Gaylord National Resort And Convention Center: Bigger Is Better

So many great room choices

Choose from one of 1,996 guest rooms, including 110 suites, for a perfect fit. The Gaylord has not just one Presidential suite, but six of these over-the-top luxury escape havens. There are also five hospitality suites, 91 Executive suites, and eight concept suites with custom furnishings and decorative touches. Many of the rooms and suites have their own patios looking out on the atrium and views of the Potomac River.

Although the room choices seem daunting, most will find the atrium view king or queen rooms sufficient. Watch sunsets over the Alexandria, Virginia area from your own atrium sitting area. If you are traveling with family, some of these rooms are adjoining making it simple to connect. Pillowtop mattresses deliver a comfortable night’s rest. The bathroom has a double sink, shower/tub combination, and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. For more room to stretch out in, step up to an atrium suite for more space, 850 sq ft/78.9 sq m and a separate living room with sofa bed.

Put on your explorer hat and look around

After checking into your room, it’s time to explore this vast property. Head to the ground floor of the atrium where you will find a convenience store and four boutique shops selling jewelry, handbags, accessories, and more. For typical American fare, try National Pastime Sports Bar and Grill. Dig into comfort foods like hamburgers, chili, or crabcakes and pair with one of ten craft beers.

Pienza Marketplace serves a seasonally inspired breakfast and lunch menu alfresco style. Pienza is open for dinner seasonally, serving made-from-scratch sweet and savory dishes. The Old Hickory Steakhouse is the Gaylord’s signature restaurant. Modeled after an 18th-century Georgian row home, Old Hickory delivers fine dining without leaving the resort. Old Hickory is open for dinner only and serves premium, all-natural Black Angus beef, poultry, fish, and pork. Ask for a bottle of fine wine from their award-winning wine list to complete your experience. Their artisanal cheese selection is offered tableside by the Maitre d’Fromage for those who love cheese and wine at dessert time.

After dinner, your options are many and varied. If you want a taste of nightlife, consider Pose Rooftop Lounge. This two story lounge is only for overnight hotel guests and offers sweeping views of the nation’s capital through 18-foot (5.48 m) floor-to-ceiling windows. For something more relaxing, stroll the ground floor of the Gaylord taking in the gardens and water features. Each night, the fountains show off with changing colors and high spouting plumes of water. Take a walk outside to breathe in the fresh air and see the twinkling lights of Alexandria.

A city of food and fun

Outside of the Gaylord is the entire National Harbor with its restaurants, shops, and attractions. The Capital Wheel is a Ferris wheel on the water’s edge, only about a ten-minute walk from the Gaylord. Free outdoor movies are shown seasonally in the center of the National Harbor near the beach for a family-friendly entertainment option. With the opening of the new MGM National Harbor, gaming has come to the area in a big way. The MGM also has had top-name entertainers playing in the Theater like Cher, Bruno Mars, and Sting. The Gaylord operates a shuttle that is free to guests and runs every thirty minutes. Check with the front desk or concierge for a schedule for the shuttle. For excellent seafood, try star chef Josè André’s Fish in the MGM Grand. The grilled lobster is one of the best menu items at Fish.

During the day, if you have time to explore across the river take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to Alexandria and enjoy old town. From Alexandria, hop on the Metro and ride into the heart of Washington DC’s museums and attractions. Other options include taking a water taxi to George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon.

A meeting space with a river view

If you are looking for a venue for a meeting or event, the Gaylord has more than 600,000 sq ft/55,741 sq m of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space. With 89 meeting rooms, five ballrooms, a nearly 180,000 sq ft/16,722 sq m exhibition hall , and five outdoor meeting venues, the Gaylord is one huge event center. Not satisfied with that amount of meeting space, the Gaylord recently unveiled the dramatic freestanding 16,000 sq ft/1,486 sq m RiverView Ballroom just a stone’s throw from the Potomac River.