Tips for Attending ICE featuring Frosty the Snowman at Gaylord National Harbor (w ticket giveaway!)

If you think that it’s been cold around the D.C. Metro Area this week, 30 degrees starts to seem warm when you head to Gaylord National Harbor for ICE featuring Frosty the Snowman. Since 1969 Frosty and his animated friends have been seen on television screens during the holidays but now visitors can join them as they wander the stunning 2 million pounds of brightly colored ice that makes up this year’s display.

Go through ice tunnels, around a spinning Frosty dancing with children, and into the Town Square where you can climb up to slide down two story tall ice slides. The ice slides are always a favorite in our house! The only thing that keeps my kids from endless sliding are the cold temps!

After you tear your kids away from the slides, there’s a giant train and The Frostbite Factory. The Frostbite Factory gives you a peek into how ICE was created. Graphics and factoids are interesting for kids and adults alike who are dazzled by the display. Learn how the ice was made, the number of colors used, essential tools for the process, and also see some of the 36 carvers from Harbin, China (aka the Ice Carving Capital of the World) at work in the live ice carving zone.

Before setting foot into ICE, here are some tips before you go:

• The blue parkas make everyone look the same. If you want to find your kids easily, give them distinctive scarves or a hat to wear so you can spot them at a glance, especially at the ice slides.
• Dress in layers. If you think you’re wearing enough clothes, throw on another layer just in case. Wool socks, leggings under sweats….Do what you need to in order to stay warm. It is a frigid 9 degrees inside and no one really knows that there’s really a svelte figure hiding under that blue parka!
• Planning to take pictures? It’s possible that your camera might not like the cold temperatures. If you’re using your iPhone, touch screen compatible gloves will help your fingers stay warm for those photo opportunities.

ICE is great fun and something we look forward to every holiday season but besides ICE, Gaylord National Harbor and National Harbor have lots to offer to families.

• Grab lunch or dinner at one of the family friendly places to eat around National Harbor.
• Plan your trip to ICE to catch Christmas on the Potomac, a dazzling display of lights and fountains inside the giant atrium at Gaylord National Harbor.
• Enjoy the National Harbor Christmas Light Show nightly throughout the holidays on Waterfront Plaza. The light show starts the half hour after sunset and is every half hour until 9:30 pm.
• Enjoy a staycation by booking a room at Gaylord National Harbor. It feels like a world away and the hotel has a fantastic pool plus the rooms with balconies are best for watching Christmas on the Potomac in your jammies!
• There are different places to park, depending on the duration of your visit. Gaylord National Harbor offers self parking and valet adjacent to the hotel but there is also parking directly across the street. National Harbor has on street 2 hour parking and offers garage parking too which is convenient if you’re planning to explore the area and nearby shops and restaurants.

Purchase tickets to ICE featuring Frosty the Snowman or win 4 tickets to attend ICE featuring Frosty the Snowman courtesy of Gaylord National Harbor! 

• To enter, leave a comment sharing one of your family’s favorite holiday traditions in the DC area.
• For an extra entry, leave the required comment and then tweet this daily and leave link to your tweet in the comments: I’d like to make ICE @GaylordNational a family holiday tradition! Thx to @TechSavvyMama 4 the chance 2 win tickets!

A winner will be selected from all eligible entries on Sunday, November 30 and notified via email and must provide a mailing address to receive their tickets. Please note that tickets are good for non-peak days: November 14, 20, 21, 24, and 25 and December 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19.

I received complimentary tickets to attend ICE with my family. No additional compensation was received for my review or hosting this giveaway. All opinions are my own.