre complex — so massive it should have its own zip code — was festively decorated with thousands of lights, endless strings of garland, gorgeous trees and hundreds of poinsettias in the spirit of the season.

From the moment I entered the lobby until I departed, I was impressed with the genuine hospitality of the staff. They were friendly and gracious, especially when I kept asking for directions. It’s easy to get lost inside this hotel, which has several themes, sections and endless bridges and walkways. I had not stayed here since Gaylord became a Marriott property. As an elite member, I appreciated the speedy check-in and avoided long lines. I had a large and lovely room with a balcony overlooking the atrium. The only drawback was it could be a little noisy since it was directly over a busy walkway. My white noise machines came in handy. Also of note, there are no digital/alarm clocks in the rooms. At first, I thought perhaps mine was missing, but everyone else I talked to noticed the same thing. I guess we are truly now all dependent on our phones for the time of day.

When traveling, I always enjoy long walks and soaking up the atmosphere of the area. Since I didn’t leave the property this time, I made sure to do the same, only mostly indoors. There was a canal with boat rides that resembled a smaller San Antonio, a mini-village on an “island” with shops and restaurants, an indoor water park and an indoor ice park, as well as an outdoor skating rink packed despite 50-degree weather. Other touristy sections were all decked out for the season. There was no need for a treadmill at the end of the day! I did venture down the road briefly to Opry Mills Mall and the Grand Ole Opry building, where I paid homage from the outside and quietly recognized its heritage and legacy. Maybe next time there will be more time for music in Music City.

The purpose of my trip was strictly business, to attend the annual Major League Baseball winter meetings. It was fun connecting and working with colleagues from various teams, with all of us speculating on which team Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani would ultimately choose. I did hear a fair amount of juicy gossip, so we’ll see what happens.

During the flights, I reread Ron Shelton’s The Church of Baseball, a terrific book about his days in the minor leagues and how he wrote and ultimately directed the movie Bull Durham. Highly recommended as a fun travel book. When I landed at O’Hare, the American Airlines terminal was nearly as festive as the Gaylord, with a colorful display of decorations.

A glorious and, more importantly, peaceful holiday season to everyone!

— Sue Castorino, Globility Board member and guest blogger