Kissimmee: The Coolest Place to Be During the Holidays

By Alan Macher

Published: October 14, 2007

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Imagine a winter wonderland of holiday scenes hand-carved from 2 million pounds of ice - in warm, sun-drenched central Florida.

When visitors walk through the doors of ICE!, the spectacular holiday attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, they'll be treated to a white Christmas, Florida style. ICE! features frolicking polar bears, Santa's workshop and slippery slides, among many other frozen delights.

Temperatures outside may average a balmy 70 degrees, but inside the 18,000-square-foot "Florida Fridge," as the huge structure housing ICE! is dubbed, it's kept at a chilly nine degrees. But not to worry - if you didn't pack your winter jacket (this is still Florida, after all), Gaylord Palms has plenty of oversize hooded coats to keep you warm.

Other breathtaking, handcrafted features within eight separate environments include the Ice Castle, a towering entrance to the ice kingdom; the Cathedral of Ice, evoking impressions of majestic churches of old; and Mrs. Claus' Kitchen, brimming with holiday delights.

Inside the Ice Castle, three fantastic ice speed-slides will beckon to the young and the young at heart. Amazing photo opportunities abound in the tranquil, frozen Ice Forest, complete with a running waterfall, and aboard an ice-formed horse and carriage (yes, you can actually sit on it).

As the Orlando area's "coolest" family holiday attraction, ICE! dazzles visitors with larger-than-life, three-dimensional ice monuments and sculptures, some more than 25 feet in length. Forty artisans from Harbin, China, created the remarkable ice designs; it took them nearly a month to complete the work.

Almost 80 percent of the sculptures are made up of glass-like crystal ice, so flawless that it is compared to Waterford Crystal. Other sculptures feature white ice, which is more like compacted snow; and colored ice, dyed with brilliant colors. Adding to the colorful displays are more than 1,400 florescent lights frozen within the ice sculptures.

So the next time you drop a few ice cubes into your drink, think of this: The two million pounds of ice needed to create this amazing attraction consist of nearly 5,000 ice blocks. Now that's cool.

ICE! is the highlight of the resort's "Best of Florida Christmas" festivities, which features holiday entertainment and activities for the entire family. A weekly schedule of holiday events and entertainment is available at the ICE! box office.

Throughout the year, Gaylord Palms is a delight for children and adults alike. La Petite Academy Kids Station offers activities for youngsters and the Marine Pool features a water slide and a sand beach play area. For adults, the South Beach Pool has cabanas and whirlpool spas, and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub includes a state-of-the-art spa, wellness and fitness center, and a full-service beauty salon.

A massive 4.5-acre glass-enclosed atrium is the resort's signature architectural feature. Within the atrium are Florida-themed environments that depict Key West, with a re-creation of Mallory Square and its Sunset Celebration; St. Augustine, with a replica of Castillo San Marcos, the historic Spanish fort; and the Everglades, complete with primitive boardwalks and metal-roofed shanties, among others. Florida design themes even carry through to the guest rooms.

Innovative restaurants, fascinating shops and live entertainment abound at the resort. After the ICE! experience, guests can enjoy Old Hickory Steakhouse, featuring the finest Black Angus and fresh seafood served in a Everglades setting; Sunset Sam's Fish Camp, offering a fusion of Floridian and Caribbean favorites, overlooking a 60-foot sailboat; or Villa De Flora, where chefs create market-inspired dishes with Mediterranean influences.

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