Dreaming of a Christmas on the Potomac? We returned from a family weekend getaway celebrating the fun of the holidays at Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, and it was so fun! The Christmas celebrations are going on all month, including all things Grinch-themed! An ICE! wonderland of colored ice sculptured telling the story of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a chance to Feast with the Grinch, evening story telling and afternoons making gingerbread cookies are all here, for a truly storybook experience of the holidays for families with children.
We stayed in a double Queen room with an atrium view, and in the mornings I noticed other guests leisurely enjoying coffees while gazing over Gaylord National Resort’s famously beautiful, bustling atrium. During the days the scenes were so pretty, including a clear view of the sfafs wheel near the resort, right off the Potomac River. At night, we were able to watch the shows taking place below and enjoy the music from our balconies, and many guests leisurely did. We, however, were ready for adventure, so off into the night we went!
During our weekend stay, we went to Christmas Village to enjoy …
Reindeer Rush Ice Tubing
The boys loved ice tubing, so we returned daily to Reindeer Rush Ice Tubing Hill to enjoy sliding down (at breakneck speeds!) very sleek, rather steep lanes on our individual tubes. It was literally a rush of coolness and wind as we slid down the slippery slide – definitely more thrilling than a roller coaster! Sort of sledding, but speedier.
Gingerbread Decorating Corner
Spend an hour at Gingersnap’s Christmas Kitchen making gingerbread cookies or a gingerbread house. The boys made gingerbread cookies amidst a group of laughing children and walls of candy. There are various options for decorating; you can also select a pre-made gingerbread house, a massive Grinch cookie, or build your own gingerbread house, and of course, when you’re done, you can eat them!
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Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions
Enjoy a retelling of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas courtesy of Mrs. Claus, as well as group singing holiday songs with other children while enjoying a fresh-baked cookie and ice-cold milk, sitting on cozy pillows.
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Story time with Snowflake the Elf
This is exclusive for overnight hotel guests, and features Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf in the living room at Mrs. Claus’ House in Christmas Village, reading How The Grinch Stole Christmas! This night time tradition is a fun way to get the kiddies ready for bed.
… and the famous …
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ICE! Featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
With 2 million pounds of ICE! skillfully sculpted by artisans from Harbin, China, this incredible 9 degree walkthrough exhibit from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, is why we all wear those blue parkas and rush to get hot cocoas. It is a stunning, expansive, and larger-than-life series of dioramas made from solid, colored ice blocks carved and sculpted into a 15,000 square foot attraction. It has to be seen to be believed! Just be sure to visit with hats and gloves and scarves, because it is co-o-old!
Some of the scenes crafted by the artists include The Grinch lurking through the chimneys of Who-ville homes, The Grinch’s heart growing three sizes after realizing Christmas means a little bit more, and sitting down at the Who’s feast where The Grinch carves the roast beast. At the end, before exiting, we slid down slides made of pure solid ice (twice), and then quickly slipped on to the Cocoa Shop awaiting us in the next area to warm up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate!
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Outside of the Christmas Village, we enjoyed …
Feast with The Grinch
The Grinch fans will have the chance to meet the star of the show at the resort’s Feast with The Grinch breakfast, along with enjoying a breakfast buffet of Who-ville inspired items, such as green waffles and The Grinch grin curled cinnamon buns! The Grinch and Max strolled around and visited our table to goof around with us and take pictures, which was pretty fun! The food was amazing- an omelette station plus breakfast staples like bacon and sausages, and of course pancakes, french toast, biscuits, yogurts, puddings, and cereals. Sooo much to enjoy while being entertained by comedic hosts.
And elsewhere on the resort, other activities that we didn’t have time to include in our weekend that look amazing (so I recommend considering a longer stay) include:…
The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt
This new adventure invites kids on an interactive, indoor scavenger hunt to follow clues through the resort looking for riddles and puzzles dreamed up by The Grinch as he attempts to steal Christmas. In The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt, solving clues leads to a grand prize and a change of heart for The Grinch.
Ice skating at Winter Square
Literally yards away from the Christmas Village doorsteps, the new outdoor Winter Square overlooking the Potomac River features twinkling lights and festival decorations, including an outdoor Ice-Skating Rink and Tinsel Tavern, a new, over-the-top ugly sweater themed bar serving adult beverages and hot chocolate and offering toasty fire pits. Overnight guests can also enjoy Silent Disco on Ice, where you can dance, shout, and skate to holiday tunes with your own personal, wireless headphones.
Cirque Dreams Unwrapped
In the Garden Atrium the newest version of Cirque Dreams Unwrapped, a spellbinding production combining breathtaking choreography, music and showmanship, takes place on stage in a 25-minute Christmas fable.
Village Express Train
Children can take a fun ride around Christmas Village on the Village Express!
VIP Carver Showcase
Experience a private, live ice carving demonstration by artisans from Harbin, China, exclusive for overnight hotel guests. Ask questions about the tools, training and skill required to complete these artful masterpieces.
The entire resort was musical, beautiful, and festive. Gingerbread Masterpiece in the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center’s main lobby, which features an original 1.5 million calorie gingerbread masterpiece created by the pastry team – this year’s whimsical Tree House Village tops out at 9 feet tall, and can visit the Gaylord Post Office at Christmas Corner to write letters to Santa.
Plan your visit
Gaylord National Resort offers nearly 2,000 rooms, and to elevate your holiday, you can consider the Christmas Dreams experience package, where your suite is cheerfully appointed with holiday decor, filled with fresh-made tasty treats, and fuzzy, festive socks and seasonal bath products await. It includes valet parking and a one-hour professional DEI photo shoot on hotel property!
Friends, you can plan your holiday travels early with these overnight packages for Christmas On The Potomac on sale now, such as:
ICE! Is Nice
• Tickets to ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including unlimited entry to ICE! and priority access
• Added overnight guest-only experiences including Silent Disco on Ice and a Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf on select dates (package starts at $259 for two people and $289 for four people).
Christmas On The Potomac
• Tickets to ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including unlimited entry to ICE! and priority access
• One souvenir ICE! photo
• $100 resort credit for onsite dining outlets
• Added overnight guest-only experiences including Silent Disco on Ice and a Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf on select dates
And if you have a chance to step away from the resort, there is a great deal to enjoy locally in National Harbor, such as many local, varied eateries and bright, festive, welcoming decor and attractions. The nearby harbor hosts the Capital Wheel, which we rode on for a birds-eye view of the harbor, and witnessed a fireworks display over the harbor.
We discovered Washington, D.C. is very close too, so I took my first trip there on the way home. If you are taking a road trip to Gaylord National Resort, why not stop here too?
Find out more about Gaylord National Resort here. Happy Christmas!