A National Harbor Christmas

Almost two weeks ago, Britney and I went to visit our friend Mandy at her home in Silver Spring. You remember Mandy, the one with the adorable child, Lilly? We went apple picking together?

Well, Mandy has lived in her home for maybe a year or more at this point, and I still hadn't seen it or spent some good quality time with her in a while. So, we finally got something on our schedule, and made it happen. Her house is adorable, I loved seeing a peek into her everyday life, and not to mention: I got some choice playtime in with her girls. Is there really anything better than playing tag around the house with a three-year-old??

We decided we wanted our afternoon activity to include going to the National Harbor since all the Christmas decorations were up, and none of us really got to just walk around and window shop when we went with our significant others. Besides, is there anything more magical than Christmas lights, the water, and giant Christmas trees everywhere you look?

We had an amazing time. We walked around the Gaylord hotel, went into whatever shops we wanted, visited the Christmas Village (or whatever it's called) and got hot chocolate, and had all the heart-to-heart conversations we had needed for the past year. Britney and I couldn't stop talking about it after we left: we all had needed that day. So, I wanted to list the five things you can do with or without children when you visit the National Harbor at Christmastime.

1. Walk Around the Gaylord National Resort and Visit the Christmas Village

If you've experienced the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, this is like a small-scale version of that. Like a way smaller scale, but it's still pretty to walk around and see. They have trees themed from different countries (or continents - still kinda mad Africa was generalized into ONE tree), lights everywhere, programs for children, and Christmas music. It's a fun experience. And if you visit the Christmas Village, there is ice skating, rides for kids, a gift store, and a hot chocolate station. It would have been fun even if we didn't have a toddler, but that made us experience everything with child-like wonder, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

2. Experience the Capital Wheel

I know I will never ride this with my husband since he has a ridiculous fear of ferris wheels, and apparently this is nothing like the London Eye in England, which it was modeled after. It's much smaller and apparently has some sway in the winds. Definitely not doing it with my husband. But it would be something I'd like to experience at some point - during the holidays, it's lit up in red, green, and white, and looks so pretty from far away. You can get tickets for I think $15 a person - don't quote me though. But I'm sure the views of surrounding DC and Alexandria are spectacular.

3. Visit the Boutiques Along Waterfront Street

This was so much fun - every tree along the street is covered in strings of Christmas lights. But the stores are equally appealing: Georgetown Olive Oil, Peeps and Company, Alex and Ani, Build-a-Bear Workshop, South Moon Under, and Charming Charlie. Not to mention other cute stores on the streets surrounding Waterfront. It was nice to try different olive oils with my friends, look at cute accessories at Charming Charlie, and smell all the delicious food wafting from the surrounding restaurants amid all the cute lights. If you're aiming for a date night, this would be the place to go.

4. Take a Picture with the Awakening Art Installation or Watch a Movie at the Plaza Stage

Along the water, it's not only nice to stroll, but the National Harbor makes sure there is a movie playing most Saturday nights. If you bring your blankets and thermos of hot chocolate, you can enjoy family-friendly flicks under the stars. When we visited, they had Pink Panther on the screen. It's also worth a visit just to climb on The Awakening, an art installation of a giant man coming out of the sand. This is what Wikipedia says about the sculpture:

"The Awakening was created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. in 1980 as part of Washington, DC's 11th annual Sculpture Conference, and the sculpture was originally installed at Hains Point in East Potomac Park, Washington, D.C.. Hains Point was designated by Congress as the site for a National Peace Garden in 1987. Although no work had started on the National Peace Garden for many years, the decision still prompted the eventual sale of the sculpture by its owner, The Sculpture Foundation. Milton Peterson purchased the sculpture for $750,000 in 2007 for installation at his new National Harbor development in Maryland. Crews removed The Awakening from Hains Point in February 2008 for its move to National Harbor. At the National Harbor development, the sculpture was installed on a specially built beach along the Potomac River."

5. Play the Slots at MGM

MGM National Harbor, an extension of its older sister in Las Vegas, just recently opened, and is huge. If you're not with children, go play the slots or other casino night games, catch a show, grab a meal at one of the many restaurants there, or stay the night. Especially if you're a local and have been pining to go to Vegas, cure the urge for a weekend by spending it at the MGM.

Overall, I had such an amazing time with my girlfriends. It was crowded because it was a Saturday night around Christmas, but when you're with good company, a lot of things that usually annoy tend to slide. That was definitely the case: if there was traffic, we used it to extend our conversations. If there were people slowing down the flow of walking, we just took extra time to look at the decorations around us. So grab a loved one before the end of the year and make a trip to the National Harbor - it's beautiful, there is a ton to do (for free or for a price), and it will put you in the holiday spirit.

Happy Holidays, friends!! I hope it's warm and spent with loved ones. Let's keep praying for a Maryland White Christmas, okay?? I'm still hoping it can happen! :)