It's Freezing in Florida

If you are around Orlando this holiday season, you might want to visit "ICE! at Gaylord Palms" for lots of fun and crisp 9 degree weather. ICE! is open daily from November 19 - January 2, 2006, including holidays, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices are higher on weekends, but still are under $20 - adults and $10 - children. Guests staying at the hotel who buy special packages to ICE! enjoy a priority entrance opportunity and other treats.

This frozen holiday attraction is hand-crafted from nearly two million pounds of ice! According to the Gaylord Palms website, "This year, ICE! will feature several new and revised scenes, including a heartwarming Victorian holiday scene, a vibrant new Santa's Toyland, and a majestic Church in the Woods. Back by popular demand is the beautifully lit ICE! bridge, that you can actually walk over, and the breathtaking life-size nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice. And, of course, three fantastic ice slides will return amid a towering Christmas Castle." For more details and a video about this unique holiday experience click here.

The hotel is also amazing and includes four and a half acres of architectural and botanical marvels under their signature glass dome. Gaylord Palms is divided into four unique locals: St. Augustine, Key West, the Everglades, and Emerald Bay. For amazing photos, click here. Let the parking attendant know that you are visiting ICE! and make a special trip through the hotel for a stroll and lunch. Parking is $7. I go out of my way to visit botanical gardens in Florida and although this is not an official one, I spent lots of time viewing the thousands of amazing orchids, philodendrons, elephant ears, bromeliads, trees, and exotics that thrive in the pest-free, climate controlled environment.

This event is annual, so make plans for next year if it melted before you had a chance to visit.