Each year the Capital Region USA, encompassing the vibrant
regions of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., sparkles with Christmas
lights and festive spirit from November through to early January. Whether it’s
driving light tours, pop up festive markets, or season long celebrations,
visitors will find a touch of holiday magic in every corner of the Capital
Region USA.
Light Up Your Holidays - A Glow-rious Christmas Display:
The National Christmas Tree is a holiday highlight in
Washington DC. This stunning conifer, free to visit, resides in President’s
Park on the White House Ellipse. It’s surrounded by trees adorned with handmade
ornaments from all 56 US states and territories and features nightly musical
performances throughout the season. During Chanukah, the majestic golden
National Menorah graces the top of the tree. Busch Gardens Christmas Town in
Williamsburg, Virginia, is a festive event featuring over 10 million lights,
holiday shows, delicious seasonal treats and plenty of holiday shopping
opportunities. It’s a magical experience for the whole family and a must-see
during the Christmas month. Maryland boasts the Winter City Lights in Olney
which features over 1 million twinkling lights spread across 18 acres creating
a magical winter wonderland including a 52 foot high programmable Christmas
tree and a 200 foot diameter canopy of lights. The drive through Lights on the
Bay at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis is another highlight along the
Chesapeake Bay with more than 70 animated and stationary displays.
Skate into the holiday spirit at ice-tacular Christmas
Rinks:
There are plenty of ice skating rinks across the Capital
Region USA. In Virginia, Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion is surrounded
by the lively streets of Reston making for a picturesque spot. Kings Dominion
WinterFest near Richmond is a wonderland during WinterFest and the ice rink is
set up in the iconic fountain on International Street. In Maryland, the Quiet
Waters Park in Annapolis is a scenic outdoor rink nestled in a beautiful park
setting making it a perfect spot for a festive skate. Glen Burnie’s Outdoor Ice
Rink located in the heart of the town centre offers skating with live music.
The rink on the pier at The Wharf in Washington, DC is particularly unique
because it’s above the water, offering a special skating experience. The ice
rink at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is another favourite, set
in a beautiful location surrounded by sculptures. Step inside a holiday
showplace like no other as you wind your way through the larger-than-life
sculptures, zoom down thrilling frozen slides, and traverse awe-inspiring
tunnels. Escape to Gaylord National to enjoy the splendour of the holiday
season.
Christmas markets are tree-mendously festive - travellers
will be pine-ing to go back:
Christmas Village in Maryland returns to Baltimore’s Inner
Harbor from 29th November to 24th December. Offering the largest footprint to
date, new surprises, more vendors, festive lights and holiday cheer will be
found at an authentic German Christmas Market, also in Baltimore. Maryland
Christmas Show, held in Frederick spans two weekends (22-24 November and 29
November -1 December) and includes seven buildings filled with artisans and
merchants offering a wide range of holiday items. Whilst in Maryland, visitors
should visit Kris Kringle Christmas Market or Williamsport Christkindlmarkt
both offering a traditional holiday experience. Multiple holiday markets
feature around Washington, DC, including a majorly revamped DowntownDC Holiday Market, celebrating its 20 year
anniversary this year, and a new DC Holiday Market in Dupont Circle. Virginia boasts an
array of holiday markets to get in the Christmas spirit. Whether it be Virginia
Beach Christmas Market, Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market or enjoying
seasonal food at Charlottesville City Market or Williamsburg Farmers Market,
there will be a festive atmosphere to suit everyone.
Christmas shopping galore:
In Washington, DC CityCenterDC, a premier shopping
destination, will have even more decorations, including a new interactive light
display and expanded holiday pop up shops. Georgetown may be DC’s oldest
neighbourhood, but its shopping scene is off the scale and features everything,
from indie specialty shops such as Shop Made in DC, where all items are made by
DC locals, home design and high-end boutiques to national and international
retail. Serious shoppers should head to Tysons area with the Corner Center and
Galleria accessible by Metro and the largest in the Baltimore Washington
area. There’s more than 100 stores at the Williamsburg Premium
Outlets and Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets features a collection of 110
designer and name brand stores including Adidas, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic
and more. Maryland’s small towns and downtown districts become enchanting
winter wonderlands during the holiday season. Holidaymakers can experience
Midnight Madness, where shops stay open late, allowing visitors to wander the
festively decorated streets, shopping for gifts and souvenirs, and savouring
special culinary delights from local restaurants. Downtown Annapolis, historic
Ellicott City, and St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore each host these
magical events.
Timeless Tidings - Celebrating Christmas Traditions:
Christmas traditions around the world are as diverse and
enchanting as the cultures that celebrate them. In Alexandria, on the first
weekend in December, there is a Scottish Christmas Walk which is an annual
parade celebrating Alexandria’s heritage with bagpipes, kilts and fanfare.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights held
on the Potomac River, this event features dozens of festively decorated boats
parading from Alexandria to Washington, D.C, creating a spectacular sight.
Maryland welcomes the Polar Express Train to Cumberland from 29th November to
24th December - a magical train ride for adults and children of all ages.
Each year, George Washington’s Mount Vernon features Aladdin
the Christmas Camel, a nod to Washington’s nod to a came’s visit to Mount
Vernon for Christmas 1787. As well, visiting the immaculately decorated 'Residence of Presidents, the Willard
InterContinental Washington D.C. Hotel for a holiday tea and nightly carolling is a popular pastime with locals, more
information can be found in the notes.
Dreaming of a White Christmas:
For those seeking snowy playgrounds, Maryland and Virginia
offer the perfect ski escape. Whether skiing, snowboarding or cosying up in a
ski lodge or mountain resort these destinations offer the ultimate white winter
getaway. In Maryland, the slopes of Wisp Resort average 64 inches of snow
annually offering stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains and a Black
Diamond run called ‘The Face’. There are other ski trails at New Germany State Park, Herrington Manor near Oakland, Seneca Creek near Germantown for its enchanting winter
lights display, and Savage River State Forest. Virginia’s
Massanutten Resort delights winter enthusiasts with skiing,
snowboarding and snow tubing in the Shenandoah Valley. At Wintergreen
Resort in Nellysford, Virginia, dash through the snowy (and stunningly
scenic) Blue Ridge Mountains on skis, boards or tubes. Two hours
from Washington, DC by car, Bryce
Resort is an upscale, family-friendly retreat in the Allegheny
Mountains.
Take me to the Capital Region USA this Christmas with
American Sky.
View itinerary here.
Seven nights from £1379 per person, departing 4th December
2024. Prices includes return international flights from London Heathrow to
Washington Dulles International Airport, three nights in Washington DC at The
Churchill Hotel Near Embassy Row, two nights in Baltimore at the Lord Baltimore
Hotel, and two nights in Williamsburg at the Westgate Historic Williamsburg
Resort, car rental throughout. Based on two people sharing.
To book, visit www.americansky.co.uk or call 01342 395042.
About Capital Region USA:
Capital Region USA (CRUSA) is the official regional
destination marketing organisation promoting Washington, DC, Virginia, and
Maryland internationally, in partnership with Destination DC, the Virginia
Tourism Corporation, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. CRUSA is a 501c3 non-profit
organisation founded in 1997.
For further information on Capital Region USA, visit www.capitalregionusa.org.
Posted by: Washington, DC & Capital Region USA
Posted on: 19/11/2024