It is finally happening.
I recently purchased a premium account for my blog and I feel like I’m in a whole new world. Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration because I already have experience using WordPress premium, but I am extremely excited about the excess storage and access to CSS. So to move things forward, I decided that my first post should be fitting with my blog’s theme of travel/attractions and incorporate the holiday season. Today, I am sharing my thoughts on an increasingly popular annual attraction here in Dallas called ICE! .
I visited the ICE! exhibition the week before Thanksgiving because I scored an online discount code for half off ($15). For those who don’t know, ICE! is a Christmas-themed exhibition of large-scale ice sculptures, and this year’s theme is “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.” I didn’t know what to expect except that it was going to be “freezing” and “pretty short,” (according to my sources) so my friend Ilse and I made the trek over to the Gaylord Texan Resort Hotel.
After going through the labyrinth that is this hotel, we finally arrived at the exhibition and I can honestly say my expectations were met. I won’t lie to you, I spent the whole time getting pictures on my phone (before it froze to death) and camera which meant I had no idea what the storyline actually was. In spite of this, I think it was a great one-time experience.
It makes sense why the exhibition is short (about 15-20 min) because, well, the environment has to sustain the ice sculptures and you could get hypothermia if you stay longer than intended. But overall I don’t think it is worth the full price of $30. Don’t get me wrong–I am still in disbelief that there are artists out there who can not only sculpt everything out of ice like this, but also bring it to life with color and such intricate details. I was clearly thoroughly impressed which is why I couldn’t stop taking pictures. However, when you pile on travel time, mandatory cost of parking (additional $15), and insufficient resources (e.g. the coats they provide), I believe you’re really just paying for the novelty. Still, these are just my opinions.
If you are planning to see ICE!, here are three things I would advise:
- Wear layers (insulated jacket, gloves, and maybe a scarf)
- If you are going to be late for your reserved time, you can arrive later without prior notice on a value day (weekday), but should call ahead on weekends to reschedule your slot
- Periodically tuck your phone in warm parts of your body so it doesn’t freeze up and die like mine did
I hope y’all enjoyed my first post back! You can now expect weekly posts again every Sunday 🙂
xx, AE
Lex in the City 