Ice Attractions Photo Editor

The world’s largest ice festival has opened in north-eastern China featuring frozen castles glistening snow sculptures and lots of snowmen. Here’s a glimpse of the frozen world.

Everyone loves ice, the ice can make many arts like Sculpting ice presents a number of difficulties due to the variability and volatility of the material. Ice may be sculpted in a wide range of temperatures and the characteristics of the ice will change according to its temperature as well as the surrounding temperatures. Sculptures are generally carved from blocks of ice and these blocks must be carefully selected to be suitable for the sculptor's purposes and should be free of undesired impurities.

Drift ice is also called brash ice. Is sea ice that is not attached to the shoreline or any other fixed object shoals grounded icebergs etc… Unlike fast ice which is fastened to a fixed object drift ice is carried along by winds and sea currents hence its name. When drift ice is driven together into a large single mass it is called a pack. Wind and currents can pile up that ice to form ridges up to tens of meters in thickness. These represent a challenge for ice breakers and offshore structures operating in cold oceans and seas.

The seriously beautiful town that Hitler refused to destroy or be hurt in any way stages a snow and ice festival each November to early January. Professional ice sculptors from around the world come here to carve over ice all based on a theme.

The artisans will craft hand-carved slides tunnel fountains, crawl spaces caverns, and intricately designed ice thrones near the shore of Lake George. At night the frozen fairytale setting is transformed into a colorful explosion with embedded LED lights creating a beautiful enchanting glow throughout the experience. Each castle is approximately one acre in size and consists of more than 25 million pounds of frosty magic.

The icicles we grow are the building blocks for the entire attraction said Brent Christensen Ice Castles founder. We fuse the icicles together to create different formations that will grow into towering walls of ice. Ice Castles has been produced nationally across five states in America but the Lake George event will be their first appearance in New York. Once the event is done, the ice-capped spectacle will melt back into the lake, ensuring it will be used again by wildlife, people, and plants.

Guests will be able to explore the Ice Castles from Thursday through Monday in early January. Presale tickets have already sold out, but more tickets will be available once the attraction opens up in the New Year. This free annual kite festival is held every year on New Year’s Day in Veterans Park. The on-site kite store Gift of Wings organizes the event and provides free hot cocoa and coffee snacks, giant kites ice carving artists, and hot food for purchase. You can bring your own kite to fly or purchase one at Gift of Wings.

The crown jewel of the Gaylord Resort’s holiday experience is their holiday-themed ICE exhibit that is kept at finger-numbing 9 degrees and features two million pounds of themed hand-carved ice sculptures slides and also houses approximately three million people at any given time. Kidding of course there are only two million people. Seriously though ICE is a very popular attraction that is quite crowded and sells out during peak times. Enjoying the Gaylord ICE Experience to the fullest takes a bit of strategy so after going earlier this season with my whole family here are my Gaylord ICE tips. These tips are based on our trip to the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas though I would assume most of the tips translate to the other Gaylord ICE attractions around the country.