Experience the Beauty of Ice Festivals  

Bergsjøstølen, Norway 

The ice music festival in central Norway has been held in Bergsjøstølen in recent years. The organizers took this ice festival to the next level by incorporating sound in each sculpture. As you wander from igloo to igloo, you will see musicians playing instruments that were carved from ice.  

The music sounds slightly unique, because the instruments melt once in contact with a person’s warm hands. So, the melodies may sound different than you are used to.  

Fairbanks, Alaska 

You don’t need to leave the US to find one of the best ice festivals in the world. The World Ice Art Championships festival is held in Fairbanks each year. Yes, this may seem to be a remote location to many. However, travelers from all over the world arrive to join in on the festivities.  

The ice sculptures created on the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds are crystal clear. They look like glass or Arctic diamonds. The sculptures are quite fragile, so you will see the artists working with care as they create masterpieces.  

Kiruna, Sweden 

The month of January brings the Kiruna Snow Festival in northern Sweden. This ice festival began in 1986 and has been a popular event since. Artists from all over the world arrive to create their best snow sculptures and enter the competition.  

When you are not looking at the snow sculptures, your family can spend time dog sledding, figure skating, and participating in many other winter activities.  

If this sounds like the perfect family trip, I highly recommend booking early so you can stay in the original Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi.  

Grindelwald, Switzerland 

Another ice festival held in January is the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Families like yours have been traveling to this area since the 1880s to ski in the Bernese Alps. The World Snow Festival was a wonderful addition that started in 1983.  

During the first festival, Japanese sculptors created a giant figure of Heidi, from the classic novel by Joanna Spyri. The theme of this festival changes every year, so you never know what types of sculptures you will be seeing when you arrive.  

Breckenridge, Colorado 

The International Snow Sculpture Championships take place in Breckenridge, Colorado for five days every year. Artists spend those five days chipping away at twenty-ton blocks of ice to create works of art.  

Artists simply use their imaginations to create reindeer, astronauts, fairytale characters, and so much more. The only rule that every artist needs to follow is that every sculpture must be carved by hand.  

Jelgava, Latvia 

Not too far from Riga, you will find the International Ice Sculpture Festival. This ice festival began when two brothers, Rinalds and Anrijs Opincāns, were asked to create ten ice sculptures to put on display in the city center.  

This event continues to get bigger each year. Now you will find an ice bar, children’s activities, live music, and fireworks.  

Hokkaido, Japan 

There are numerous ice festivals in the country of Japan. However, you will find the largest one, Sapporo’s Snow Festival, in Hokkaido. This ice festival began more than seventy years ago. There are more than one hundred ice and snow sculptures to see within Odori Park.  

Add in the ice rink, giant slides, and snow maze and you have a day’s adventure. If you really want to embrace winter and ice festivals in Japan, consider attending the Asahikawa Winter Festival, Otaru Snow Light Path Festival, and the Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival as well.  

These are the best ice festivals around the world. You should try to attend one of them during a family trip, so you can experience the beauty of an ice festival. You may even be interested in visiting one of the ice castles here in the US. As a travel advisor, I can personalize your family vacation for any of these ice festivals. This way you can see and do everything your family wants during this time away from home.  

So, are you ready to have me personalize your family vacation itinerary to attend ice festivals or visit another destination?  

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session with me. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you. 

Not ready to receive a personalized family vacation itinerary? Sign up for my newsletter and always receive all the travel information I share.  

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Winter Adventures in the Southwest

Explore Ice Castles

You don’t need to go to Disney World to see a castle! Out in Utah, ice castles are created for wintertime fun. Each ice castle is complete with thrones, fountains, tunnels, sculptures, and so much more. Plus, the ice castles are all lit up, so they sparkle against the nighttime sky.

Go Skiing

There are plenty of skiing opportunities available in the mountains of the southwest. You can choose one ski resort or do a little ski-hopping to find your all-time favorite. I love the little town of Angel Fire, because they get a ton of snow! Skiing is always fantastic there!

Go Horseback Riding

There are so many amazing horseback riding trails in the southwest. Many people take advantage of those trails during the warmer weather. I recommend tackling those trails when the snow is covering the ground. The views and experiences you will have during this family winter adventure will give you the memories you have been seeking with your kids.

Visit as Many Frozen Waterfalls as Possible

You won’t believe how many frozen waterfalls you can see while on a family vacation in the southwest. You must hike to many of these frozen waterfalls, but the journey will be worth it when you see the ice sparkling in the sunshine!

Escape to the Spa

This may be a wonderful family vacation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t escape for a little alone time at the spa. There are quite a few incredible spas in the southwest to choose from. You can do a single treatment, or you can reserve time for an entire treatment package. You will feel revitalized and well-rested when you are finished.

Wander Around the Towns

No matter where you are on vacation in the southwest, you can easily wander around the towns. The winter months bring extra décor and ambiance to all towns, so embrace it and enjoy your time away from home.

These are only a few of the winter adventures you can enjoy when taking a family vacation in the Southwest. I would love to help you find other winter adventures that your entire family will love doing together. Let’s work together, so you can create a few magical memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Are you ready to plan a family vacation that includes these winter adventures in the Southwest?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

And if you are not ready to book a family vacation that includes these winter adventures in the southwest, you can sign up for my newsletter here. This will ensure you continue to receive all the wonderful travel information I share throughout the year.

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When you take the time to visit one of these ice castles, your family will have the chance to check out LED-lit sculptures. Of course, your kids will love sitting in the frozen thrones, zooming down ice slides, and exploring ice-carved tunnels too. 

Check Out These Amazing Ice Castles in the US This Winter

Lake George, New York

The ice castle in Lake George, New York opens in January of 2022. Your time at this ice castle will include time in an icy cavern, as you walk beneath icicles hanging from above. Kids of all ages will love racing down the ice slides and crawling through the tunnels. The ice maze will keep everyone in your family busy, as you try to find your way out. 

And if you know you want to spend even more time at this ice castle in New York, I recommend doing the VIP experience in the Arctic Alcove. This private space will keep you in the icy spirit, as you relax and recharge for the next adventure. 

Lincoln, New Hampshire

The ice castle in Lincoln, New Hampshire also opens in January every year. But this one offers a little bit more than the one in New York. Yes, you can wander through the ice castle, scurry down the slides, and crawl through ice tunnels. But imagine snow tubing with your kids before taking a mystic forest light walk and going for a sleigh ride. 

New Brighton, Minnesota

Minnesota’s ice castle takes you back to the basics when it opens in January. The caverns and archways made of ice will keep you intrigued, as you wonder how it was made so perfectly. Sliding down slides, crawling through tunnels, and conquering the ice maze are all in a day’s fun in Minnesota. 

Midway, Utah

Utah is where all the ice castle fun began so many years ago, when founder Brent Christensen created the first ice cave in his yard. His goal was to ensure his kids got outside to play and the ice cave seemed like the perfect solution! Kids from all over the neighborhood joined in on the fun and ice castles have been popping up in cities now since 2011. 

At the ice castle in Utah, you can walk through ice caverns, go down ice slides, and crawl through ice tunnels. The ice maze will keep your family guessing until you reach the end. Of course, the best way to end this special family day is by taking a sleigh ride along a wooded trail. 

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

It is all about the ice caves, tunnels, slides, and mazes at the ice castle in Wisconsin! Add in a sleigh ride and a little VIP time in the Arctic Alcove and you will have a memorable day with your family. 

As you can see, all five ice castles in the US are slightly similar. But each one will look different if you take the time to see them all. Each ice castle opens in January and stays open until the end of February or beginning of March. It is all dependent on the weather though, as warmer temperatures will result in the ice castles melting a little faster. 

It is best to book your tickets in advance, as they sell out quickly. And unless you have an ice castle within driving time of your home, you will need to book a mini family vacation for this experience. The good news is that each area has so many other family friendly activities, so you can really enjoy your stay and plan other activities too. 

So, are you ready to have me create a personalized family vacation itinerary for your trip to see one of the ice castles in the US or to another destination?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to click here to schedule a personalized family vacation planning session. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

Not ready for a personalized family vacation planning session yet? Sign up for my newsletter and continue to receive all the travel information I share.

The post Check Out These Amazing Ice Castles in the US This Winter appeared first on integritylawfirmcmr.com.