The View from the Top at National Harbor
Yes, there are shops at the National Harbor in Maryland. But a better way to enjoy a beautiful late summer afternoon – Labor Day, in fact – was to take a ride on the Capital Wheel, the 180 foot Ferris Wheel that provides a spectacular view from Virginia to Washington, D.C.
From high above you can see the White House, the Capitol, the National Mall, the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, to name a few. Below, there are swan boats, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards available to rent.
The harbor is also home to many privately-owned sailboats and motor boats. A pirate boat also takes landlubbers on a “swashbuckling adventure.”
The wheel, which can be seen before crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, is a technological marvel. There are 42 cars, each one climate-controlled and able to seat eight people. Tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for children.
The harbor has many other activities – outdoor films, a carousel, many places to eat, a farmers market, to name just a few. Easily accessible from Washington, D.C., visiting National Harbor can be enjoyed for a few hours, a day, even a weekend, with many places to stay.
Photos by Charlene Giannetti