Well…maybe it’s not that cold outside right now unless you are visiting the spectacular ice sculpture exhibit in the new Gaylord Hotel at the National Harbor. Full disclosure – I haven’t yet gone partly because I thought it seemed super pricey – but a Beltway Babes BFF went last weekend and emailed in rave reviews. The Ice exhibit includes 15,000 square feet of carved colorful ice scenes under an extremely cold tent. There is also a two-story ice slide. In case you hadn’t heard this – 40 artisans from China crafted each of the figures out of 5,000 blocks of ice, each weighing 400 pounds. It took them 30 days to make this display – the whole thing fascinates me.
It is 9 degrees under the tent and therefore COLD…but the Gaylord offers parkas. And blankets for babies in strollers. I am a minor germ – lice phobe - so this moderately grosses me out – but maybe I’ll change my mind when I recall how cold 9 degrees actually is. The BB BFF who went last week reported in that the coats are for age 3 and up, so her not-yet 2-year-old looked like a penguin walking around in her loaner coat. She also noted that she had to take the long coat off her daughter to allow her down the huge slide and because it was so cold, she only let her go down once, and so obviously some drama ensued in the ice tent – but so be it.
OK – so the ice tent is in a parking lot across the street from the Gaylord at 201 Waterfront Street. The garage parking runs about $10. The exhibit is on now through January 10 and is open from 10am-10pm daily except Dec 6-1o when the hours are noon to 10pm. It costs a hefty $20 for adults before 4pm Monday-Thursday and $24.50 for adults Friday-Sunday. Kids age 4-12 are $13 and kids under 4 are free. They encourage advance ticket purchasing online.
I’d suggest you plan to make this more of an outing than just to the ice exhibit. The BB BFF suggests making dinner reservations because most places had a 1.5 hour wait but they lucked out at Elevation Burgers. Through January 3, the Gaylord atrium hosts a nightly Christmas tree lighting at 6pm, choral performances nightly at 7pm, a musical water fountain show at 8 and 9pm, “snow” falling in the atrium at 6:15 and 9:15 and ice skating through Jan 10. Ice skating is $8.
Overall it sounds great and we’ve received such a glowing review – I definitely plan to head and make it a full afternoon outing.
Wired Momma
Penn Quarter Mom
ustreeturbanmom
Budget Babe
