Gaylord Resorts’ Christmas on the Potomac

A recipe for a sensational winter holiday is based on creating the best gifts of all, lasting memories of family, camaraderie, mirth and unrestrained joy. Add to this mixture a surprising blend of seasonal activities, thematic interactive experiences, eclectic shopping venues and unique dining opportunities and you are bound to have a holiday that is almost defies description. The final, and very important, ingredient is a welcoming place. Gaylord Hotel & Resort has crafted Christmas on the Potomac as a curated family experience that is memorable and exciting for all ages and ability levels. #ChristmasOnThePotomac

                  

George Washington was first to put forth the idea that the harbor area, a few miles from Mount Vernon, was an ideal location to establish a center of commerce. George, who was a renowned dancer and 18^th-century party animal, would have approved of the Waterfront District of National Harbor as a gathering place for celebration, rest, relaxation and recreation.

                  

While always a destination in itself, Gaylord National Resort has become a nonsecular Christmas world that offers visitors the opportunity to stay and play and soak up holiday magic in both traditional and nontraditional ways. The menu of activities is extensive and, with the addition of accommodations in one of the more than 2,000 rooms, the fun need never stop. Guests can spend quality time strolling the 19-story atrium with its 55-ft. suspended Christmas Tree, regularly scheduled laser light shows featuring indoor water and snowfalls, holiday music and brightly decorated nooks and crannies in all the public spaces. Children can write and send a letter to Santa from the lobby’s special post office.

Cirque Dreams Unwrapped is showcased in the atrium nightly. The production transports you into the mystical realm of aerial, comic and acrobatic artistry. #CirqueDreamsUnwrapped 

ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! depicts the well-loved tale hand carved from 2-million pounds of colored ice maintained at 9-degrees in a special tent. This self-guided exhibition features ice slides and photo ops. Parkas are issued but bring gloves, hats and scarves, it really is COLD! #BlueParka

   

An adjacent Christmas Village offers shopping, gingerbread house decorating, photo ops and the 2-story tall, 4

lane, Reindeer Rush Tubing.

Dining experiences are an adventure at the Gaylord and  “What’s Cooking” At Gaylord National – Holiday Edition is especially unique. Guests can join the Culinary Team for a hands-on demonstration on general techniques and creating a special gourmet meal for the holiday. For those slightly younger Gaylord hosts the Whoville inspired buffet Feast with The Grinch.

Activities exclusive to hotel guests include a demonstration VIP Carver Showcase, the Silent Disco on Ice and Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf. Guests also have access to the Junior Olympic-size swimming pool, Fitness Center and 20,000-square-foot Relâche Spa with Winter Wine Down holiday treatments.

The magic continues onto the harbor front where ice skating is available in Gaylord’s Winter Square. If you tire of skating or just want to observe you can visit the Tinsel Tavern ugly sweater bar for holiday warmth and hot cocoa.

                  

The Capital Wheel is situated on the pier at National Harbor. The 180-ft. wheel provides  Potomac River views in climate controlled, holiday decorated, gondolas. Santa will be riding with families on Saturdays. A short walk away the Waterfront Carousel invites you to meet the Ice Princess and her Snowman friend on Saturdays. National Harbor’s programs include fireworks at 5:30 PM on Saturdays until the 28^th of December and free Holiday movies at 3:30 PM until December 21^st. The first 120 people to arrive will receive a free blanket. www.nationalharbor.com

National Harbor Circulator is free to Gaylord guests and you can hop aboard and go to Tanger Outlets as well as the MGM National Harbor. Tanger Outlets has more than 80 designer brands as well as eateries and programs.

Experience the magic of Christmas on the Potomac at the Gaylord National Resort. Information is available on line. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasgn-gaylord-national-resort-and-convention-center

Golden Punta Gorda

Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León is credited as being the first non-indigenous European to explore Florida although earlier expeditions reached the region seeking native slaves for export to Spain. He set sail in 1513 on a quest for gold and new lands but later versions of history include a search for the Fountain of Youth. Believing himself to be on an island he named the land Florida, flowery land, because of its vegetation and because he “discovered” it during Pascua Florida, Easter’s “Feast of Flowers”. His two expeditions led to the first European settlement in the continental US. pureflorida.com

Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda was the site of a potential colony in March 1513 and today much of the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, including Ponce de Leon Park, remains unblemished. The park offers fishing piers, beach, picnic pavilion, mangrove boardwalk and Peace River Wildlife Center. #bestsideoutside

Ponce de Leon was looking for gold and modern visitors are in search of their own version of a golden destination. Punta Gorda, on the western coast of Florida, is just such a place. The city seems constantly awash in a golden glow and the opportunities for eco-adventures, active tourism, eclectic dining venues and excellent accommodations are numerous. The average temperature is 75-degrees with an average low of 64-degrees. It has been designated one of the "10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States" and "Third Best Place to Live and Play Golf in America".

Punta Gorda was established in 1884 at the juncture of Peace River and Charlotte Harbor by Isaac Trabue and originally named Trabue. After the railroad arrived the city grew as a result of tourism and commercial fishing. It has remained small and is filled with parks, bike trails and three historic districts, the 22-block Punta Gorda National Register District, the 23-block African American Bethel-St. Mark Historic District and the 24-block Downtown Commercial Historic District.

The Military Heritage Museum is dedicated to relating the human story of our military forces from pre-American Revolution through current conflicts. There are 6 interactive galleries, a lending library with greater than 5,000 books, 1,000 documents and a 30,000 artifact and memorabilia collection. Uniquely the story is also told through the arts, Yoga for Vets, performances and artworks. Tours begin on the lower level with chronological displays in 3 period galleries, special exhibits and the Ship’s Store. On the upper level visitors can choose from a variety of interactive experiences, flying a plane, driving a tank, using firearms, etc. @militaryheritagemuseum

Veteran’s Park, northeast of the museum, houses a 50% replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It is made of the same black granite used in the original and is inscribed with over 58,000 names.

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens consists of 27-acres of botanicals, 10-acres of waterways and international sculptures. Highlights of the botanical displays are  28 palm tree varieties, 17-acres of Specialty Garden Rooms and an 800-ft. boardwalk with Peace River views. Sculptural exhibits include Andy Warhol, Next Summer and the Ostriches. @PeaceRiverGardens

Babcock Ranch is a 17,000-acre planned community designed to balance environmental preservation, emerging technology, sustainability, global awareness and core community values. Founder’s Square, the Downtown District, is designed around shops, the incredible Table & Tap Restaurant and a Discovery Center with a small museum. Model homes are situated throughout and make an interesting tour.

A 90-minute Babcock Ranch Eco-Tour by swamp buggy is an absolute gem. Guests travel 5-miles through Telegraph Cypress Swamp and 3 additional eco-systems as an expert guide points out wildlife and geographical features. The opportunity to get close to Andalusian “cracker” cattle and feral pigs, descendants of those brought to Florida in the 1500s, is unsurpassed, as is the number of alligators you will spot. This is a wildlife lover’s dream. Before departing check out the museum, restaurant and gift shop. Babcockranchecotours.com

PicklePlex is a free complex with 16 lighted courts and covered bleachers. This addictive sport, with smaller courts and bigger paddles than tennis, is America’s fastest growing sport. The World Pickleball Championship will be held in Punta Gorda  December 27-30 with a $100,000 purse. worldpickleballchampionship.com

Fisherman’s Village, on Charlotte Harbor’s waterfront, houses a resort, marina, shopping, restaurants and offers fishing charters and sightseeing tours. King Fisher Fleet’s 90-minute cruises provide wonderful views of sunsets and cavorting dolphins. At Village Fish Market & Restaurant you can dine on fresh seafood while watching the sunset on the Peace River. This is an ideal location for souvenir and memento purchases @VillageFishMkt

Alligator Bay Distillers offers free tours and tastings of their award-winning small batch whiskey and rum. This family operated distillery’s product is created from 100% Florida molasses. alligatorbaydistillers.com

Four Points by Sheraton, located on Charlotte Harbor, provides amenities including pillowtop beds, internet, designer linens, outdoor pool, fishing pier and concierge and business services. There are two restaurants and a poolside bar. It is located within a short distance of most attractions.

There are a plethora of award-winning eateries throughout the area that enhance your visit. Winner of the Open Table Award and Diner’s Choice 2019, Carmelo’s Italian Ristorante  is renowned for its freshly prepared dishes. Here you must try the signature Cavatelli Bada Bing handmade ricotta flambéed inside a Grana Padana parmesan wheel prepared at your table.@carmelosPG
Dean’s South of the Border serves creative Tex Mex and American classic cuisine in a fun setting.  There is a children’s menu and as well as a full bar. @DeansTexMex

Peace River Seafood is an authentic crabhouse within an Old Florida Cracker House. The fish is sourced daily and served literally from the pier to the plate. @peace.seafood

Penny’s Restaurant is renowned for serving the best breakfast in town. The list of options is huge as are the portions. @PennysRestaurantPuntaGorda

PERCH 360 at the Wyvern Hotel presents an eclectic Tapas menu as well as standard dishes. The rooftop bar and restaurant is great for sunset viewing. @Perch360

Find your gold and bathe in the 87-degree Warm Mineral Springs once believed to be the Fountain of Youth. You can have it all in Punta Gorda. #LoveFl

Travel Tips:
My quest for the perfect traveler’s gift has led me to The Grommet and Emma Royston’s Chasing Threads Leather Travel Accessories. Her unique, stitchable, journal, wallet and passport cover allow travelers to easily trace their journey on these perforated leather items using the accompanying needle and thread. Memorialize your trip in a singular and colorful way. www.thegrommet.com/chasing-threads

Central Virginia, Lynchburg

Contrary to what some might believe Lynchburg was named after John Lynch who took over the family’s James River  ferry service in 1757. In 1786 45-acres of John Lynch’s land was used to found the town that was chartered 29-years later. The location of the ferry service was memorialized in 2004 with Langley Fountain spouting a 190-ft. stream of water into the air. lynchburgvirginia.org

Lynchburg, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountain’s foothills, is referred to as the “City of Seven Hills” and because of its location and precolonial settlement, the city has been at the forefront of American history from its beginnings. The people and events involved are well documented, their paths are clearly indicated with markers and a series of unique museums and historic sites allow you to immerse yourself in Lynchburg’s legacy. Maps and guides are available at the Visitors Center.

Monument Terrace visually and physically connects the ferry landing and the Old Courthouse via Courthouse Hill. There are 132 steps and ten landings lined with eight markers and eleven sculptures. The views are noteworthy.

The Lynchburg Museum is located inside the 1855 Greek Revival Old Courthouse. During the final days of the Confederacy the Old Courthouse functioned as the capitol for six days. The museum provides an outstanding overview of area history from the pre-contact native presence until the present through photographs, artifacts and documents. Highlights of the collection include personal belongings of General Jubal Early and information on the Battle of Lynchburg. www.lynchburgmuseum.org

African Americans inhabited Lynchburg in the 1700s and in the 1800s their portion of the total population exceeded 40% and by the Civil War 20% of the black population was free. Slave auctions were held at 9th and Main Sts. on a large rock in front of Market House and their labor helped make the city the wealthiest of its size in the country. The backbone of the economy was tobacco, the first warehouse being built in 1797, and half of the blacks worked in that industry. The Legacy Museum of African American History interprets this history through artifacts, documents and artworks. On display is the Ann van de Graaf painting, “Lord Plant My Feet on Higher Ground”, memorializing the Civil Rights events and figures of the 60s and 70s. legacymuseum.org

Lynchburg did not fall into Union hands during the Civil War. Its major role was as a supply and hospital center, with the 2nd largest number of Confederate medical facilities.
Point of Honor Plantation is an 1815 Federal-style mansion. A tour begins on the exterior with a banister crafted by one of the 30 slaves on the 750-acre plantation. The house has its 1815-30 appearance with original woodwork, paint colors and era appropriate furnishings. The original owner, George Cabell, was Patrick Henry’s doctor and there is an outstanding medical exhibit on medicine of the times. pointofhonor.org

The Federal-style Sandusky mansion was built in 1808 on 1,200-acres and served as General David Hunter’s Union headquarters June 17-18, 1864. Two presidents, McKinley and Hayes, were on Hunter’s staff. A field hospital was set up in the barn and signal officers, after cutting a hole, accessed the roof. historicsandusky.com

Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District was originally established in the 1850s and become a Confederate military camp. At the end of the war a freedman’s school was established there. In the 1870s it became a 5-acre residential neighborhood for African Americans housing significant individuals. The two most notable sites are the Anne Spencer House and the Dr. Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court.

Anne Spencer was a Harlem Renaissance poet who lived in the 1914 Queen Anne home for over 60 years and her home is furnished exactly as she left it. Here she entertained the great minds of her day including King, Cullen, Robeson, Carver and Booker T. Washington. In her exquisite garden sits a one-room cottage, Edankraal, a combination of her name, her husband’s name and the African word for enclosure. The “Prince Ebo” fountain in her garden has a sculpted iron head that was a gift from DuBois. annespencermuseum.com

Dr. Walter Johnson’s home and restored tennis court is on the same block. He was a physician, tennis player and coach. He trained Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson among others on the court adjacent to his home.

The incredibly unique Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum was established by John Lynch in 1806. Today this 27-acre public history park consists of five museums, 20,000 burials, heirloom plants and the largest public display of antique roses with the oldest dating from 1581. Nearly 2/3 of the burials are African American and an interpretive sign details burial customs of West African origin. The Cemetery Center houses the Mourning Museum exhibiting items of mourning attire and customs. A highlight of the gallery is a portable embalming kit.

In the 1840s and 50s those with infectious diseases were quarantined in the Pest House were most patients died. The 2-room, Pest House Medical Museum was the office of Dr. John Terrell who was appalled at the conditions during the Civil War and instituted standards of cleanliness and lowered the death rate from 50% to 5%. Audio stations relate historic information about Terrell’s office and the quarantine room. Displays include a surgical amputation kit and operating table. The cemetery offers a complete schedule of programs. October Candlelight Tours are particularly popular. www.gravegarden.org

The boutique Craddock Terry Hotel at Bluffwalk Center is an award-winning, 44 room, Historic Hotel of America inside the 1888 Craddock-Terry Shoe Corporation’s original brick warehouse. Unique architectural features, granite walls, arched casement windows and handmade bricks, enhance the public and private spaces. Penny Loafer, a wire fox terrier, serves as the official greeter and concierge. The 1896 William King Jr Tobacco Warehouse hosts events and is an ideal location for weddings and receptions.

Accommodations have views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offer designer linens, upscale amenities and continental breakfast is served in a shoe shine box. There are two restaurants on the premises, Waterstone Pizza and Shoemaker’s American Grille, both serving culinary masterpieces.