Ice Castles in Midway, Utah
Ice Castles is a cool adventure!
As a blogger, I was invited to bring my family to visit this acre of winter wonderland in 2016 at Soldier Hollow Resort, in Midway, Utah.
It’s an acre of massive ice structures with tunnels, passages, archways, hanging icicles, stalactites, caves and slides.
We went on a busy Saturday afternoon. The amount of people didn’t deter us from exploring the castles, but the line for the large slide was about a 20-minute wait. There was a smaller ice slide that was constantly in use, but the wait was minimal.
After we explored all of the castle areas, family members enjoyed hot chocolate while others went down the slides. As we left, my granddaughters were excited to see two costumed “Elsa” and “Anna” characters, just as if they stepped out of “Frozen.”
Depending on the weather, Ice Castles is likely to stick around until March. So far, this year has been cold enough that the ice isn’t melting down as fast as it did last year.
Planning your trip: Since many of the times are selling out, it’s best to get your tickets in advance at https://icecastles.com/utah. You can select an arrival time with a half-hour window (ours was from 2 to 2:30 p.m.)
When to go: It’s less expensive Monday through Thursdays, and likely less crowded. From photos I’ve seen, night time is a magical experience, with thousands of colored lights embedded in the ice that coordinate with music. But, it’s also colder at night, so young kids might not enjoy it as much. Check the weather forecast before you book a date and time, because a snowstorm could put a damper on the fun.
What to wear: It’s outdoors, so you need coats, hats, gloves, and boots. And I don’t mean high-heeled fashionista boots that you’ll be slipping and sliding in. Remember, you’re walking on icy, snowy trails. Wear snow boots or hiking shoes with good traction.
If you or your kids plan to do the slides, snow pants will keep your rear end from getting soggy, and will help you slide faster. We noticed that people wearing jeans had a hard time scooting themselves down to the bottom of the slide.
How long to stay: We explored all the castles and canyons in about an hour and a half. If you (or your kids) want to spend more time going down the slides, you should plan on a little longer.
Snacks: There’s a concession stand that sells hot chocolate ($3 per styrofoam cup), cinnamon rolls and cookies. You can sit and one of the tables or benches, sip your chocolate and enjoy the crisp, clean mountain air and the icy view.
Gift shop: If you want a souvenir of your visit, you’ll find lots of memorabilia. You can buy a professionally taken photo with Anna and Elsa, or take one with your own phone or camera for free.
Visit www.icecastles.com for updates on open dates and times, as well as to purchase tickets.