| We
are always on the lookout for interesting places and exhibits to
present to our readers for possible One Tank Trips. This past
month we found one so interesting and unusual that we decided to
feature it as our cover story as well. Even if it takes you more than
one tank of gas to get there and back, it's well worth the trip to
check out this very cool exhibit.
We're talking about ICE!
Not the guy that works for us and does these articles normally, but a
very  impressive
exhibit put on yearly by the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee,
FL. from mid-November to the beginning of January.
Kissimmee is part of the
sprawling tourist destination in central Florida around Orlando which
includes Disney World, Epcot and many other attractions. But at a
balmy 9 degrees Fahrenheit inside the exhibit, ICE! is
without a doubt the coolest of all the  attractions
in the area.
The ICE! attraction is
composed of nearly 2 million pounds of ice, hand carved to create a
walk through winter wonderland where visitors can explore larger-than-life,
three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including
fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday
scenes. The theme for this year's attraction is "A Trip To The
North Pole", taking guests through 9 dramatic holiday scenes of
these hand carved wonders. Along the way you'll be introduced to Chip,
Santa Claus and Old Man Winter.
One such scene is an
oversized photo opportunity featuring a 13.5-foot-tall Santa Claus.
Visitors will be able to sit on the knee of this colossal Santa,
providing an interesting perspective – and a fun photo!
Another guest
favorite, the ICE! castle and  slides,
will feature Santa’s Christmas Eve flight… reindeer and all!
This year’s “showstopper”
will be an amazing “crystal” carousel, decked out for a Christmas
carnival. Guests will be able to pose with the carousel animals as
they take in the artistry.
The
attraction’s signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely
of crystal-clear ice, has been described
as one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ.
Dramatic lighting and a stirring
narrative track give guests an opportunity to pause and reflect on the
story behind the season.
(cont.) |
