Outside The Beltway - Virginia And Maryland Along The Potomac

by Stuart J. Faber and Aunt Bea

We have all encountered “coulda boughts.” I suspect that many of us have been coulda boughts at one time or another.

“See that house for a million dollars? I coulda bought it 10 years ago for $50,000.” Next year, the same house may be the subject of a further coulda bought conversation. “See that house for $3 million? Last year I coulda bought it for a million.” One fallacy with the coulda bought argument is that we probably didn’t have the $50,000 ten years ago nor the $1 million last year. And today, you might be obliged to sell that house for a million when last year, you coulda sold it for $2 million.

In case you are getting the impression that this aviation column is transforming into a discourse on real estate, don’t worry. I am just musing over the fact that much of Prince George’s County waterfront, just a quick swim across the Potomac from the District of Columbia, lay dormant for decades – there were a few nice homes here and there, but much of the region was in decline. And everyone coulda bought this prime waterfront treasure, but passed it by. Now, the gorgeous new development of which the sparkling new Gaylord Resort is the anchor component, rests on land which, up to a few years ago, was a vacant spread of forestland surrounded by decrepit housing and abandoned storefronts. Today, the final touches are being placed on a collection of classy condominium developments, four hotels, and a cluster of upscale shops and restaurants. Someone did buy it and today, this 300-acre waterfront destination is called, “National Harbor.”

Prince George’s County Today

Positioned in the heart of the Washington Metro region, Prince George’s County is less than 25 minutes from Annapolis, 45 minutes from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, just 20 minutes across the Potomac from Virginia and within 30 minutes of the White House. It was hard to imagine as I cruised on the river and drove through the forestland and saw the Canada geese nesting grounds of the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary and the 13,000-acre Patuxent Research Refuge that, by water taxi, the world’s greatest superpower was just 30 minutes up the river.
Prince George’s County is filled with aviation sites and lore. Andrews Air Force Base, the bustling military facility, provides a launch for Air Force One and is also home to one of the largest air extravaganzas in the country: The annual Defense Department Joint Services Open House and Air Show.
The world’s oldest continually operating airfield is located in College Park. Founded by the Wright Brothers, where they provided the first flight instruction to military aviators, this airport rivals Kitty Hawk in fame. Much of the history is on display at the adjoining College Park Aviation Museum.
The museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, contains historic and reproduction aircraft associated with the history of the airfield as well as hands-on activities for the entire family. Among the aircraft are a 1910 Wright Model B reproduction, a 1912 Bleriot XI reproduction, a 1916 Curtiss JN-4D, the Jenny, a 1924 Berliner Helicopter, a 1932 Taylorcraft J-2 Cub, and a 1940 Aeronca 65LA Chief. In my early flying days, I flew a Taylorcraft J-2 (we called it a Taylor Cub) and an Aeronca Chief.

Airports

The airport closest to the Gaylord National is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA), about a 25-minute drive from National Harbor. The field has three runways. Runway 1/19 is 6,869 feet long, runway 15/33 is 5,204 feet long and runway 4/22 is 4,911 feet long. The field elevation is 15 feet. Contact Signature Air Services, 703/417-3500.
Nearby College Park (KCGS) is a more alluring airport. If you select KCGS as your airport, on your way to your hotel, you can stop off at the aviation museum. Another airport in Prince George’s County is Washington Executive (W32) near Clinton, MD. Both of these fields fall within the SFAR-94 requirements. If you select one of these airports, you should consult the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Special Flight Rules Area pamphlet. It is available at regulations.gov/fdmspublic/contentsview. You certainly don’t want to wander into restricted airspace. I played it safe and landed at KDCA and drove to the museum.

National Harbor

Rising from the banks of the Potomac just south of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Prince George’s County, Md., National Harbor is the brand new 300-acre, mixed-use waterfront development that includes five hotels (including the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the largest such facility on the East Coast), hundreds of residential units, tree-lined promenades with scores of shops and offices, two marinas and much more.
The expansive waterfront with its marinas and piers is designed to accommodate concerts, dinner cruises and other signature events. A water taxi service operates across the Potomac to Mount Vernon, Georgetown, and Old Town Alexandria, Va. The future for National Harbor embraces additional arts and entertainment in a variety of forms.
Commanding views of the Potomac to the west along with picturesque sunsets contribute to this new place to live and play. We used Gaylord National Harbor as our headquarters for a tour of the nation’s capital.

Gaylord National Resort –
The Centerpiece Of National Harbor

Situated on 41 acres, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD 20745, 301/965-2000, is a total destination resort offering endless meeting facilities, exceptional service, entertainment, recreation, cuisine, and a world-class spa.
Gaylord National’s 2,000 bright and colorful guest rooms, which include 110 suites, deliver the ultimate in luxurious accommodations. I felt pampered and completely at home with all of my favorite toys, such as in-room high-speed wireless Internet access, flat screen TV, electronic lock-and-key system, in-room safe, and easy-to-use voicemail. The in-room safe is large enough to fit a laptop and has a recharging outlet.
Gaylord National draws its inspiration from the surrounding mid-Atlantic region, including the District of Columbia and the states of Maryland and Virginia. The signature architectural feature is the hotel’s massive 18-story, glass-enclosed barrel-vaulted atrium, a giant, climate controlled bubble which envelopes the entire complex. Guests can meander through a themed environment that brings to life the region’s history, culture, architecture and natural beauty. Rain, snow, heat or sleet, the weather is always fine at the Gaylord. You are indoors, but feel like you’re outdoors in ideal climate.
The resort is a mini-city. Two-story replicas of a Colonial-era mercantile shop and a Federalist-style farmhouse stand proudly as the focal points of the atrium. The designs are richly detailed and authentic, featuring white-clapboard siding on the farmhouse and red-brick masonry on the mercantile shop. Other details include stone finishes, shake roofs, shutters and shingles, porches, patios, and courtyard spaces, paying tribute to the charming architecture found throughout the region. These structures house two of the resort’s unique retail shops. The indoor water fountain “performs” shows nightly that are perfectly synchronized to lights, special effects and a patriotic musical score. It contains 37 individual jets that shoot water up to 50 feet high.
Thousands of plants and trees provide an atmosphere of the mid-Atlantic landscape in Gaylord National’s lush indoor and outdoor gardens. The one-of-a-kind colonial garden features a tree-lined river walk promenade, an 18,000-square-foot green roof and a lawn dotted with 1,200 oak, cherry, and chestnut trees, and more than 40,000 vibrant flowers.
Classical design influences and residential comforts inspired by the National Capital region make guests feel right at home in the 2,000 guest rooms. Windows reveal panoramic vistas of the surrounding Maryland hillside, Potomac Riverfront and the resort’s dramatic atrium. A classic composition of ivory, federal blues, cognac, and white gold, with warm cherry and walnut furnishings, completes the regal look. Oversized gallery mattes adorn the walls and feature black and white photography of the regional landscape and mid-Atlantic landmarks to further immerse guests in the lore and legacies of the dynamic historic region. Gaylord can accommodate meetings and events for groups of 10 to 10,000 in 470,000-square-feet of convention, meeting, exhibition and pre-function space. You can host a family reunion, a pilot’s club gathering or reserve the entire place for 2000 of your closest friends.
The 11th Hour Technology Center is full-service and offers a range of copying and printing, document binding, notary services, packing and shipping, workstation rental, office supplies, and assistance with communications services such as digital pagers, cellular telephone and facsimile.
Recreation Relâche Spa is home to the beautiful indoor Junior Olympic-sized 24-meter lap pool and a whirlpool/hot tub. In warmer months, the pool becomes “open air” as the entire front glass wall opens up to a view of the Potomac. A full-sized pool bar and lounge area yield the ultimate in relaxation. Relâche Spa and Fitness Center features 12 treatment rooms throughout its 20,000-square-foot hideaway for relaxation, pampering and exercise.

Restaurants and Lounges at the Gaylord

Old Hickory Steakhouse, with its refined and comfortable surroundings, recreates the ambiance of an 18th century Georgian row house. The setting includes an intimate lounge. The wine-cellar room showcases a collection of award-winning wines developed from vineyards around the world, and a unique artisan cheese cave.
Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine is a contemporary dining experience that recreates the ambiance of the Chesapeake region’s early fish markets. Moon Bay boasts a show kitchen, an impressive white-wine collection and an exciting wharf-side bar and lounge. It all sets the stage for an unforgettable culinary experience that features seafood from American waters with a modern twist, including fish flown in daily and sushi-sashimi creations.
Pienza Italian Market celebrates the essence of Italy. Six stations reflect seasonal menu changes. Inviting selections are displayed and include artisan bread, an antipasto station, a fresh produce market station, a rotisserie and carvery station, pasta and risotto station and a traditional dolceria/sweet shop.
If you just want to hang around, the resort provides a constant schedule of atmospheric entertainment and shopping, embracing a wide variety of Chesapeake-themed cultures, with sports bars, live entertainment and events. From the performers in the restaurants, the roving entertainers in the atrium and the extravagant seasonal events such as ICE and Christmas on the Potomac, you will enjoy a unique and ever-changing experience. But you certainly want to get out and see the sights, especially Alexandria. And the Gaylord is so nice to come home to.

Alexandria

Just across the river from the Gaylord, only 20 minutes by water taxi, is the charming city of Alexandria. Today, Alexandria is a city that blends the new with the old. You won’t want to miss this historic and traditional American city. The Old Town Section has perhaps more restored 18th and 19th Century homes and storefronts than any American City. There is more than just one walking street. You can walk up and down blocks and blocks of Old Town all day and never retrace your steps. If you become tired, hop on the free trolley. We strolled for hours from the shore of the Potomac River up to King Street and explored dozens of one-of-a-kind shops, bakeries, galleries, and restaurants.

Wineries

Virginia has more than 130 family-owned wineries. For a map, visit www.virginiawine.org. Not to be outdone, Maryland is also developing a wine industry. For more information, contact Kevin@marylandwine.com. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to sample any of these wines.
For more information on Alexandria, contact the Visitor’s Association. 421 King Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314 703/838-4200; 800/388-9119 or visitalexandria.com.
Yep, perhaps 50 years ago, I coulda bought Alexandria for a hundred bucks an acre! And around the time George Washington surveyed Alexandria, at the ripe age of 17, he undoubtedly bought it for a buck an acre. But a guy named John Alexander did George one better. In 1669, he purchased the land which is now Alexandria for 6,000 pounds. He also got the place named after himself. I am not sure how much a pound was worth at that time. I wouldn’t be surprised if one could purchase a hundred pounds for a buck. But John didn’t even have to lay out the cash. He traded 6,000 pounds worth of tobacco and booze for the land. I think I will return to Alexandria with a few sacks of tobacco and several cases of whiskey and negotiate for some land. I wonder how much I can purchase. And can I get the name changed?