We had pre booked tickets for this years ICE at Gaylord Palms. ICE is an amazing display of sculptures of many varying shapes and sizes plus two huge ice slides, which are really great fun.
The first sculptures to greet us this year were a 7-foot alligator and palm tree, and a couple of bright pink flamingos with ear muffs on. Then as we entered there was a huge full size toy train that you could walk through. I took a lovely picture of my husband and son looking out through one of the windows. These were all colored ice.
We then went into a section with mostly clear ice sculptures, which are just so beautiful they take your breath away (that and the fact its -6c in there) One of my favourites was an Ice sandcastle.
And then they had an even more amazing setting of a family Christmas around the fireplace. The detail carved in them has to be seen to be believed, with a Grandfather clock and Christmas tree, a piano, a little girl, her dog, her brother coming down the stairs, and parents kissing under the mistletoe.
Moving on they had a frozen waterfall with frozen trees and a horse and sleigh, which you could go and sit in. Glad we were given big coats to wear to stop us feeling the cold.
The next scene was a winter wonderland with a deer and swan with her signets floating along an ice river and beautiful Christmas trees with hundreds of white lights all twinkling and sparkling.
As we entered the next section the archangel Gabriel complete with wings and the nativity scene greeted us. Truly amazing. All sculptured in clear ice the purity shines through with Mary & Joseph, the three wise men, sheep, cows goats and off course the baby Jesus. I think there was even a camel or two.
You then go through an arch of branches with twinkling lights on them through to the giant ice slides. Up the ice stairs, over the ice bridge, are you ready, are you steady, down you go. Boy you go quite fast. It is great as how often do us adults get to go on slides.
And then it is over. A very Floridian Father Christmas stands at the exit, complete with his red shorts and holding a surf board, and there’s that 7 foot Alligator again, standing next to Father Christmas. Glad he is made on ice.
As we return our long blue parkas we say goodbye to ICE for another year and head towards the restaurant, Villa de Flora for a very welcoming meal.
The first sculptures to greet us this year were a 7-foot alligator and palm tree, and a couple of bright pink flamingos with ear muffs on. Then as we entered there was a huge full size toy train that you could walk through. I took a lovely picture of my husband and son looking out through one of the windows. These were all colored ice.
We then went into a section with mostly clear ice sculptures, which are just so beautiful they take your breath away (that and the fact its -6c in there) One of my favourites was an Ice sandcastle.
And then they had an even more amazing setting of a family Christmas around the fireplace. The detail carved in them has to be seen to be believed, with a Grandfather clock and Christmas tree, a piano, a little girl, her dog, her brother coming down the stairs, and parents kissing under the mistletoe.
Moving on they had a frozen waterfall with frozen trees and a horse and sleigh, which you could go and sit in. Glad we were given big coats to wear to stop us feeling the cold.
The next scene was a winter wonderland with a deer and swan with her signets floating along an ice river and beautiful Christmas trees with hundreds of white lights all twinkling and sparkling.
As we entered the next section the archangel Gabriel complete with wings and the nativity scene greeted us. Truly amazing. All sculptured in clear ice the purity shines through with Mary & Joseph, the three wise men, sheep, cows goats and off course the baby Jesus. I think there was even a camel or two.
You then go through an arch of branches with twinkling lights on them through to the giant ice slides. Up the ice stairs, over the ice bridge, are you ready, are you steady, down you go. Boy you go quite fast. It is great as how often do us adults get to go on slides.
And then it is over. A very Floridian Father Christmas stands at the exit, complete with his red shorts and holding a surf board, and there’s that 7 foot Alligator again, standing next to Father Christmas. Glad he is made on ice.
As we return our long blue parkas we say goodbye to ICE for another year and head towards the restaurant, Villa de Flora for a very welcoming meal.