December 2022
Visiting National Harbor in the Washington, DC suburb of Oxen Hill, MD for Christmas was on my list for a while. Marriott puts on a yearly Christmas extravaganza at all of its Gaylord hotels and National Harbor is the most convenient for us. The centerpiece is their "ICE!" display which features 2 million pounds of ice carved into a walkthrough display kept at 9 degrees. Don't worry, they provide you with a parka. When I heard the 2022 theme was A Christmas Story, we decided to make this one of the first trips we took as the COVID pandemic was in its last throes. It was a fun trip and certainly put us in the mood for Christmas!
MGM National Harbor's Conservatory was all decked out for the holidays
MGM National Harbor's Conservatory was all decked out for the holidays
MGM National Harbor's Conservatory was all decked out for the holidays
I'm glad I don't have to hang ornaments that size on my tree
This is how to hide a vacant storefront
Only in DC would the carousel have an eagle on it
We have to take a ride on the massive Capital Wheel
I'm not sure who buried this poor guy, but they should come help him up
On our way to the Capital Wheel for a better view of National Harbor
You have to love ferris wheels that have climate controlled gondolas
Waiting our turn to ride the Capital Wheel
Looking down on The Awakening statue from atop the Capital Wheel
The view from the Capital Wheel is great
There's the Gaylord National, our hotel for the next few days
The George Washington Masonic Temple as seen from the Capital Wheel
The Capital Wheel is out on its own pier
The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
You can't miss the Washington Monument
Whenever I see the National Cathedral, I think of The West Wing
We won no money at MGM, but it was a fun visit anyway
I like the sailboat design of the Westin Hotel
We'll be back later to see the National Harbor Christmas tree lit up
A salute to the five branches of the military
My mother made friends with some gingerbread people. I just thought they looked tasty.
She's been dead for decades, yet Marilyn still hasn't learned not to walk over subway grates.
All sorts of statues adorn the sidewalks of National Harbor
Didn't expect to bump into Louis Armstrong today
This statue reminds me of the many in Saint John, New Brunswick
Rosie is still riveting
Churchill and Roosevelt are wandering the streets of National Harbor too
Henry Ford is slightly creepier than I remember him
The sun is starting to set over the Capital Wheel
We won't be testing our ankle strength on the iceskating rink at the Gaylord
The ice bumper cars look fun
Our room at the Gaylord National Harbor
Our room at the Gaylord National Harbor
The atrium is ready for Christmas
The atrium Christmas tree is warming up for its hourly shows
The atrium in the Gaylord National Harbor is absolutely massive
Washington DC, but in gingerbread
The atrium is really magical at night
The atrium is really magical at night
It's not Christmas without carolers. These folks were really good.
The Potomac District Cafe is indoors but has such a cool outdoor vibe
The hourly light, laser and fog displays are a lot of fun
The hourly light, laser and fog displays are a lot of fun
The hourly light, laser and fog displays are a lot of fun
The hourly light, laser and fog displays are a lot of fun
The atrium is really magical at night
The atrium is really magical at night
We picked up some treats to take back to the room for a late night snack
Early morning in the atrium
It's hard to remember you're indoors when walking around the Gaylord atrium
It's hard to remember you're indoors when walking around the Gaylord atrium
It's hard to remember you're indoors when walking around the Gaylord atrium
Finally, A Christmas Story in ice!
This doesn't even look like ice
I recognize this house
My mom on the porch of the Christmas Story House
I'm on the porch of the Christmas Story House!
The car's in the driveway. The Parkers must be home.
In the backyard
My mother at Higbee's admiring the toys
The Scutt Farkus scene comes alive in ice
The Scutt Farkus scene comes alive in ice
The ice fence looks really cool (no pun intended)
Getting your tongue stuck is probably worse when everything is made of ice
The leg lamp!
I don't remember my mother being in the original scene
It must be Italian!
Oh fudge!
There go the lug nuts!
Poor Ralphie and his mouthful of soap
Poor Ralphie and his mouthful of soap
Seems like a great place for an ice bath
Mrs. Parker is not happy
That's a lot of winter clothes
No amount of bundling up will keep ice Randy warm
This entire kitchen made of ice is amazing
Randy under the sink is a nice detail
The entire department store Santa scene was really impressive
The entire department store Santa scene was really impressive
The entire department store Santa scene was really impressive
My mother slid down the ice slide
Even I slid down the ice slide
A fireplace built of ice
An icy Christmas morning
Randy and his blimp
The infamous bunny outfit
The infamous bunny outfit
You'll shoot your eye out!
The Bumpus hounds
A Chinese Restaurant Christmas dinner
A Chinese Restaurant Christmas dinner
Goodnight to all
Looking down over the Gaylord atrium and the Belvidere Bar
The Capital Wheel
The view from our room is... geometric?
Walking along the river and checking out the Gaylord atrium from the outside
Waiting for the light show to begin on the National Harbor Christmas tree
The National Harbor Christmas tree puts on its own light show
The National Harbor Christmas tree puts on its own light show
Fireworks over National Harbor
Fireworks over National Harbor
Fireworks over National Harbor
Fireworks over National Harbor
Walking along Fleet Street
The number of Christmas lights outside of Gaylord National Harbor is astounding
The number of Christmas lights outside of Gaylord National Harbor is astounding
The Capital Wheel by night
Looking from the outside in at the Gaylord atrium Christmas tree
Looking from the outside in at the Gaylord atrium Christmas tree
Looking from the outside in at the Gaylord atrium Christmas tree
We didn't find out until our last night that were were supposed to have been given wine vouchers
The carolers we saw, put on other shows too.
Enjoying some early morning time in the atrium before checking out
Gaylord's hotel lobby
One last look at the Christmas decor