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4 tips for planning your visit to the Ice Castles

Last weekend we visited the Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The Ice Castles are man-made using over hundreds of thousands of icicles to create these breathtaking sculptures, archways and tunnels. It was absolutely beautiful, and definitely a must-see with your family in the winter time. I’m sharing some tips for planning for own visit.

If you’re not in the northeast, Ice Castles also offers other locations including:

Dillon, CO, Edmonton, AB, Excelsior, MN, Lake Geneva, WI, and Midway, UT.

Here are 4 tips for planning your own visit to the Ice Castles:

1.) Buy tickets online and make reservations ahead of time.

You definitely want to buy your tickets online. You can buy tickets here. We went at 1pm right when they opened on a weekend and it was super busy. (I hear going during the weekday is the best if you can swing it). If you go later in the afternoon/evening, they have a really cool light display and light up all the castles.

We also made plans to stay overnight as it was a 4 hour drive for us. We stayed at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in Plymouth. It was an easy 25 minute drive from the castles.

2.) Dress warm.

Inside the Ice Castles, it’s 15 degrees cooler than it is outside so dress warm. (One good thing is that it definitely wasn’t as windy once you’re in the castles). Dress the kids in snowpants and other snow gear so that they can get down and explore. They had lots of tunnels and a slide. And be sure to wear boots as it is all ice. (Get my boots here. I have them in wheat/black).

And check out these comfy sweaters on Amazon

3.) Hit up the slide first

When you get there, they offer a horse and carriage ride that goes around the castles and the surrounding property. We did that first and then went inside the castles. They also have a big slide. I recommend doing that first once you’re in as the line is long. And then go and explore. You can stay in as long as you’d like, but once you exit, you can’t go back in.