Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center – Experiences

National Harbor, Maryland, is only 20 minutes south of Washington D.C. This cozy, development may be in the shadow of D.C., but it has a lot to offer. The town is very new; in 2010 it was officially listed as a census-designated place. The population is roughly 4,000, but thanks to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor is bustling all year long. In addition to its neighboring proximity to Washington D.C., National Harbor is very close to other thrilling towns like Alexandria, Virginia, and Oxon Hill, Maryland. You’re bound to have some free time during your event at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. When you do, check out some of these hotspots.

 

Morning

Noon

Night

 

Morning

Sweet, simple, and full of the basics you love and need. That’s what Bread & Water Company was founded on. However, this place does add its own twists to the meals. Yes, you can go for the more simple breakfast renditions like quiche, sausage & toast, and the belgian waffle. But, why not shake things up a little? Instead of a plain belgian waffle, order the bacon & cheddar or apple & cheddar waffle. The brioche plank french toast is definitely worth a consideration too.

If you like Bread & Water Company’s breakfast, come back for lunch. The Alexandria location serves sandwiches like a garlic-roasted pork butt and roast masala chicken salad. There are also salads, soups, stews, and chili.

Gaylord National Resort & Convention CenterWhen the mood strikes for some French-inspired pastries and crepes, you won’t have to travel far from Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center to get them. Just keep your eye out for Fontaine Caffe & Creperie. Fontaine bakes a wide array of both savory and sweet crepes. Some of the savory highlights include the Old Towner – ham, sautéed spinach, and caramelized onions; Tuscan – Italian sausage, cannellini beans, red pepper, and onions in a tomato sauce; and the Sultan – spicy lamb sausage, lentils, spinach, and feta cheese topped with fresh tomatoes and a yogurt mint sauce. Some of the most popular sweet crepes are the Black Forest – chocolate ice cream, Morelli cherries, dark chocolate sauce, and whipped cream; Charming Frenchman – caramelized apples, french vanilla bean ice cream, and calvados; and Marathon – choice of banana or apple, Nutella, peanut butter, and chocolate sauce.

Fontaine Caffe & Creperie also has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even brunch (available on weekends). You’ll come for the crepes and then come back to try everything else.

You’re going to be eating well when you’re in the National Harbor area, that’s for sure. But with eating tons of awesome food, comes tiredness and laziness. You can combat this though with a walk, or jog, on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail. This three-and-a-half mile trail runs from Oxon Hill Road, across the Potomac River and ends at the Huntington Metro Station in Virginia. A portion of it runs right by Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. If you have a lot of time, you can even hook up with one of the other trails that connect to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail. The trail allows bicycles, in-line skating, and walking/jogging.

As you explore Alexandria, you may discover a captivatingly tall, tower sitting back behind a lush, landscaped field. This beautiful building is none other than the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Modeled after the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, this memorial is one of the largest-scale private Washington memorials. While the outside is something to admire, the inside is just as striking. The memorial is open seven days a week with five daily tours: 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm. The guided tours last about an hour. A guide will take you through several of the areas where you can see and learn about a plethora of exhibits relating to George Washington. Anyone who is a history fan won’t want to miss this place.

 

Noon

Taking a trip to Maryland and not eating crab cakes is like going to Italy and not trying the pasta. It’s unheard of. Whenever you find yourself hankering for some lump, juicy crab cakes, look no further than Crab Cake Cafe. Only a five minute walk from the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Crab Cake Cafe makes its crab cakes with some pretty awesome variations. If you won’t take my word for it, just read their slogan: “You’ve never had a crab cake like this before!” From the Hawaiian Crab Cake with crushed pineapple and coconut, red bell pepper, and chili lime sauce to the New Orleans Crab Cake mixed with andouille sausage and okra, served alongside red onion, green bell pepper, and a spicy remoulade sauce.

It’s not just about the crab cakes at Crab Cake Cafe. The chefs also cook up seafood soups, salads, and tons of seafood entrees.

Maryland crab cakes are absolutely amazing, but eating them every meal might be a bit much; if you want to though, more power to you. But in all seriousness, when you want some variation to your lunch, Thai Pavilion is a solid choice. Full of beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian Thai entrees, this eatery and popular takeout joint is a go to. Thai Pavilion even has a cheap lunch menu as well as a sushi menu.

Whether you want to go shopping for fun or need to go shopping because you forgot to pack something, Tanger Outlets National Harbor has you covered. Since it’s the closet mall to Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center it’s the ideal shopping center for attendees. The convenience isn’t the only reason to go to Tanger Outlets, however. The main reason is the quantity of diverse stores. From clothing and jewelry to cosmetics, candles, and home furnishings, and more, there’s plenty to explore and buy. Keep in mind, Tanger Outlets isn’t housed under one roof. You have to go outside as you venture through the 80+ stops.

 

Night

It’s not all lump crab cakes at The Walrus Oyster and Ale House, although they are on the menu. The Walrus splits the menu nicely between seafood, beef, and chicken, along with numerous appetizers and sides. Try some steamers like the crab claws, oyster pot, mussels, and gulf shrimp. Fresh swordfish, salmon, sea bass, lobster, you name it. More or a turf than a surf kind of person? Dig into the half pound walrus burger – it’s not actually walrus, it’s beef – roasted half chicken, bone-in New York steak or one of the other meat options. The Walrus Oyster and Ale House is a bit of an institution in the area. Don’t skimp on it during your visit to the area.

Since 1999, Granite City Food & Brewery has been brewing craft beer. 20 years later, the brewers have the system down pat. Six signature beers are available: Broad Axe – oatmeal stout; Prairie Vixen – hefeweizen; The Bennie – bock; The Duke – pale ale; The Northern – American lager; and Batch 1000 – double IPA. Seasonal beers are also brewed all year long. Cocktails and wine are on the menu, so don’t worry non-beer drinkers.

As for the food, Granite City’s chefs are just as masterful as the brewers. Start off with chicken wings, bone-in or boneless, Asian-glazed jumbo shrimp, or Batch 1000 BBQ pork nachos. An assortment of artisan flatbreads, hand-tossed pasta, steakburgers, sandwiches, and steaks will make it difficult to decide. You can’t go wrong with the Granite City Classics either: Meatloaf, Mediterranean Chicken, Broad Axe Stout-Braised Beef Short Ribs, Chicken Limone, and Jumbo Sea Scallops.

During your time at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, you may catch a glimpse of the Capital Wheel. Spending its days on the National Harbor pier, the Capital Wheel is an iconic symbol of the area. Enter one of the 42 climate-controlled gondolas and rise 180 feet into the air. At the apex, you can gaze out and enjoy uninterrupted views of the Washington Monument, U.S. Capitol, the city of Alexandria, and much of Prince George’s County. Riding the Capital Wheel during the day is cool, but the real thrill happens at night when the Ferris wheel is lit up with 1.6 million vibrant LED lights.

After your exhilarating ride, stop by Flight Deck for an after dinner drink. The popular outdoor lounge serves beer, wine, champagne, and all sorts of specialty drinks. One of the coolest aspects of Flight Deck is the waterfront location. As you sip on your beverage, you can watch the sun set, or simply stare out beyond the Potomac River.

Gaylord National Resort & Convention CenterThere aren’t many activities more fun than winning money. That’s something everyone can agree on. Add your lucky shirt to the packing list and remember to wear it when you visit MGM National Harbor Casino. Just a quick walk from Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, MGM National Harbor provides many of the same sterling amenities as the one in Las Vegas does. With a little luck on your side, you can win money from a variety of games. Between poker, slots, and all of the table games like craps, roulette, and blackjack, you can gamble your way.