Celebrating the Holidays at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland

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Last December, on our travels home during the Christmas holiday, we stopped for one more holiday themed adventure at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. The resort complex is massive with plenty of activities the whole family will enjoy, including the popular holiday ICE! experience. 

inside the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

The 41 acre resort and convention center, located on the Potomac River and less than a half hour from downtown Washington DC,  has almost 2,000 rooms and suites, half a dozen full service dining options (many kid friendly!) and several quick service options, a climate controlled indoor garden atrium, a full service spa, and tons of family friendly amenities and activities offered year round.

entrance to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

Travel Tips:

  • The Gaylord National Resort is a Marriott property (our favorite hotel brand!) so Bonvoy members can receive their usual perks and benefits when staying at the resort.
  • Room options include atrium view rooms with balconies (offering great views of the nightly light show and the garden atrium, but no privacy on the balcony and it can get noisy), Christmas themed suites, and quieter Potomac River view suites. 
  • The Gaylord National has its own parking garage ($30 per day) attached to the convention center side of the resort and also offers valet parking ($43 per day). 
  • A lodging reservation at the Gaylord includes a $27 resort destination fee, which includes access to the fitness center and indoor pool, daily sunrise yoga, transportation on the Harbor Circulator Bus, two welcome drinks at Harbor Social and a cookie from the Potomac District Café and Market, and resort wide internet access. 
  • Check here for more packages and special offers that include ICE! and holiday activities and overnight stays at the Gaylord National Resort.

Our spacious room and view down into the atrium garden and Belvedere Lobby Bar.

inside atrium at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

Holiday Activities at the Gaylord Resort:

  • Most activities are located on the Ballroom level in the Maryland and Potomac Ballrooms and Prince George’s Exhibition Hall on the Lobby Level.
  • The activities listed below have separate fees. We suggest purchasing passes that include several activities at reduced rates; some activities do require specific dates and times- see up to date booking information here. 
  • Note: When we visited in late December 2024, the ICE theme was Charlie Brown and Snoopy. For 2025, the ICE! theme is The Polar Express. Our photos reflect our 2024 visit.
map of the holiday exhibits at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland
  1. Walk through the 19,000 square foot ICE! exhibit, featuring the story of The Polar Express (2025’s theme) told through 10 engaging exhibits, including a 20 foot slide guests can slide down and a 11 foot Santa. Each scene is carved from almost seven thousand blocks of ice, weighing a total of two million pounds! The indoor exhibit is kept at a cool 9 degrees fahrenheit (guests are given blue winter parkas to wear during the exhibit-definitely borrow one!) See ticket information here. Note: When we visited in 2024, the theme was Charlie Brown and Friends, which is reflected in our photos)
  2. Complete the holiday Mistletoe Mile Scavenger Hunt and earn a holiday keepsake souvenir. Pick up the booklet at Guest Services near Alpine Village. 
entrance to the 2024 ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

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  • inside the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

ice sculpture at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland
  1. See over two million lights in the three acre indoor atrium garden decorated for the holidays with themed displays.
  2. Watch the nightly Here We Glow A-Caroling laser light show, set to themed music, from your hotel room interior balcony or the Belvedere Lobby Bar. The show is offered three times a night (7:30pm, 8:45pm, and 9:15pm)
  3. Snow tubing down Snow Flow Mountain, located inside the exhibit hall
  4. Create snowballs from REAl snow and practice your aim and throw at the Snowball Build and Blast exhibit.
  5. Decorate your own gingerbread house to take home and enjoy and have your photo taken with Nutmeg, the resident gingerbread man. 
  6. Visit with Santa and let him know what’s on your Christmas wish list. A visit with Santa also includes a keepsake printed photo.
  7. Enjoy story time and a sing along with Mrs. Claus as she read T’was the Night Before Christmas and have a special treat of milk and cookies. Reservations strongly suggested.
  8. Watch the Cirque style holiday themed show The Spirit of Christmas, offered twice a day (12:30pm and 6:30pm) during the week with an additional 8pm show on weekends. 

inside the atrium decorated for the holidays at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor Maryland

Dining Options that are kid friendly:

  • Old Hickory for breakfast, lunch, and dinner- make a reservation for dinner!
  • Harbor Social for dinner, snacks, and games- it gets LOUD in there!
  • Potomac District Cafe and Market for grab and go prepackaged meals and snacks- open from 6am to 12am with cafeteria style seating in the atrium
  • Belvedere Lobby Bar for drinks and snacks- perfect spot to watch the light show and menu options include snacks for kids
  • The Capital Confectionery for sweet treats (cupcakes! Cakes! gelato!) and a wide variety of candy.

Year Round Activities at the Gaylord National:

  • The Junior Olympic sized indoor pool and whirlpool hot tub with lifeguard on duty and retractable doors for summer breezes and sundeck. During summer months, a splash pad area and outdoor dining options are available.
  • Arcade stocked with video games and popular arcade games.
  • Walking through the three acre indoor Garden Atrium, with a variety of themed gardens and dozens of unique plants and flowers, in the center of the resort and 19 stories tall!
  • Duckpin bowling, darts, and bocce inside the Harbor Social restaurant open every day at 4pm.
  • Shopping at stores like Urban Chic, Pajama Party, the Williamsburg Shop, and The Capital Confectionery for every imaginable type of candy!
  • Outside of the resort proper, the National Harbor offers everything from ferris wheel rides to harbor boat cruises to bike rides to escape rooms, and dozens of dining and shopping options- see a good list here. 

Looking for other holiday adventures on the East Coast? See our index of posts and our past holiday gift guides here.

Disclaimer: Our family was given passes to explore ICE! and other holiday activities. All opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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