When I say “ice castles,” maybe you think of the Frozen Ever After ride at Disney World’s Epcot or some beautiful architectural structure in the middle of Iceland. However, you probably don’t think of Ice Castles, the “awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon built with hundreds of thousands of icicles that brings fairy tales to life.”
Up until February, I would have guessed one of the first two. However, when Liz coordinated our visit to Copper Mountain for snow tubing, she also suggested we look at Ice Castles. The award-winning ice attraction has four locations in North America, one of which is in Dillon, Colorado; the other Ice Castles can be found in Lincoln, New Hampshire; Midway, Utah, at the Homestead Resort; and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, at the Geneva National Resort & Club.
A quick look at the images tagged with #IceCastles was enough to sell me on a visit, so we booked our tickets for Sunday afternoon and had a wonderful time.
Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity or a great photo spot for the ‘gram, here’s what you’ll love about Ice Castles:
- The icicles are hand-placed by professional ice artists – talk about attention to detail!
- Frozen structures, thrones and fountains are just calling for pictures.
- Ice slides and tunnels will have your whole group acting like kids again.
- At night, LED lights provide a magical color to the entire area.
Plus, each location has its own unique setup, so even if you’ve been to one before, you could definitely look into exploring the others. Maybe even make a road trip out of it. 😉
If you’re itching to get into your nearest Ice Castle and want to know when the Ice Castles open, the answer is soon! Per their website, they generally “open in late December or early January and remain open through late February or early March, depending on the weather.” Plan to book your tickets online in advance, as they may not be available in-person, and the price could be higher on-site.
We may never be royals, but this is a royally (and icy) fun way to spend the day with family or friends, especially with the COVID precautions they have put into place. Here’s to finding your inner Elsa!
Looking for other wintery fun? Check out everything you can do at Copper Mountain in Summit County, Colorado, or Snowcat Ridge in Dade City, Florida.