Holiday cheer is quite possibly my favorite thing. I love the chance to make memories with my family around the holidays. These are always the ones I remember most about my family growing up. We had an abundance of holiday cheer during our Christmas On The Potomac Media event!
The holiday season is one of traditions and Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is preparing to welcome both past and new guests to its annual holiday celebration, Christmas on the Potomac presented by FUJIFILM INSTAX© on November 19. Guests enter into a magical winter wonderland, and hearts will warm when they step inside to discover thousands of twinkling lights, extravagant Christmas trees, indoor snowfall, colorful ice sculptures and its very own Christmas Village! Yes it really is as amazing as it sounds!
New this year, guests can dine with their favorite Peanuts characters at Breakfast with Charlie Brown and Friends in Old Hickory Steakhouse. This one-of-a-kind, interactive character breakfast includes a delicious breakfast with Peanuts-themed dishes and tableside visits from Peanuts characters. During the meal, the characters come around to visit each table and you are sure to get some great photos. The food is a delicious buffet that has everything for both parents and kids, including a made to order omelette station! This is the perfect way to start the day! Cost for this experience is $39.99* for adults ages 12 and older and $26.99* for children ages 4 to 11. Kids ages 3 and younger are free.
Within its new Christmas Village, visitors will enter Gaylord National’s most famous frozen attraction, ICE! presented by Pepsi, featuring a new theme of Christmas Around the World. More than two million pounds of colorful ice is hand-carved by artisans from Harbin, China to illustrate scenes celebrating the world’s diverse cultural traditions. The 9 degrees walk-through exhibit will showcase holiday traditions from Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico and more. Adults and kids alike can enjoy two-story ice slides, an enchanting Parade of Toys, live ice carving by master artisans and interactive photo opportunities including sitting in Santa’s sleigh – all experienced with a provided blue parka. My family and I loved the ICE! experience. It was chilly, but so much fun! My kids loved reading about the Christmas traditions that were posted about different ways countries celebrate the holiday. Of course we each went down the slides many, many times! It was also very cool to see one of the sculptures at work, creating a piece right in front of us. We spent about 40 min inside this spectacular event.
The fun does not end there. Following a visit to ICE!, visitors will return to the hotel’s festive Christmas Village. Families and friends can grab a cup of cocoa, shop at the holiday store and experience a variety of seasonal attractions for an additional fee including:
· NEW Cookies with Mrs. Claus experience where kids can enjoy a delicious treat and Christmas story with Santa’s favorite lady (Guests also receive an autographed keepsake book)
· NEW Build-A-Bear Workshop© that lets guests build their very own furry winter friend
· Holiday rides including classic family favorites, the Carousel and Teacups
· Gingerbread Decorating Corner presented by Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, where families can decorate a gingerbread house, sleigh or ugly sweater with special visits from the Gingerbread Man
· The Elf on the Shelf© Scavenger Hunt booklet to find scout elves throughout the hotel
My youngest really enjoyed the rides inside the Christmas Village. It is great to see even more family friendly fun added to this experience. We had a blast decorating Ugly Sweater Cookies at the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. Yes, you can do a house, but there are other options to choose from. Our family got really into the Elf On The Shelf Scavenger Hunt. It was a great way to see the hotel and work as a team. Plus, my kids loved the prize they earned 🙂
Here are some of my Christmas On The Potomac Tips & Tricks for you all before you go!
To experience unlimited Christmas fun, visitors can purchase a Play All Day Pass that includes one admission to ICE! featuring Christmas Around the World, the Gingerbread Decorating Corner experience, admission to three holiday rides – including the Potomac Express Train, The Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt and a cup of hot cocoa. The package costs $59.45* for adults ages 12 and older and $59.44* for children ages 4 to 11. Kids ages 3 and younger are free.
The best way to experience all of the resort’s Christmas on the Potomac offerings in National Harbor is through an overnight stay. Guests staying on a holiday package receive one hour early entry to ICE! and exclusive, unlimited priority entry to the attraction.
Get 2017 ICE! Information & Promos Here!
My family and I received a Play All day Pass in exchange for promotion and review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
