Head to National Harbor, Maryland for the Gaylord National Christmas celebration, an occasion you’ll always remember. Holiday cheer overtakes the expansive, waterfront Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center with memorable décor, conventional actions, points of interest and seemingly infinite poinsettias.
ICE! is the centerpiece occasion displaying Nov. 20 to Dec. 31, 2022, in the course of the Gaylord National Christmas season. While new to my household, our kin had attended ICE! for a few years at totally different Gaylord Resorts. Now we all know why.
THERE’S ICE! AND SO MUCH CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Each 12 months, a whopping two million kilos of ice are dyed and sculpted to deliver the 5 Gaylord Resorts’ ICE! tales to life. For the 2022 Gaylord National Christmas, they cleverly dramatize the film “A Christmas Story.”
Do not do that at house! Forty professionals from China’s famend Harbin Ice Festival use chainsaws and handtools to create the magic. At every Gaylord, the atmosphere is maintained at 9 levels F. Nonetheless, grasp carvers should stay on standby to the touch up particulars that soften from guests’ physique warmth. (Pause to satisfy these artists on the entryway’s contact display screen shows.)
Of course, you’ll seize pictures of the superb, larger-than-life ice sculptures. Yet it’s the sudden sight of household inside a frozen corridor — bundled in blue parkas and battling frozen cellphone cameras – that’s unforgettable.
Winter-themed actions and points of interest abound, for an additional charge. Grab an interior tube for high-speed sledding on a frozen tubing hill contained in the conference heart. Stay indoors to toss snowballs as a hidden elf sends new batches of snow down a chute.
Past the vacation present store, drop into the Gingerbread Cookie Decorating workshop. The pleasant workers shares recommendations on tips on how to work with gooey icing, sprinkles and pre-baked gingerbread individuals.
Outside, additionally for a charge, are bumper playing cards and a skating rink, with leases out there.
ANOTHER WORLD JUST OUTSIDE WASHINGTON DC
There’s loads of resort motion along with the Gaylord National Christmas. All ages will respect the resort’s heated, Jr. Olympic dimension pool. It overlooks a sundeck and the Potomac past. No have to swim, nonetheless, whenever you use the well-stocked health room or be part of the morning yoga class taught across the pool deck. There’s all the time the online game arcade for the much less lively in your occasion.
Explore boutiques, the full-service Relache spa, and loads of eating places. We sipped and snacked on the atrium’s sports activities bar, Harbor Social, whereas the youngsters explored walkways draped in garlands and lanterns. Next day, it was breakfast on the Gaylord’s District seize n’go cafe and lunch on the pop-up Taqueria.
For a particular pre-Christmas vacation celebration, deal with the household to the Old Hickory Steakhouse in Gaylord National. All ages will love the attentive service, glorious Wagyu strip steaks, domestically caught and grilled Rockfish. Start with the extravagant cheese platter mentioned to be a favourite of President Andrew Jackson, whose hickory strolling stick offers the restaurant its title.
LIVE SHOWS DURING THE GAYLORD NATIONAL CHRISTMAS EVENT
While the centerpiece of the vacation season is certainly the spectacular ICE!, there may be leisure to present ahead for the vacations. Book upfront for these unique reside stage reveals, scripted and designed by the Gaylord’s personal occasions crew.
At “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” watch high-flying gymnasts and trapeze artists enact the story of a younger lady discovering the vacation spirit.
Other reside reveals at Gaylord National this season embrace “SHINE” and “The Greatest Story,” which open Nov. 25. If not this 12 months, catch them in rotation as they transfer to the opposite 4 Gaylord resorts in future years.
EXPLORING THE NATIONAL HARBOR WITH KIDS
The Gaylord lodge is simply steps to the Potomac River walkway and the Capital Wheel. Soar 180 ft above the Potomac waterfront on this climate-controlled Ferris Wheel. This attraction is most stunning because the solar units, roughly 4pm in winter. Get your cameras able to seize the distant Washington Monument and National Cathedral amongst different DC points of interest.
After a revolution or two on the Capital Wheel, discover what the National Harbor improvement affords. Over the vacations, family-friendly actions embrace photograph ops with the multi-million-dollar show of public artwork. Your youngsters will seemingly favor a salute with the lifelike US army statues guarding the industrial zone.
Be mesmerized by gentle projections on the towering vacation tree. That transferring glow and the altering colours of the Capital Wheel by the pier body the nightly 5:30pm fireworks present. Nightly tree lightings happen each half hour till 9pm. An actual crowd pleaser, National Harbor is the place to take your vacation card household portraits.
If you’re staying a couple of days, make the most of 40 eating places, such because the wholesome Mezzeh the place we paused for contemporary falafels and salad. Shop early for the vacations on the 160 outlets, many throughout the discount Tanger Outlets. Families touring with over-21s will take pleasure in a stroll by MGM National Harbor. Their eating places, on line casino and reside concert events are very talked-about over the vacations.
STAY OVERNIGHT FOR THE GAYLORD NATIONAL CHRISTMAS
Splurge on a trip keep on the Gaylord National Hotel in one in every of their Christmas themed suites. It’s assured to place you within the festive temper.
The lodge just lately invested $64 million on renovating its enticing, snug and spacious guestrooms. In such a big lodge, you’ll want to request a location close to one of many elevator banks if your loved ones has mobility challenges. Choose from giant kings or a room with two queen beds, ideally dealing with the atrium.
Enormous atriums are a signature characteristic of a number of Gaylord resorts. You’ll be amazed how a lot time you spend in your balcony. Without leaving your room, for instance, orient yourselves to the resort’s structure or catch glimpses of the thrilling Cirque present.
Caveat Emptor: The atrium’s glitter, festive décor and ubiquitous vacation carols are addictive. Plus, the youngsters might by no means go to sleep watching the atrium’s story-telling LED gentle projections.
TRIP PLANNING DETAILS FOR A GAYLORD NATIONAL HARBOR HOLIDAY
A Christmas present for you: During the vacation season, Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center resort charges embrace WiFi, a fresh-baked cookie from the seize ‘go market and two welcome drinks on the Harbor Social bar.
Susan Finch of Atlanta, a Gaylord Christmas veteran, shares this journey tip. “Let the holiday bustle wind down and set out for a Washington DC trip just before New Year’s.” Susan’s household spends an additional day in DC along with the Gaylord Christmas occasions happening by Dec. 31, 2022. “Washington DC has plenty of free things to do like the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo complete with a holiday light display at nightfall, exploring the National Mall and,” she provides, “taking plenty of selfies in front of the White House.”
And the opposite Gaylords? The Gaylord property in Nashville, even bigger, has indoor canals and gondola rides for visitors. Out within the Lone Star State, the Gaylord Texan has a waterpark offering a enjoyable reprieve from the summer season warmth. The Orlando resort has marinelife in its Everglades themed atrium, whereas in Colorado, alpine chalet and log cabins outline the type.
If your loved ones is actually into the Christmas spirit, deal with yourselves to all 4 Gaylord Resorts Christmas celebrations this 12 months.
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