If you’ll be in Washington, D.C. this December, don’t miss the Gaylord National‘s action-packed Christmas on the Potomac. There is so much to experience that I don’t even know where to begin! The hotel’s ICE! attraction is pretty amazing to see in person. We recently checked it out (thanks to the Gaylord National for hosting us) and would definitely recommend the whole event to vacationing families.
Let me set the scene: Bundle up, as you prepare to walk through a 9-degree attraction, featuring 13 scenes of more than two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures.
You’ll see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and others.
You can even slide down two-story-tall ice slides in the Island of Misfit Toys. The finale is a beautiful ice-carving of the Nativity scene, set amidst twinkling lights.
ICE! is open daily through January 1, 2018. Tickets start at $24. Kids 3 and under are free. Click here for more information.
The resort itself has also been transformed into a Christmas wonderland, with more than two million lights, a suspended 55-foot tall Christmas tree, a 20-foot wide Washington, D.C. gingerbread display and a magical Christmas Village!
The girls had a blast in the Christmas Village, where they went ice skating, rode the carousel and the train, and even decorated a gingerbread house!
Kids can also create a cute polar bear plush to bring home in the Build-A-Bear Workshop®. For collectors, this one’s been designed exclusively for Gaylord Hotels and can be personalized with adorable winter clothes.
Families can then work together to solve the Build-A- Bear Workshop® Scavenger Hunt to win a special prize!
Afterward, head over to the atrium to watch the holiday spectacular concert, JOY. In this show, eight carolers dance as they sing all the classics. It’s followed by a tree lighting show that includes laser lights, a dancing water fountain, and indoor snow flurries.
In the morning, be sure to attend Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Breakfast, where your kids will get tableside visits by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and Clarice!
The breakfast buffet is delicious; the games are fun; and the sing-along is adorable! The breakfast is only held on certain days, so be sure to check the site.
Get a sitter for a festive date night: Mistletoe Mixology is a 90-minute, hands-on class teaches participants the basics of cocktail making. Participants get to make three unique holiday cocktails ad sample hors d’oeuvres provided by the resort chef. So fun!
I’ve written about my affection for this hotel in the past. Gaylord National is a beautiful, AAA-Four Diamond resort that has nearly 2,000 luxurious rooms; a breathtaking, 19-story atrium; critically acclaimed restaurants; a modern spa; and a rooftop lounge. There’s always so much happening there, no matter which season you visit! They really do a great job of creating a unique and fun vacation experience, especially for families. What will you do first when you get there?
About Carmen Sognonvi
Carmen Sognonvi is a luxury family travel content creator at Top Flight Family, named a top 10 family travel Instagram account by Time Out New York and Brit + Co. Her insights on travel have been featured in The Washington Post, INSIDER, Huffington Post, Wanderlust Travel Magazine, TravelPulse, HOTELS Magazine, and more. Carmen firmly believes that you can (and should) travel with your kids from a young age. She offers families practical solutions for travel, as well as tips on how to travel in luxury for less. She lives in New York City with her multiracial and multicultural family of four. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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The author received complimentary accommodations, meals and activities from Gaylord National for purposes of this review. All opinions are her own.