Everything You Need To Know Before Going To The Ice Castles, NH
Going to Ice Castles was on my “Need To Do” list for a while now, since I lived in Los Angeles and the closest one was in Utah. I literally was planning trips to Utah just for this moment. But lo and behold, when I moved back to the East Coast, I quickly realized there is one in New Hampshire, right in our backyard. I wasn’t able to go the previous winter, but I’m so glad we made it out this season. It was a super fun activity with the kids. Here are some things to keep in mind before your visit.
From Boston and the South Shore, it’s a far drive. I don’t think I’ve ever driven this far into NH before, so I wasn’t entirely prepared for this, but the drive took up about 2.5 hours one way. So bring lots of snacks and entertainment for the kids.
Wear lots of warm clothes. It’s called Ice Castles for a reason, and it is indeed very cold. And don’t just bring warm clothes, bring waterproof clothes. Many of the activities require you to get close and comfy with the snow and ice, so you definitely don’t want it going through your clothes. I wore a fur coat because I don’t follow the rules, but I don’t entirely recommend this, and I definitely wore waterproof pants underneath.
Hand warmers and toe warmers. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. My hands were so cold because, as mentioned, I didn’t follow my advice and bring waterproof gloves. They offer some fire pits with hand warmers, which was nice, but having your own hand warmers ultimately is the best way to go.
Sled for littles. I thought they offered sleds for young children/infants because I saw some people with them on IG, but when I got there, I found out they don’t offer them; you're allowed to bring your own. For little legs, I would recommend this, as they may get tired of walking, and it can get slippery. I don’t recommend holding them the whole time, and you definitely can’t bring a stroller in.
There are porta-potties outside before you enter the Ice Castles, which led me to believe that it was all they had, so I had to help my toddler use the bathroom in her snowsuit in a tiny porta-potty bathroom. I’m sure you can imagine the chaos. But when you enter the Ice Castles, there are actually nicer bathrooms, so don’t be fooled, and I recommend waiting to use the bathroom until you get inside.
Everything is outside. There is no way to escape the cold, so definitely bundle yourself up and the kids as well! There is no place to hang out inside and warm up, so you’re just embracing winter in its full glory.
There is no “real food.” They offer treats and snacks and sweets, but if you’re looking for a full meal, you’re not going to find it here. But you will find some foods to hold you over. The pretzels were actually really good.
“The Extras.” There are some extras you can purchase, and I’m not entirely sure they are worth it, but they probably are more so for the kids. There is a horse sleigh you can ride, and it just goes in a circle around the property and through the snow. Not very eventful, but the kids, of course, enjoyed it.
Overall, we enjoyed our time here. We loved going down the ice slides and tubing down the hill. My girls loved playing in the snow and walking through the ice caves. It really is beautiful and a sight to see in person. I really think this is a place that is more enjoyable with kids because they still have all that childlike wonder and awe. As an adult, I would suggest going in the evening, when the sun is setting, because they light up the ice castles with different colors, so I’m sure it's a different experience. There is also an ice bar that serves alcoholic drinks, so I can see how that would match the nighttime vibes. Overall, I would say it’s worth the drive and worth the experience. We went on a Sunday right when they opened, and it wasn’t super crowded. The nice part is that there is enough room to “get your shot,” regardless, so I wouldn’t worry about crowds too much. This is one of those do-it-for-the-gram places where you can also create fun family moments, so it’s a win-win.
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