An ice bar, sparkling sky, colorful lights, and ice slides mean one of the best things about New Hampshire winters: the magical Ice Castles, which are closing for the season on March 4.

The Ice Castles website even quotes Oprah, who describes the spectacle as "twinkling and sense defying right out of a fairy tales."

Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
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She is so correct.  There are several reasons (outside of the fact that when Oprah speaks, most of us listen) why it's time to make those 2023 plans to visit North Woodstock and the miraculous Ice Castles before they close. One of them is the bar, open for the first time this year.

Cheers!  And not only to that, but to so many other reasons to grab friends and family and get those super cool selfies and memories.

Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
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1.) It's Tradition

This awe-inspiring creation has drawn hundreds of thousands since its conception 11 years ago, as the official ice castles website touts.

Whether you'll be seeing them for the first time this year or the popular castles have been a part of your life since you could walk, it's an annual event you'll want to venture out to, thus turning the cold weather into a magical experience.

They're truly a fairy tale come to life.

Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
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2.) Ice Artisans Are Creating New Features

They are busy, busy, busy creating a new ice sculpture garden and fairy village that will light up at night, per the Ice Castles website.

As a matter of fact, the website states that these ice artisans are growing, harvesting, and hand-placing thousands of icicles a day to build this winter wonderland.

Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
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3.) The Castles Are Filled With Ice Slides, Crawl Spaces, and Caves

With a myriad of illuminated fountains, a snow tubing hill, and horse-drawn sleigh rides, the Ice Castles are more than just chunks of pretty ice.

Even the mystic forest light walk will give you shivers of warmth from its beauty.

Your Instagram-perfect photos will be the envy of everyone.

Ice Castles/Mary Sivertsen
Ice Castles/Mary Sivertsen
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4.) It is Unique

With only five Ice Castles locations in the entire country, according to the website, how lucky are we to have one of these beautiful adventures in our own backyard?

The other locations are in Midway, Utah, Brighton, Minnesota, Lake George, New York, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They're all the brainchild of one man, founder Brent Christensen, who says on the website that it's all about making people smile.

I'd say it's working.

Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
Ice Castles/ A.J. Mellor
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5.) Create Private Memories

From proposals to parties, of course, there's a VIP experience in the Arctic Alcove where you can enjoy all that the Ice Castles have to offer, plus your own private area.

For exact directions to Clark Farm Road in North Woodstock, New Hampshire, click here, and of course, don't forget to buy your tickets.

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