Christmas on the Potomac: Review of ICE at the Gaylord National Resort 2018

by Melissa Moore

​What are your family holiday traditions? Does your family turn on the Christmas music when it is time to clean up the Thanksgiving feast? Or, do you walk the same festively lighted street each December? For my 8-year old son and I, Gaylord National’s Christmas on the Potomac has become our special pre-holiday Washington DC holiday tradition. We now have five years living in the Washington DC area and have made four visits to National Harbor for ICE! This year, we were able to bring Grandma along. Our whole 45-minute drive to National Harbor this Saturday, my son talked non-stop of Frosty and Rudolph, ice slides and tunnels letting Grandma know the ins and outs of our Christmas on the Potomac tradition.

​Gaylord National’s ICE! theme for 2018 is A Charlie Brown Christmas. From a Snoopy scavenger hunt around the resort to a character breakfast with Charlie Brown and his friends, everything is Charlie Brown themed at Gaylord National this holiday. I love the nostalgia of the old Charlie Brown songs, like “Linus and Lucy” played on the piano. This music is a festive background for the colorful, 9-degree ice sculptures at Christmas on the Potomac. Like in previous years, slippery slides made of ice, colorful characters carved out of ice spinning to music, and icy blue tunnels, enchant visitors of all ages for as long as they can tolerate the frigid cold. This year my son especially loved being able to crawl through Snoopy’s dog house; what a fun photo op! 

​In addition to the ice carvings, families will love Gaylord National’s new Cirque Dreams Unwrapped Atrium Show. Until January 1st, circus performers from trapeze artists to contortionists will amaze the crowd multiple times a day. Performers seemingly fly above the audience flipping and twisting in this 25-minute show. My 8-year old boy walked away impressed. (And, that’s high praise considering that less than a week ago he almost fell asleep watching the Lion King on Broadway.) Free seats for the Cirque Dreams Unwrapped Atrium Show are available first come, first served.

​Like in previous years we enjoyed the Christmas on the Potomac scavenger hunt. I love how the clues send us around the entire resort complex so that we see all the beautiful holiday decorations. Also, for the tots, the train and carousel have returned to Christmas Village; sadly, my 8-year old has outgrown these rides. However, gingerbread decorating has remained a favorite. My son was so excited to decorate a gingerbread house this year. Meanwhile, I breathed a sigh of relief when the Gaylord National staff reminded me to leave the sticky frosting mess behind on the table for them to clean up. 

Use SNOW18 for $4 off ICE! Tickets. (Valid on select dates only. Sunday through Thursdays from 11/18-12/20.)