mgm national harbor casino washington dc

Sculpted by J Seward Johnson Jr, for the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition in 1980, “ The Awakening ” comprises five pieces – two hands, two feet and the tortured head – and it’s just one of many interesting public artworks on display throughout National Harbor. Right in front of National Harbor’s dock, a cast-aluminum giant emerges from the sand, his face contorted as he struggles to free himself.

J Seward Johnson Jr's astonishing sculpture, 'The Awakening,' is just one of the public art features in National Harbor © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet View public art Boats in DC, open May through September, offers rentals and classes, including SUP yoga. Twilight tours are spectacular, as the bridge, National Harbor and the Capital Wheel light up with thousands of lights in a rainbow of colors. From the well-equipped boathouse, you can head up the Potomac toward Alexandria and the Wilson Bridge, or downstream along the river’s edge. Jump into a kayak – or canoe, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), or swan pedal boat – and see National Harbor from a watery point of view. It’s especially stunning as night sets in, with the wheel’s 1.6 million LED lights offering a spectrum of 16,387,064 colors – changed according to the season or occasion. For something extra special, splurge for a VIP gondola, complete with wine chillers, a DVD player, leather bucket seats and a glass floor. Sitting right beside the Potomac River, this giant, state-of-the-art Ferris wheel swoops you 180 feet into the air, where you can pick out such famous sights as the far-off Washington Monument and US Capitol dome. The Capital Wheel offers views of DC © Barbara Noe Kennedy / Lonely Planet Ride the Capital Wheel

Mgm national harbor casino washington dc