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Visit one of these six incredible ice castles in North America

Dec. 08, 2019
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5 min read
Bryan.Rowland_UT14_4
Visit one of these six incredible ice castles in North America
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Ever wonder what it would be like to explore a beautiful ice castle like the one in "Frozen?" This winter season, you can visit one of six ice castle locations throughout North America and summon your inner Elsa (or Olaf).

(Photo courtesy of Ice Castles)

Since 2011, the company Ice Castles has been creating interactive experiences made out of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The company was cofounded by Brent Christensen, who created the first ice castle in his own front yard for his kids in Utah, and Ryan Davis, who acts as CEO. Now, there are six locations across North America:

All of these locations are within driving distance from popular vacation spots in each area, making it easy to add an excursion to an Ice Castles location into overarching vacation itineraries.

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(Photo courtesy of Ice Castles)

Each castle is unique and constantly evolving. The daily process of creating and maintaining one castle consists of growing up to 12,000 icicles that are individually sculpted into existing ice formations. All locations are approximately one acre in size and include LED light installations and music. You'll also be able to enjoy one-of-a-kind mazes, special events and even the occasional ice slide.

Last year, TPG contributor Buddy Smith and his family visited the Dillon, CO, location. During the day, it's like walking through an ice fortress (not entirely unlike the one you see Elsa create in "Frozen"). But at night, it's an entirely different vibe with the mesmerizing light shows contrasting against the snow, ice and dark night sky. Suddenly, it looks like you're transformed into a magical wonderland.

(Photo by Buddy Smith/The Points Guy)

Because Ice Castles locations are, of course, in wintry areas, days and hours of operation will vary based on the weather. Tickets can be bought online in advance, and also vary by location. General admission tickets (ages 12+) are typically anywhere from $12 to $20 per person. Kids (4-11) get a discounted price. You can also reserve standby tickets that are not prepaid, but they are more expensive and do not guarantee you entry into the attractions.

While official opening dates are not yet posted for the winter 2019-2020 season, you can check out the Ice Castles Instagram for a sneak peek of what the team has planned for each location. You can also sign up for alerts on the company's website for more information on when each location will open to the public.

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Bottom line

Whether your family is obsessed with Frozen or you just love seeing the beautiful craftsmanship of handmade ice sculptures, these Ice Castles locations are a great addition to any trip itinerary. If you live close by any of their locations or are planning on traveling to nearby destinations during the winter season, I highly suggest making a day (or evening) exploring these beautiful installations.

Featured image by Bryan Rowland

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.