18 Stunning Things To Do In National Harbor, Maryland

This is where your friends raise their cocktails here in hopes of spending more evenings together, where excitement occurs both on stage and frequently at the gaming tables. Where international travelers and weekenders find a more luxurious way to see the Washington, DC, region.

There are 308 rooms in the 23-story hotel at MGM National Harbor, along with 1,35,000 sq. ft. of gaming area, retail space, a spa, 7 restaurants, a theater with 3,000 seats, and 7 VIP suites, 27,000 square. ft. of conference and event space, and a 4,800-car parking garage.

Open almost all year round, the Capital Wheel in National Harbor, Maryland, offers beautiful views of the Potomac River, and the Washington Monument, the nation's capital.

Take a 180-foot ride on the only observation wheel in the neighborhood, which rotates directly on the shore. With 42 climate-controlled gondola carriages that can accommodate up to eight people, the Capital Wheel rotates day and night throughout the year.

They have something for everyone, it does not matter if you're organizing a group trip, a team-building activity, a romantic date night with your partner, or a family adventure. This is a must-see location if you're in National Harbor, so reserve your tickets or package for an unforgettable experience.

The appropriately titled Spirit Park opened on Veterans Day (2022) and has a rippling 50-by-80-foot American flag on a 177-foot-tall pole. In its 1.776 acres, there is a great deal of patriotism. One of the biggest American flags on the East Coast is found at the park.

A 17-foot-tall bell tower that rings every day and plays music on holidays and other occasions, a collection of bison sculptures by South Dakota artist John Lopez, and an amphitheater that conducts military band performances in the summer are all located there, along with the flag, which is among the biggest in the nation. The amphitheater at the park can hold about 125 people.

Spirit Park is filled with symbolic landscaping, such as the prairie grass where the bison statues are located and Oak Trees, which was named the 2004 National Tree of the United States.

The fourth site of restaurateur Asad Sheikh's well-known Bombay Street Food pays homage to the tastes of his childhood by serving up savory samosas, curries, and sweet chutneys.

The lively restaurant, the only one outside of Washington, DC, is decorated in vivid pinks, oranges, and reds. Sea-inspired dishes like shrimp biryani, grilled branzino, and lobster-tail masala are served to honor the waterfront location. Don't forget about the drinks, which include a Bollywood Smash (rye whiskey with lemon and turmeric-ginger honey) and a mango lassi infused with rum.

Also, they offer a dining space upstairs where up to fifty people can eat and enjoy their meals without being interrupted. They have everything covered, including exclusive wine and whiskey-paired events and full-course dinners.

Established in 1972, Captain White's is a family-run restaurant that serves the greatest and freshest fish. For decades, they have been buying their seafood directly from local fishermen rather than via wholesale marketplaces to ensure that every catch is both fresh and affordable for the customers.

For the greatest value, quality, and customer service, no matter if you are looking for crabs, lobsters, shrimp, or anything else, make Captain White's your first port of call.

So, if you still don't consider visiting the Capital White's Seafood City while you are at National Harbor then your trip won't be worth it.

Tom's Watch Bar, the sports bar group's second site in the neighborhood, has more than eighty televisions spread across its five hundred seats, so there won't be any competition for a seat or the remote. You can also book the place for your event and make it special through your own customized plan.

When you are in National Harbor go to Tom's Watch Bar, order a stein of one of the approximately dozen beers on tap, and savor dishes like Tom's "famous" prime-rib dip, which is served on brioche with garlic fries and demi-glace on the side, or a cornbread pancake topped with chicken coated in Nashville hot sauce.

Burn it off in two Topgolf simulation bays thereafter, where you can select from 9 different sports, such as soccer, NFL, golf, UFC, and the unique "zombie dodgeball."

Books written by, for, or about members of the African Diaspora are the focus of this bookstore. Espressos, lattes, cold brews, hot teas, specialty lemonades, and other artisan coffee beverages are available at the Mahogany Books Coffee Bar, which is housed within the Mahogany Books bookstore.

The coffee bar also offers strong, fragrant African whole coffee and espresso beans that are sure to delight the palate. The 1,200 sq. ft store is more than 3 times as large as its original Anacostia site and provides a wide range of products, such as recipes, mystery thrillers, poetry, and picture books for young readers.

Gaylord National Resort offers family-friendly entertainment all year long, including a unique daily Atrium Fountain show that features water, music, and lights that are coordinated and shoot 60 ft. into the garden atrium of the 19-story building.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the resort hosts Summerfest, its annual summer festival, which includes unique events, activities, and dining and spa deals. For its renowned Christmas on Potomac festival, the resort is transformed into a Christmas paradise over the holiday season.

The world-famous ICE Attraction, which includes two-story ice slides and over two million pounds of multicolored ice sculptures, is one of the many family-friendly attractions available at this spectacular.

To get to the Potomac, you don't have to purchase a boat. GoBoat in 151 National Plaza, a Danish firm that owns a fleet of recreational electric picnic boats anchored at the National Harbor, offers easy-to-steer boats for rent.

The best part is that captaining one doesn't require a license. The boats, which sleep up to eight people and include a central table for onboard eating, are available for $159 per hour.

Rent a pedal boat, a single or tandem kayak, or a single or multi-person standup paddleboard for $25 to $80 per hour at REI's new boat outlet at 168 National Plaza if you want a more analog experience.

Choose from a wide range of treatments at MGM National Harbor's Spa and Salon, a 27,000-sq ft haven with 11 opulent appointment spa rooms, a full-service salon, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, and other private facilities. Or relax in 20,000 sq. ft of luxury at the Relache Spa at Gaylord National.

Gaylord's spa has eleven rooms, two steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools, a full-service salon, a relaxation area with a breathtaking view of the river, and a variety of treatment choices, including a couples massage in its famous couples suite.

Experience complete recuperation and renewal at these spas while taking in mindblowing Potomac River vistas. Experience results-driven treatments that will awaken your senses and calm your spirit, all while including holistic garden aspects and being administered by skilled therapists with impeccable professionalism.

You don't need to be a wine expert to enjoy and try the unique, small bunch pours at VNO. Actually, all oenophiles are welcome at the new wine bar. The 1,200-sq ft bottle shop and tasting room, which also has a branch in Baltimore, is decorated with purples inspired by wine and a floral pattern.

Enjoy a drink indoors or outside with a view of the bay. They take great care in creating amazing cheese and charcuterie platters to go with their excellent wines.

Also, VNO focuses on finding small-batch and uncommon wines that are seldom, if ever, found in the United States. These wines are mostly from France, Italy, and Spain. To introduce their customers to new wine varieties, their European-based wine specialists cultivate connections with small-production producers.

Silver Diner was founded to establish a community hub that offers modern American classics together with genuine diner hospitality. Over the past 35 years, Silver Diner has expanded and changed from their initial idea to become a chef-driven, award-winning restaurant that serves cuisine that reflects modern lives.

It seems fitting that Silver Diner, a business with more than 20 outlets around the region, would also set up shop in National Harbor. Breakfast is served all day and includes everything from the healthful Oaxaca omelet with black-bean salsa to the decadent challah French toast with salted caramel.

Without hand-spun milkshakes like the Chunky Monkey Banana, vanilla ice cream mixed with Oreos, bananas, chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce, and burgers like the Hawaiian Luau, which is topped with pickled shishitos and caramelized pineapple, you won't be able to experience its main course.

Muse Paintbar provides unusual entertainment for people of all ages in a welcoming setting where anybody can relax and discover the creative process. When you arrive, their kitchen and bar will be fully prepared with beverages, bar nibbles, and desserts to keep your inner artist going throughout the event.

To transform your blank canvas into a work of art, follow their artist instructors. Your artwork is yours to keep after you're finished.

Try your artistic and creative skills at the well-known Muse Paint Bar, where you may learn how to paint and take home your finished painting. All ages are welcome, and no prior experience is necessary. Little ones who wish to make their cuddly masterpiece may do so at Build-A-Bear, which is located only down the street.

Visit the Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Resort, which underwent a $14 million restaurant refurbishment during COVID time, for upscale fare presented in a modern setting.

The 10,000-sq ft steakhouse is divided into four rooms, each with its own distinct vibe: Get an old-fashioned at Old Hickory Bar's wraparound high-top; relax by the Den's striking fireplace; eat dry-aged tomahawk steak or seared scallops in the roomy dining area; or take in the harbor views from the terrace room with windows.

Enjoy farm-fresh omelets, Wagyu steak and eggs, a selection of salads, sandwiches, and more when you're in National Harbor. Dinner features premium meat, fresh seafood from Maryland, and excellent wines.

National Harbor is now home to the immersive brain-benders created by the massive, global escape-room organization Escapology. This place offers eight one-hour tasks with unique concepts that deviate from the typical spy-themed adventure. For example, there is a Batman-themed test where players must rush to defend Gotham, and there is an art-based test where you have to retrieve a stolen "Mona Lisa."

Finding clues, cracking codes, and solving riddles in 60 minutes will require you and your group to be creative, cooperative, and resolute to make your getaway. Hence, there are challenges for every ability level.

Equipped with a tablet and supplies, players may solve mysteries, riddles, and challenges in the real world by immersing themselves in Escapology's outdoor escape games.

Get discounts at over 85 high-end, name-brand retailers, including Kate Spade, Polo, Elie Tahari, Cole Haan, Boss, and J. Crew, when you shop the Tanger Outlets at National Harbor. Shoppers may be picked up and dropped off at the open-air center, which has sufficient parking, using a Circulator bus that runs across National Harbor.

This is another must-visit place in National Harbour because it offers a rate that not many stores would give, as they frequently give massive discount offers and exclusive deals to customers.

The massive Brazilian BBQ chain Fogo de Chao has opened a 12,000-square-foot location at the National Harbor. The "churrasco experience," which includes an endless supply of meat, is an option for diners.

Enjoy all-day happy-hour specials on the terrace or at the interior bar. Don't miss the strawberry-hibiscus caipirinha, which is a spin on Brazil's national drink and is prepared with silver cachaca and lime.

With around 100 locations across the U.S, IT'SUGAR has grown to become one of the biggest specialty candy retailtainers globally. IT'SUGAR is an experience rather than merely a confectionery.

They are well-known for their ridiculous sugar inventions that honor playful defiance and hope to create a world with more sugar and fewer regulations where everyone may experience the unadulterated delight that comes from consuming.