A very beautiful exhibit at the Gaylord hotel.
ICE! at…read moreNational Harbor is impressive, well-organized, and exactly as cold as advertised. Parking around National Harbor is plentiful, though expect a bit of a hike through the hotel to reach the back corner where the Christmas Village and exhibit entrance are located. You can pay for parking at a small booth near the entrance, which keeps things straightforward. Before entering the exhibit itself, you pass through the Village area, which includes an ice slide attraction, Santa's workshop, and a retail shop. Entry requires a ticket--about $50 per person--so it's not cheap. Once inside, you follow a serpentine path with areas where you can touch real snow, plus a small display explaining how the exhibit was constructed. You're issued a blue overcoat before entering the main exhibit. Take it. Even with the coat, it's cold. Inside, it's about 7 degrees, and the rules are clear: do not touch the ice sculptures. This year's theme is The Polar Express, and the exhibit follows the story through several themed rooms that showcase the craftsmanship of the ice artisans. The detail is striking, and there are ice slides if you're brave enough. It's beautiful, very cold, and memorable--but your time inside is limited due to the cold temperature. When finished, you return the coat and exit back into the Village. Overall: very cool (pun intended), impressive, and worth seeing at least once.
We also caught the Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show in the stunning atrium, and it was an absolute highlight of our visit! The production follows a sweet girl-dreaming theme with magical spirits guiding the story--perfect holiday vibes.
The performers were phenomenal: from the ladder walker and high-wire artist to the incredible juggler (she stole the show for me--her skills and energy were out of this world!). Everything was packed into a surprisingly tight stage area, which made the precision and high-flying stunts even more impressive. It wasn't very crowded when we went, the show runs about 30-35 minutes (just right), and it felt well worth the ticket price.
If you're at the Gaylord for ICE! or the holiday festivities, don't miss this--it's a dazzling, feel-good addition that left us smiling. Highly recommend!