Sure to delight children and adults alike, the Ice Castles are a great place to visit during the winter. I will tell you all about our experience visiting the Ice Castles in North Woodstock, NH which is not far from Lincoln.
The Ice Castles were born from an idea of a father who was trying to keep his six children from going stir crazy in the winter. He started making such amazing snow forts and ice castles in his own backyard that it attracted kids from all over the neighborhood to play.
Fast forward to today, and there are six ice castle locations across the country. Each castle weighs more than 20 millions pounds and grows 12,000 icicles each day. There is nothing like it in the world.
Disclosure: All or part of this trip was provided free for review purposes, but the opinions are solely that of the writer.
The Ice Castles in North Woodstock, NH
Visiting the Ice Castles in New Hampshire has long been on our bucket list. The trip came at the perfect time because my daughter has just discovered Frozen and has become completely obsessed overnight. We kept telling her we were going to the North Mountain to see Elsa’s house. She looked so excited… and slightly terrified.
The ice castles were even more magnificent than I imagined. It was like walking into a fairy tale.
We loved the slide that went through the light up tunnel. The boys probably did it about 10 times. This line can get long, so head to this first.
Next we just wandered and explored the different caves and tunnels. There was a water show and a LED light display. The kids just ran around oohing and awing at every turn.
Beside the ice castle is a wooded area with several fire pits. If you need to warm up, have a cup of hot chocolate and a warm cinnamon bun.
Tips and Tricks to Enjoying your time
Make sure your kids wear snow suits and gloves because there are lots of tunnels to crawl through and slides to go down. The warmer they are, the happier they will be. Everyone should wear good snow boots. You will be walking through deep snow and uneven surfaces.
What is the best time to see the ice castles?
When you purchase tickets, you choose an entry time that are spread out in half hour segments to control the crowds. The first entry time is 4:00 and they go until 10:00 pm.
I would recommend choosing one of the earlier times (4:00-4:30 or 4:30-5:00). The castles are really beautiful to see during the daytime because the ice gives off a deep blue glow. The LED light display is best seen when it is dark. Sunset is at 5:15 so by going to one of the earlier times, you get to see the best of both worlds. Note that there is no re-entry allowed so you can’t leave and come back at a later time, but once you are in, you can stay as long as you want.
Visiting the Ice Castles is a once in a lifetime experience. You’re children are sure to love this winter wonderland! To find a location close to you or to purchase tickets, click here.
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