The holiday season is a great time to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with your family.
Annual Christmas markets, Santa Claus meet and greets, light shows and more can be found at venues across the nation making it pretty easy to get your holiday on.
The Washington D.C. area is ripe with Christmas events and, while we’ll never have time to experience them all, sometimes we do get to go into the city (sort of) and have a fun family adventure.
We recently got to experience ICE at Gaylord National when they invited us down to enjoy their annual Christmas on the Potomac event.
Held in the Gaylord National Hotel at the National Harbor, ICE! takes on the classic flick, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer this year. Featuring two million pounds of ice sculptures hand carved by 35 artisans, this attraction is fun for the entire family. We donned our blue parkas, enjoyed the various sculptures of scenes from the classic film, and then took a ride (or five) down the multiple ice slides for some seriously cold fun.
While the sculpture exhibit will likely be the highlight of your visit, you and the fam bam should expect to stay all day for a ton of other holiday themed events and attractions.
10 Things to Do at Christmas on the Potomac and ICE at Gaylord National
Get an early start at Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast.
Enjoy a buffet style meal with character experiences and entertainment at Pienza Restaurant. You and the family will love dining while singing along to well known holiday jams, and you can snag some great photo ops with Rudolph and his friends.
Build a gingerbread house to take home with you.
Stop at the gingerbread decorating corner where they have everything you need to construct your holiday masterpiece on site.
Go for a spin on the ice skating rink.
Need a little cardio in your day? Take a few laps on the indoor ice skating rink.
Take a ride on the holiday carousel or the miniature train.
Located in the Christmas Village area, youngsters will enjoy taking a ride on the miniature train or the holiday carousel.
Have a chat with Santa.
Santa is ready and waiting in Christmas Village. Take a break and send the kids to sit on his lap for your annual holiday photos.
Take in a live show.
Join visitors in the atrium for a live musical performance of JOY: A Holiday Spectacular.
Ride the ice slides.
Over and over and over again. ICE at Gaylord National is a super popular family events to expect it to be busy -when we visited, the line seemed to extend the length of the building -but know that it’s worth the wait. When else will you get to slide down a block of ice?!
Get your shop on.
Inside of the Christmas Shoppe located in Christmas Village. You can bring home keepsake gifts for everyone on your list.
Enjoy cookies with Mrs. Claus.
Snack it up while everyone’s favorite lady reads a holiday story over milk and cookies.
Explore the harbor.
Just because you came down to enjoy Christmas on the Potomac and ICE at Gaylord National doesn’t mean you can’t partake in the many activities available year round at the harbor. Families can spend some time shopping, indulge in a delicious meal or treat, or take a spin on the Capital Wheel, a massive Ferris wheel with enclosed compartments for year-round comfort while you ride.
Christmas on the Potomac runs through January 1, 2018. Learn more and buy your tickets here: ICE at Gaylord National’s Christmas on the Potomac