5 Winter date ideas
Merry Christmas SJC! Christmas is a season of giving, holiday cheer, hot chocolate, and of course…love! Here a 5 winter date ideas for you and your partner.
1. Brookside Garden’s Garden of Lights
Brookside Garden’s Christmas Light Display is a one-half mile, outdoor, walk-through exhibit. The garden is beautiful in the winter with tons of cute photo opportunities! Plan to go on a warmer night, so you can enjoy the lights without freezing. The Garden of Lights is open every night through January 1, 2023, EXCEPT December 24-25. Tickets cost $10 per person, and are available on Eventbrite.com.
2. Walk the National Christmas Tree
The National Christmas Tree is lit up for the 2022 Christmas Season, and is located on the grounds of the President’s Park. There are also 58 smaller trees -including one for each state- surrounding the main tree. Across from the tree one side is the White House, and on the other is the Washington Monument. This makes for some awesome photo opportunities! Walking through the maze of trees will completely immerse you in the Christmas Spirit. Definitely make sure that the weather is nice and on the warmer side so you don’t freeze! The National Christmas Tree is open until January 1, 2023. The lights turn on around sunset each night, and stay lit until 10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 11 pm Friday and Saturday.
This year’s theme for ICE! at Gaylord National is A Christmas Story. This is an indoor activity that involves ice sculptures and ice slides that are really “cool” to slide down! It is 9 degrees F. inside, but you will be provided with a blue parka to keep you warm. This is a more expensive activity with tickets for ICE! costing $36.99 for anyone 12 years of age or older. There is a separate cost for other activities: ice skating, ice bumper cars, gingerbread decorating, and more. If you want to do it all, there are bundles available for purchase. ICE! Is open through December 31, 2022.
For all you history buffs out there, Mt. Vernon is putting on a holiday fireworks show and the estate will be illuminated with winter lights! There will be a winter market selling 18th century goods, a historic winter encampment, and classical holiday music. The event takes place on December 16 and 17 from 5:30pm – 8:30pm on both days. The ticket cost depends on if you are a member, and if you want to take a mansion tour: adult members with tour – $50, no tour – $48 and non-member adults with tour – $60, no tour – $58.
5. U.S. Botanical Garden Season’s Greetings Holiday Exhibit
The U.S.’s Botanical Garden’s holiday display is filled with poinsettias and model trains. The perfect activity to enjoy festive plants and model holiday villages. The model train display is in the outdoor gardens, and the poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants are located in the indoor conservatory. You can visit the outdoor display first and then head inside to warm up! The “Season’s Greetings” display will be open through January 2, 2023, and the trains will run from 10:00am – 5:00pm. The exhibit is closed on Christmas. No tickets are required.
