National Harbor Invites PANKS and PUNKS to Visit this Summer

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Contact: Vicki Bendure
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Vicki@bendurepr.com

National Harbor Invites PANKS and PUNKS to Visit this Summer

From boating to Movies on the Potomac, National Harbor Provides Lots of Options for Aunts and Uncles Traveling with their Nieces and Nephews

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., June 3, 2024—National Harbor has become the top waterfront destination in the Washington, D.C. region. This summer, the property is inviting Professional Aunts, No Kids (PANKS) and Professional Uncles, No Kids (PUNKS) to bring their nieces and nephews for an unforgettable vacation.

As birthrates in the U.S. continue to decline with fewer couples having kids, there are a growing number of aunts and uncles vacationing with their nieces and nephews. “The PANKS and PUNKS designation is a growing moniker in the travel industry as many aunts and uncles without children look to connect and increase family bonds with their nephews and nieces.” explained Deborah Topcik, National Harbor director of marketing, “National Harbor is the perfect place to connect with children of all ages because it’s a place to explore and have fun.”

National Harbor provides a wide array of family-friendly accommodations and weekly activities for aunts and uncles to enjoy with the kids, including Movies on the Potomac
(outdoor, waterfront movies for teens every Thursday at 7 p.m. and family movies every Sunday at 6 p.m. at 150 National Plaza). For those with younger nieces and nephews, Kids Day takes place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays from June through August on the National Harbor Waterfront Plaza (150 National Plaza). Kids can meet local police and firefighters, engage with WHUT/PBS programming, participate in story time, and more. The full schedule is available here.

Located on the Potomac River, National Harbor has waterfront activities for kids of all ages. REI has 1-4 person paddleboards, peddle boats, and single and tandem kayaks. REI also offers a variety of boating experiences including a “Learn to Kayak” class. The Capital Wheel allows visitors to soar 180-feet in 42 climate-controlled gondolas. The aerial views are breathtaking of National Harbor, Old Town Alexandria and distant Washington monuments (on a clear day.) Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The Capital Wheel and the Spirit Park Carousel have a number of summer and anniversary packages available.

Escapology Escape Rooms at National Harbor offers an immersive experience that challenges players to work together to solve puzzles and riddles. What separates Escapology from others, is that the rooms feature Hollywood-quality build outs and sets that one might find at a major amusement park attraction. Challenges are available for all skill levels including a Kids Mode. There are also outdoor escape games that take players around National Harbor to uncover secret clues only visible through a special tablet! (230 American Way)

Aunts and uncles of older teenage kids will enjoy Topgolf National Harbor
which offers a highly entertaining experience, no matter the skill level. From seasoned golfers to novices, this low-pressure atmosphere will turn everyone into a golf lover.

National Harbor is also a shopping destination with the best outlet shopping in the Washington, D.C. region. Tanger National Harbor’s
85 designer outlet brands and its robust calendar of events has something for everyone.

Bikes for rent through Capital Bikeshares are available throughout the property. National Harbor has trails along its waterfront that extend across the bridge and into Old Town, Alexandria as well as down to George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, and even into Washington, DC.

Sweeten the trip with visits to Savannah’s Candy Kitchen
to taste some “classic” candy from when you were a kid, indulge in a crazy specialty milkshake at The Yard Milkshake Bar
(opening in June), and be amazed by the huge selection of sugar treats at It’Sugar.

A sample three-day family itinerary is here. This can easily be expanded to include more of the activities above as well as excursions to Washington, D.C. (National Harbor is minutes from D.C.)

With so much to do, National Harbor’s eight hotels are ready to welcome families. These include Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center with a number of summer packages and discounts. Dining at National Harbor
is equally impressive with more than 40 restaurants ranging from fast casual to fine dining and many that are family-friendly.

Located within minutes of Washington, D.C., National Harbor is the perfect destination to reach the region’s many cultural attractions. With waterfront access, a convenient water taxi can take visitors from National Harbor to Old Town Alexandria and many of Washington, D.C.’s attractions.

For more information on National Harbor, visit www.nationalharbor.com.

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About National Harbor
Situated on the banks of the historic Potomac River and just minutes from the nation’s capital, National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination unlike any other. National Harbor is home to two of Maryland’s Four Diamond rated hotels—Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, the East Coast’s largest non-gaming hotel and convention center and has almost 2,000 hotel rooms and 660,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and MGM National Harbor, an integrated luxury casino resort with renowned chef-driven restaurants, a 3,000-seat state-of-the art theater and one of the largest gaming floors outside of Las Vegas. The vibrant Waterfront District features boutique shops, restaurants and entertainment options along picturesque promenades. The iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-ft observation wheel, Tanger National Harbor with 85 designer outlet brands, and a robust calendar of events round out this destination that welcomes more than 15.2 million visitors a year. For more information, visit www.NationalHarbor.com.