When I travel to Washington DC (which is frequently), I generally stay in Alexandria. But once in a while I will stay at National Harbor. Particularly if I am driving up, since public transportation is not as easily accessible from National Harbor as Alexandria (read as "The Metro"). There is a shuttle that will take you to the King Street Metro, but that adds another half hour of transportation if you are not driving yourself.
The National Harbor has grown rapidly over the past decade. An area that was once swampland is now a bustling destination spot in our nation's capital. Although it is technically located in Oxon Hill, Maryland. There are several meeting spaces in National Harbor, to include a large convention space at the Gaylord Hotel. So evenings are often a mixture of seminar attendees, tourists and locals who don't mind overpaying for drinks (although drinks are expensive at any hot spot). There is also a new MGM casino and entertainment venue. There is plenty to do for families with children as well as adults visiting for work.
Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center
One of the iconic landmarks at National Harbor is the Capital Wheel, designed much like The Eye, in London. The 180 foot structure provides visitors with an aerial view of the DC's landmarks. Standard tickets for General Admission: $15 + tax, Seniors: $13.50 + tax, and Children 12 and under: $11.25 + tax. They also have a VIP experience which is $50 per tickets. The VIP gondola has leather bucket seats and a glass floor and can seat four riders at a time. You also get to skip the line and a free photo is included. The photos for everyone else are $20 each.
Other activities for visitors to the National Harbor include paddle boards, pedal boats and kayak rentals. For leisure with less exertion, there are a variety of cruises that leave from the harbor as well as a water taxi that will drop you in Alexandria. The water taxi is no frills, but does offer a nice view of the city from the Potomac River. There is also a small "beach" area with a large movie screen adjacent to it where you might find movies playing or even exercise classes, depending on when you go.
Dining at National Harbor can be expensive. Most of the restaurants have a Happy Hour that is much more reasonable. McCormick and Schmick has a decent Happy Hour menu, as does Granite City Food and Brewery. Most of the sit down restaurants are expensive, although a few, like Granite City, are affordable even outside of Happy Hour (and they have good beer as well). There are forty eating spots in National Harbor. They range from snack food (Auntie Anne's Pretzels) to entertainment dining (McKey's Dueling Piano Bar). You can find a few cheaper eats spots like Potbelly's as well. For the most part, it is expensive to eat in National Harbor. Because my daughter lives nearby, we normally meet to eat somewhere outside of National Harbor.
There are several hotels at National Harbor. The only one I have stayed at is the Residence Inn, where I have stayed three or four times. The Gaylord Hotel is across the street. There is a Westin, MGM, AC hotel, Hampton Inn and more. Rooms are usually over two hundred dollars, sometimes twice that, depending on the hotel and season. Parking is extra. If you are driving, remember to factor parking into the cost of your visit. Most hotels use the St. George Garage, Fleet Garage or Mariner Garage, which are all $18 per day.
The National Harbor is a nice place to visit. Whether you are traveling for business or vacationing with family. The cost of the hotels are expensive, but not any more than you will pay to stay in the city. Alexandria might be a bit cheaper. There is plenty to do from dining to recreation, without leaving National Harbor. However, the best way to get around DC is the Metro. There is no Metro stop at National Harbor. To get into the city you will have to Uber, taxi or take the shuttle to the King Street Station in Alexandria. You can catch the train into DC from there. I like the National Harbor because it is scenic and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. If you are planning a trip, you can get additional information from www.nationalharbor.com