I don’t even know where to begin in describing my weekend. I was tempted to make this a truly WordLESS Wednesday post, but there are too many things I need to say about our adventure to the National Harbor.
A few weeks ago, two friends invited the whole family to see something called “Ice” at the Gaylord National Resort. The pictures on the website looked very intriguing, and the weekend was open, so we agreed to go.
Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw and experienced. Incredible doesn’t do it justice. In awe doesn’t quite describe the feeling adequately.
Here are the facts. In October, around 40 master ice sculpture artisans traveled to DC from China. They spent about 40 days transforming 5,000 blocks of ice (approximately two million pounds of ice) into full-color, life-size ice sculptures. The most amazing part of this (to me) is the not fact that they transformed ice into beautiful works of art, but that they were able to recreate the vibrantly colorful, curvy, and zany world of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch (and 4 ice slides) are housed in an insulated 15,000-square-foot structure, where the temperature is kept at a cozy 9 degrees. At least it’s cozy for the ice sculptures….
After walking past an inspiring display of Dr. Seuss’ art (which Reese felt compelled to mimic and pose with), every person, big or small, was given an enormous blue parka to put over all other coats and clothes. I thought I had dressed everyone warmly….but nine degrees is mighty chilly, and we were very grateful for the parkas, despite the fact that everyone looked the same.
Before our time slot to enter the exhibit, we had a couple of hours to explore the area around the National Harbor, including the gigantic man coming out of the sand (the kids were very excited to get inside the big man’s mouth…) and a trip to the Peeps store (can you find the picture of the tree made out of green peeps?) where we got to sample Mike and Ikes of every imaginable flavor and see how we scored on the Hot Tamale hotness scale.
And now I will let the pictures speak.
I can’t wait for next Winter to see what they come up with next time.
Linked up to Wordful Wednesday, Wordish Wednesday, and Wordless Wednesdays all over. Link your Wednesday post up below!
PS – In case anybody wondered, this was not a sponsored event. We went with our friends and bought all the tickets.
PPS – The CoffeeTalk Community on the BlogFrog is about to launch….Later today!…and I am a community leader. I will be hanging out there everyday, with fun discussions and daily live chats. I hope to see you there! I will be posting more about it shortly.
© 2011, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.
Philip and I went there sans kids. I feel a little guilty about not including them, but it was a fun evening out for us. Also, we went on a weeknight and the wait was not long to get in. I too am excited for next year. Maybe I will be nicer and include kids. Missed the Peeps store though. That sounds fun!
That looks so cool! (no pun intended)
How neat! Wish I would have gone to it!
How fun is that?
We had tickets for this last year and missed it because the little one was sick. This looks AMAZING! We have yet to make it over to the new National Harbor but I heard that it is something to see. So cool to see the big buried statue guy found a new home! We always loved climbing on him when he was along the Potomac, in DC years ago!
Mindy
Wow. What an awesome place.
Great post and awesome pictures! What fun!
Wow! I love your pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Looks fun! …and cold!
That is really neat Lolly.
Your photos are spectacular as usual!
Have a great day!
https://harrietandfriends.com/2011/01/it-was-111-on-11111/
The stairs were not made of ice (too slippery, I’m sure) but the walls and almost everything else were!
Looks like a fun time!
They would love it, I’m sure!
I kept saying, Wow, WOw, WOW! as I scrolled through your photos. That slide looks like a freaking blast!!!
I thought Ice was just an Orlando thing. We have Ice at Gaylord Palms. I did not go this year but went a couple of years ago. It is mind boggling what they can do with ice. Looks like you had a great time.
Those are great structures! Thanks for sharing! Happy WW!
Are those stairs made of ice? That’s pretty cool!
What an awesome adventure!! Love the photos :)
Thanks for hosting this WW linky . . . come by and link up to mine too :)
https://myfloridaparadise.blogspot.com/2011/01/wordless-wednesday-5-marvelous-meercats.html
Have a wonderful Wednesday . . . Gina
That looks like so much fun! That pic of the hand is so interesting!
Looks like SO much fun! That ice slide is amazing!
I live near DC. How did I not know about this event? Aargh!
Holy cow that is amazing. Your pictures, as always, are awesome, but man I would love to take the girls there.
F-U-N!!!
Looks like a fun and colorful weekend!!