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For years I’ve wanted to visit the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah. I’d seen my good friend Valor’s work as she took absolutely stunning photographs (this one even one a prize at the state fair) there, and I watched the Alex Boyé Africanized version of Let It Go from Frozen which was filmed there. Just so you know what I’m talking about, here it is:

The ice castles really weren’t that far from me, about a 40 minute drive I’d say. So we loaded up the car with my BFF, her kids, and Matt (who was filling in for Ken since Ken was too gimpy to join us) and made our way up there. On the way we stopped at this adorable little coffee shop in Midway called the Fillerup Coffee Station. While it’s not one I’ll make it out to much (or at all), it’s easily one of my new favorite coffee places as they had amazing coffee, and their food was so good! Then we headed on out to the ice castles and drove through scenery that looked like this:

When you first come around the bend towards the ice castles, you’re not sure what you’re looking at, and it’s only as you pull into the parking lot and look up the beautiful formed peaks that you see what you’re about to experience. This post is a bit picture heavy, just FYI.

There was a big line at that point, but luckily we’d purchased our tickets ahead of time and so we didn’t have to stand around and wait long. We were quickly filed into the entrance, a cave looking hole in the side of solid ice, along with about a hundred other people. Once inside, we were free to just wander around. I quite enjoyed taking some gorgeous photos, both on the inside of the ice, and in the tunnels and caves inside. The tunnel photos ended up being my favorite, as I looked up at the hanging (and dripping, as it was a pretty sunny day) icicles and the bits of lights making their way through the top layer of ice.

Not only was it beautiful, but they’d put together some super fun stuff for the kids-well, and us adults too. I really enjoyed this tight little maze they’d built and called Slot Canyon. I, being quite plus sized and carrying a big camera bag, thought for a moment I wasn’t going to fit through some of the narrow twists and turns, but then it was ice-so one little squeeze and I slid right through. As weird as it sounds, I enjoyed that quite a bit! Ha!

They’d also built some fun slides for kids-a little one and a big one, and it was fun watching the kids make their way through the tunnels to get to the slide, and then watch them come down the little ice ramp on their behinds.

The Falkner Family at the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

Kristina and I at the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

Kaden and Kailee at the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

The kids sliding down the ice slide at the Ice Castles in Midway, Utah

Kaden waiting in line for the ice slide.

It only took us about a half hour before we were all incredibly frozen, and the baby was ready to go about 15 minutes before then. We tried to buy some hand warmers from their little hot cocoa stand, but they ended up not working very well. After an hour we actually decided to leave, and just as we were headed out the door we ran into the best surprise the baby could ask for. Anna and Elsa. She was overjoyed, and totally bashful.