Every year, my family visits ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor Resort to kick off the holiday season. Spending a day (or two) at the resort has become a cherished holiday tradition. I love that my family can experience the best of Christmas under one roof—from photos with Santa to spectacular decorations. If you can’t make it to Gaylord National don’t worry. Gaylord resorts in Dallas, Denver, Nashville, Orlando and San Antonio have ICE! exhibits with different themes.
Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted. Pricing reflects information available at the time of original publication (November 2025).
What is ICE! and How Long Does it Take to Tour the Exhibit?
ICE! features hand-carved larger-than-life sculptures made out of colored ice. The 2025 theme is The Polar Express, which is my favorite so far. Walking through the exhibit is like walking through the storybook itself. There are also ice slides to zoom down and ice tunnels to explore. All of the ice used in the sculptures is hand-dyed and hand-carved. There’s nothing else like it!
Most guests spend about 20-40 minutes in the exhibit. However, my kids like staying much longer because they love the ice slides.
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What Else is There to Do at Gaylord National?
ICE! is located inside Gaylord National’s Christmas Village which is full of additional activities.
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- Visit with Santa
- Ride down Snow Flow Mountain in a snow tube
- Throw snowballs at Snowball Mountain, go to storytime with Mrs. Claus
- Decorate gingerbread houses
My family gets competitive when throwing snowballs and never misses building gingerbread houses.
Elsewhere in the resort, guests can see a cirque-style Christmas-themed show and watch a laser light show in the atrium. My family also likes to walk around the resort to take in all of the beautiful Christmas decorations including a gingerbread house village and beautiful Christmas trees.
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How Cold is the Attraction and What Should I Wear to Stay Warm?
ICE! is kept at a cool nine degrees Fahrenheit. That’s cold, but visitors don’t need any special clothing to stay warm. Gaylord National provides long blue parkas to all ICE! guests. The resort has a variety of sizes to fit toddlers through adults.
My family finds that the blue parkas keep us very warm. I recommend bringing a hat and gloves for extra warmth. Closed-toed shoes are required.
Do I Need Tickets for a Specific Date and Time?
ICE! tickets are issued for specific days and times. You do not need to stay at the hotel to purchase tickets. I recommend buying tickets in advance because it can be challenging to get tickets on weekends or after schools get out for winter break.
Once you leave the ICE! exhibit you cannot re-enter. However, guests can stay in Christmas Village as long as they like. My family likes to linger in the Christmas Village with hot chocolate after we finish ICE! to extend the experience.
Are Any Discounts Available?
Gaylord National offers several discounts. I like to buy discounted bundles for my family. Bundles include access to ICE! and a selection of other activities. Depending on the bundle selected, guests can save between 20% and 30% off the cost of buying activities separately.
There are several other discounts available for specific groups. Teachers, AAA members, current and former active-duty military members, first responders and seniors are all eligible for additional discounts. Gaylord National also runs other promotions on its website and social media channels throughout the season.
Do Overnight Guests Get Special Perks?
Several perks are available for overnight guests staying at Gaylord National. One of the best is a Chill Pass, which gives overnight guests front-of-line access to ICE! at their scheduled time. Overnight guests also get priority restaurant reservations and access to the resort’s pool.
Another perk of staying overnight is being able to explore National Harbor at night. During the holidays National Harbor is illuminated with a magnificent tree and twinkling lights. Staying overnight also gives my family time to ride National Harbor’s enormous Capital Wheel for great views of the area.
My family always books an atrium view room for a great view of the resort’s enormous Christmas tree and the resort’s daily light show.
Where Do I Park and How Much Does it Cost?
Gaylord National has an on-site garage. Parking is $46.00 or $23.00 if booked in advance. There are public garages and meters nearby in National Harbor that may cost less. Parking off-site may be cheaper but will require a short walk to the resort. In nice weather I don’t mind walking but parking on-site is more convenient.
Where Can I Eat at Gaylord National?
There are several restaurants at Gaylord National. For breakfast, my family enjoys Old Hickory for omelets and pancakes. For lunch and dinner the restaurant serves everything from Wagyu steak to Maryland seafood. There is also Harbor Social, a sports bar with duckpin bowling and darts. My family usually grabs coffee, snacks and lunch at the Potomac District Cafe and Market.
Also check out the Capital Confectionery Bakery, the Whiskey Revolution Tasting Room, the Belvedere Lobby Bar and Pose Rooftop Lounge.
There are many other restaurants from fast casual to fine dining a short walk from Gaylord National.
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