Friday Jan 2nd – Sat Jan 3rd 2026
Matt and I decided to gift each other an experience for Christmas this year instead of physical presents.
(But. We also bought and wrapped gift items for children currently at Christ’s Home, down in Paradise, due to a local connection via Girls on the Run. If you are ever looking for a way to give back, check out their Children and Family Services.)
The idea of where to go, came from my patient/friend Gail, who mentioned that she and her family had gone to National Harbor to see the ICE! exhibit. I immediately assumed she meant Inner Harbor in Baltimore… but nope – she meant National Harbor, just outside Washington, DC.
Cue me opening Google, and later that day… the trip was booked.
Day 1: Drive + Dinner + Exploring
The Drive
We left after I wrapped up work on Friday. One of my favorite perks of half days. Matt luckily had the day off, and the drive was ~2.5 hours from Lancaster.
Exploring Downtown
We checked into The Westin National Harbor and immediately headed out for a walk along the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail as the sun was setting.
This path runs right along the water, and I loved the orange-pink sky reflecting off the Potomac, with the Capital Wheel (Ferris wheel) glowing in the background. Truly one of those “pause and soak it in” moments.
We passed the Christmas tree and “The Awakening” sculpture — a massive, dramatic figure emerging from the sand, while planes flew overhead.
Dinner
We had dinner reservations at Succotash.
The atmosphere and service were excellent, but if I’m being honest, the food wasn’t our fav. Still glad we tried it, just not a must-return spot for us.
Exploring the Gaylord National Resort
After dinner, we walked over to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
And… wow.
Immaculate doesn’t even begin to cover it.
We checked out “Christmas at Gaylord National” which includes various parts/activities.
Christmas Village, which was honestly a bit underwhelming for us, but I can absolutely see how it would be magical if you had little kids. They had a gingerbread decorating corner, photos with Santa, ice tubing, snowball build and blast, storytime + sing-alongs + fresh-baked cookies with Mrs. Claus, and Build-a-Bear Workshop.
Since this was the last weekend of the event, Santa and Mrs. Claus were already done for the season, and many of the shops were nearly cleared out with 75% off signs everywhere. We spent maybe 5–10 minutes total here. Read ahead what is free/included, and what costs extra.
When we arrived we caught the tail end of Cirque: Spirit of Christmas – A magical, acrobatic tale of Christmas. You could buy tickets, or just catch great views from one of the upper-level balconies.
We caught a light and laser show in the atrium, which was really cool. It was called “Here We Glow A-Caroling Laser Light Show” and had specific run times. For 2025 it was 7:30pm, 8:45pm, 9:15pm.
I could not get over how massive this place is.
Staying in one of the upper rooms overlooking the atrium would be very neat. We saved money by staying at the Westin, but I totally understand why people stay onsite at the Gaylord for convenience. They also offer a free shuttle to hotel guests to/from the Tanger outlets. There are other perks like jumping ahead in different lines for events, but we didn’t run into lines when we went.
Here are a list of other local accommodations in National Harbor.
We stepped outside for nighttime views of the Potomac and the Ferris wheel all lit up – absolutely beautiful.
Drinks
High on my list was POSE Rooftop Lounge at the Gaylord. It is located on the 18th floor of Gaylord National Resort, and “offers stunning river views, expertly crafted cocktails, and a sophisticated atmosphere.” It didn’t open until 9 pm, so we had some time to kill.
We should have grabbed a drink at Harbor Social, the bar inside the Gaylord with games like bocce ball, bowling, shuffleboard, foosball, movie theatre sized TV screens, etc.
Instead, we decided to head downtown to try V-NO Wine Bar which unfortunately was closed for a private event. Next option: Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar …also sold out.
So we wandered around town, checked out the tree all lit up, explored some statues, and eventually landed back at the Lobby Bar of our Westin.
A glass of red wine for me was perfect before bed, and Matt ordered a smoky tequila cocktail. Had to play Audrey & Trav in connections too.
Day 2: Breakfast + ICE! + Capital Wheel
We had a slow, lazy morning. Coffee from Starbucks which was right next to our hotel, and then headed to Silver Diner for breakfast (no free hotel breakfast). My avocado toast was excellent, and Matt loved his Huevos Rancheros.
Great space, huge menu, and all-day breakfast.
Tip: If you ride the Ferris wheel, there’s sometimes a free dessert promo with the purchase of an entrée. Worth asking about.
Learn more about the Silver Spin.
ICE! Featuring The Polar Express
After checking out, we paid $25 for overnight parking in the Mariner Garage. Our hotel did not comp us parking, so we just chose the closest garage to Westin. After we dropped our bags at the car, we headed back to the Gaylord.
I’m so glad we explored the atrium the night before. During the day, nothing is lit up. The lights and laser show only happen in the evening. Still gorgeous! but at night, it’s magic.
There were lots of families doing a scavenger hunt, which is included in some ticket bundles.
They scanned our tickets and we walked right in with no wait. Our tickets were for 1115a, but I would say we got there around 1045a. When we left, at 1110a, it was BUSY. Long line! Make sure you check out the various offers/deals, as you can get discounted tickets, or even stays if you have AAA, are a teacher, a Marriott Bonvoy member, military, etc. We paid $38 a ticket.
You’re given a big blue parka (you don’t have to take one, but it does keep you warm, and you need one if you plan to go down the ice slides). The entire exhibit is kept at a constant 9°F inside a 16,000-square-foot tent, cooled by seven industrial air handlers.
Yes — Gaylord Hotels are part of Marriott, and there are several across the U.S. (including Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Tennessee).
Most Gaylord locations host ICE! each winter, with different themes depending on the year and location.
This year’s theme was The Polar Express. I’ll be honest; I think it’s a creepy movie and you won’t convince me otherwise 😂
But even so, the exhibit was incredible, especially all the train details.
Each block of ice measures 10” x 21” x 42”
Each block weighs ~300 lbs
It takes 210,000 gallons of water to create the ice for each show
The ice artisans come from Heilongjiang Province, China, home of the famous Harbin Ice Festival
Truly amazing craftsmanship.
The Capital Wheel
After ICE!, we headed to the Capital Wheel.
It looked stunning at night, but we wanted daytime views while riding, and I’m glad we did. From the top, we could see the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, the Washington National Cathedral, and more.
The wheel makes multiple rotations, so you really get time to take it all in.
We paid $18 per ticket for this, but afterwards (ugh) I found a Groupon for it. So check there first!
Out on the pier, we noticed floating homes on the water. After looking them up later, they’re actually comparable in price to nearby hotels (off-season) and are literally on the Potomac. They are called “Flohom” and you can save money by booking direct. Follow them on insta.
They have rooftop decks for sunsets. Definitely something I’d love to try in the future. They are spreading to multiple locations as well.
After that, we started our drive back to Lancaster.
Final Thoughts
This was the perfect quick getaway. Cozy, festive, and something totally new for us. A great reminder that you don’t need a long trip to feel refreshed… just a new place and a shared experience.
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