New England: Ice Castle Attraction Is Now Open

New Englanders now have another winter wonderland in the region. This past weekend, Ice Castles in New Hampshire opened.

We endured frigid temperatures this past weekend in the northeast corner of the country. However, this led to Ice Castles being able to open earlier than expected. Initially slated for the weekend of January 26, Boston.com reported the attraction opened early on January 20 due to the cold.

"The interactive cascading towers of ice embedded with colorful LED lights will feature ice-carved tunnels, slides, frozen thrones, and fountains," Boston.com explains.

Furthermore, the official Ice Castles of New Hampshire website details their onsite excitement into nine different category options. They are:

Regardless of what you choose to explore, "Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings fairy tales to life," they explain. Though this Ice Castles location in New Hampshire has just opened, there are other locations around the country that have been quite popular. Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Utah, and Wisconsin are the states that also have this unique winter experience.

The New Hampshire location is 24 Clark Farm Road in North Woodstock. That is approximately two hours from Boston and Portland, Maine. However, it is also a short drive from certain Vermont ski towns as well. A day trip from various points of New England is certainly doable.

As for costs they are broken out simply. An adult general admission pass will run you $30. For children ages 4-11, the ticket price is $23. Kids under 4 are free. Ice Castles is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For more information and pointers on driving directions, you can visit IceCastles.com/New-Hampshire. Furthermore, you can follow them on Instagram to get a peak at the wonderfully lit up castles and features.

As a father of four, my mornings are always a bit hectic. I enjoy being an early bird; however, I rarely have the time to prep a good breakfast. Therefore, I was quite thrilled to see that Tasting Table recognized three New England restaurants for having the best breakfast sandwiches in the country. I'm always looking for a good quick breakfast.

A morning in my world usually consists of a sunrise workout, followed by a scramble to get myself and the kids out of the house. Then I embark on an hour-long drive to the office. On the weekends, it's taking one of my kids to their sports game. Let's focus on the latter for a moment.

While I am more lenient on my breakfast choice (a banana or shake will do), I insist upon a healthy start for the little guys. Driving them all around New England on weekends requires a few drive-thru meals that you eat in the car. My preference is for the kids to have something substantial, with a protein they enjoy. A breakfast sandwich is often the choice.

The perfect breakfast sandwich should follow three simple rules. It's quick, both to order and make. It's fresh (not a microwaved egg slab pulled out of plastic). Finally, it's a balanced hand-held item that is not too heavy, processed or sugar-filled.

When trekking through interstates and unfamiliar towns at sunrise, it's easy to settle upon the quickest Dunkin' Donuts. Now, there are some other options that you (and I) should know about. These three New England restaurants ranking among the best breakfast sandwiches in the country.

Before we get into the list, it is necessary to give one other shout-out. The Portland, Oregon establishment named by Tasting Table has both the best restaurant and sandwich name. The "Yolko Ono" by Fried Egg I'm In Love.

Sofra Bakery and Café in Cambridge, MA, is the first stop. Tasting Table calls out "Geno's Egg Sandwich." This is a brioche bun filled with egg topped with halloumi cheese, feta butter, tomato concasse, and spicy green cilantro.

Next, we hop on 95 North and pull into the Elephantine Bakery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Here the selected breakfast sandwich is called the "Egg Simit." It's the healthiest of the three choices based on pure ingredients. This sandwich consists of egg, hummus, beat pistachio spread, feta, and spinach on a sesame simit.

I actually had a very hard time securing a quick bacon, egg, and cheese this past spring while in Maine for a lacrosse tournament. Now I know I need to go to a coffee shop next time. Tandem Coffee has something so good, it doesn't even need a clever name. "The Breakfast Sandwich" is simply egg, American cheese, and smoked paprika. However, when you rest it upon a homemade buttermilk biscuit, you reach a new level.