gaylord
by Bob & Tanya Waite
I’m ready to go. I have been packed for a couple of hours. It takes me five minutes, maybe ten. Tanya is still packing; something that takes over an hour. I am pacing—impatient and want to hit the road. Yet, watching Tanya is interesting. I see everything laid out on the bed and the small suitcase. Can she really cram all that into one bag, I wonder? And as I stand there, I see her do just that. I learned not to ask her how. I simply experience both impatience and awe that blend into a kind of admiration.
We get into the car. After driving for a few hours we get off the Beltway at National Harbor, Maryland, which is located right across the Potomac from Alexandria, Virginia. The first thing we encounter is an astounding 85-foot tall sculpture, The Beckoning, by renowned abstract sculptor Albert Paley. Beautifully made of Corten steel, it looks to us like a large Native American icon. Tanya cannot help saying, “That’s beautiful!” I concur.
After passing some very interesting shops, boutiques and restaurants, we arrive at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. The size of this resort at first confuses me but some very well-placed signage and a less confused wife me get into the parking garage and in no time we are able to find the public relations manager and very gracious host, Rachael Dinbokowitz, who gives us a tour of the resort.
After walking through the lobby, the first thing we see is the 19-storey high glass atrium with beautiful indoor gardens that are set in what appears to be a Colonial village. The trees, lush plants, brooks, waterfalls, gazebo, restaurants and shops (built to look like Maryland Colonial or Williamsburg style homes) make the atrium the central feature of Gaylord National Resort. The huge glass windows and glass ceiling impress us with the size of this resort, which is the largest non-casino hotel on the East Coast boasting 1996 guestrooms.
Christmas at Gaylord is simply put—amazing! Guests, young and old, will marvel at the resort’s 19-story atrium décor including a jaw-dropping 55-foot Christmas tree suspended from its atrium ceiling, more than 2 million twinkling lights and a nightly fountain, laser light show that includes an indoor snowfall called A Christmas Wish. The show is sure to tug at visitors’ heart strings.
New this year, visitors can see a 25-minute Cirque Dreams Unwrapped show in the atrium. This spellbinding production will dazzle viewers with its vibrant Christmas fable including spectacular costumes, soaring imagination, gravity defying feats and on-the-edge-of-your-seat excitement. Attendees can enjoy acrobatic acts, aerialist performances and fun for the whole family performed by an international cast from seven countries.
The resort’s signature holiday attraction, ICE!, presented by DEI, will return for the 10th year to showcase the true meaning of Christmas with its rendition of the beloved classic story, A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schulz. Favorite characters including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and friends will come to life in more than 2 million pounds of colorful, larger-than-life ice sculptures hand-carved by 35 artisans from Harbin, China. The attraction also includes four multi-story ice slides and culminates with a breathtaking, crystal clear ice sculpture Nativity scene that echoes Linus’ famous soliloquy from the holiday classic.
Even though we arrive at Gaylord several weeks before the winter festivities, Rachael takes us to the building that is going to house ICE! We have to put on parkas to withstand the 9-degree temperature inside the building. Tanya says, “Finally, a place to go where I won’t be too hot” We both run a little hot, but while sleeping she kicks covers and sheets off the bed, sometimes reducing me to a shivering mess. Inside the building we see the 2-million pounds of ice stacked in large blocks. Some of the ice is colored, some has a milky complexion, and some is crystal clear.
The tour is over, and Rachael leaves us to go to our room to freshen up for dinner. We take the glass enclosed elevator with the atrium in view. As we look over the atrium we are lifted to our floor. Entering our room, we both sigh. A day of packing, driving and touring a huge resort is over. Now we can relax and enjoy the evening.
To our delight, our room overlooks the atrium. The balcony has two chairs and a tenth floor view. We sit there a while looking down on the gardens, the paths, shops and the distant waterfront that can be seen through the towering glass windows.
We change and go to dinner at the Old Hickory Steakhouse that is in the hotel on same floor as the lobby. At the Hickory Steakhouse we are greeted by a friendly hostess and take a comfortable seat by the fireplace to wait. A host comes in to take us to our seat. On the way we notice the unique light fixtures hanging from the ceiling that have a metal globe surrounded by lamps. It evokes a kind of colonial maritime theme.
Our waiter is a smiling gentleman who immediately introduces himself as Patricio. We find out that he is very knowledgeable about wine, food and pairing. His charm puts us both under his spell as a sure guide to the riches of this fine dining establishment.
Patricio explains the menu in very simple terms and then says, “We have a surprise for you.” He waits for a response. I ask, “What is it” He looks at Tanya, with a knowing smile. “Cheese,” he replies.
We laugh at his theatrics, but appreciate his tableside manor. He says, “Our chef wants to bring you a sampler of some of our most desirable cheeses.” I think that’s great, and Tanya’s eyes say, “Sounds lovely.” Without a word, Patricio reads our body language and goes back to the kitchen.
Sous Chef Jennifer Marianni brings us a carving board with samples of four cheeses and crackers. We try them all: the semi-soft Rainey’s Dream, the hard Gouda Lamb Chopper, the blue Humboldt Fog and the semi-hard Appalachian. They are delicious.
Patricio comes back and we order. Tanya, not one to eat large pieces of red meat, decides to try the 8 oz. Filet, and I order the Bison Ribeye. Tanya also orders a Caesar Salad and Roasted Asparagus. I order my large steak with the House Salad and Roasted Mushrooms. Everything is perfect. Our steaks are tender and wonderfully seasoned. Finishing our steaks, we each have a Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake that is infused with bourbon, giving it a special richness that is amplified by the chocolate covered bacon that comes with it.
After dinner Patricio takes us on a tour and we see the other dining rooms (each very different) and we go outside where people are sitting around a fire pit staying warm while drinking cocktails and conversing with each other. Leaving we thank Patricio for being such a great waiter. He smiles and asks us to come again.
After a good night’s sleep we decide to have breakfast at Pienza Marketplace located in the atrium level. Then we take a road trip. On the trip we check out the Tangier Outlets. This is more fun for Tanya than for me, since she loves shopping. After going into a few stores, she finds a hoodie that she likes. I am surprised, since I never have seen my wife wearing a hoodie, but it is the perfect attire for the waterfront on a brisk autumn day.
We go to the waterfront area at dusk. As we walk by the Potomac River beach, Tanya says, “Look!” There in the sand we see parts of a buried giant. It is actually The Awakening, a sculpture by John Seward Johnson II of this giant buried in the earth who is trying to free himself. We see the head, the hands and the feet. Tanya poses for a photo next to one of the large feet that has its heel in the sand and its toes above Tanya’s head.
As we pass the statue, we get in line for the Capital Wheel, a Ferris wheel that at its apogee is 180 feet above the Potomac River waterfront. We get in line to get on the wheel. In front of us is a group of twenty-something women ready to make their assent. Usually Tanya, a very affable person, would talk to these women, who are happily taking selfies and just having fun. Instead she is unusually quiet.
It is our turn to get on one of the enclosed gondolas. The attendant helps us on and shuts the door. I see panic in Tanya’s eyes. The wheel begins to move, and I have a great view of the waterfront and the whole National Harbor, so I say to Tanya, “Hon, come over and sit with me and you will have a better view.” She replies in a stern voice, “No! We will make the car shake.”
I decide to go to her, sit next to her, put my arm around her and give her a peck on the cheek. She, with a terrified look in her face, says “Stop it! Now it is shaking. Go back to your own seat!”
As we make one round, Tanya looks a little more relaxed. Trying to respect her acrophobia, yet wanting her to enjoy the ride, I gently stretch my hand to her to come on my side with me and enjoy the view. She relents. I put my arm around her and she pulls out her phone and takes a selfie of us. Now I know she is enjoying the ride. In another go-around, Tanya is relaxed, and we are laughing and enjoying the ride. After about 15 minutes the attendant is stopping the wheel to let people off. As he comes to our car, Tanya looks unhappy. “We have to get off already,” she says.
We get off and want to eat. The problem is that there are just too many choices. In a small area National Harbor has more than 40 restaurants. As we walk we see a very interesting looking Asian restaurant, Grace Mandarin. The red doors flanked by two Asian statues seem be say, “Step in.” We do.
Once inside we have to wait. It is Saturday night around 8 p.m. and the restaurant is full. So we sit in a very comfortable room at a table with several other parties of waiting customers. In no time we are called. A hostess takes us in an elevator to the third floor. Downstairs are seats, a large Buddha statue and a nicely stocked bar. The primary colors are shades of red, orange and brown. It is an exotic and magical atmosphere.
Where we sit, there is a clear view of the two floors beneath us. We are in a balcony section that is both cozy and romantic. Our server is a friendly young man who brings us a hot wet towel to clean our hands before ordering food. Our food is delicious. Tanya orders Chicken Panang Curry and I order the Herb Garlic Grilled Lamb Rack. We are very pleased with the food and the atmosphere. Even the men’s room has Asian art on the wall. At the end of our meal, our server brings us another wet towel and we wash our hands before leaving.
We stay up until around 1 p.m. in our room watching TV and then go to sleep. Checking out is sad. We want to stay another day or two, but it is Sunday morning and we have to be home to prepare for the week. Tanya and I get into our Nissan Altima ready to relive our two days at the National Harbor, Maryland.
The Gaylord National Resort & Conference Center is located at 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland 20745. For reservations or more information, call 301-965-4000 or visit www.marriott.com/hotels.
Bob Waite is the editor of Bucks County Magazine and Tanya is his wife, travel companion and co-writer of this department.