Watch Ice-Carving Battles, Attend Freezefest in Bloomington, Indiana

Winter family travel doesn’t have to be exclusively to warm and tropical destinations. This year, fully embrace low temperatures and head to a cold destination like Bloomington, Indiana. The walkable town with global cuisine, art, culture and outdoor fun is hoping travelers will embrace the cold for its annual Freezefest.

Later this month, Jan. 23–24, Bloomington, Indiana, will welcome more than 5,000 travelers as it turns ice into entertainment and family fun. Located in Switchyard Park, a 58-acre space minutes from downtown, the festival offers large-scale ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations, ice-carving chainsaw battles, treats from local vendors, food trucks, a beer and wine garden (for older travelers), a winter farmers market, a chili cook-off and family fun activities. Thanks to the park’s close proximity to the downtown, dining, shopping and cultural attractions, the event is the perfect opportunity to get people outdoors in the middle of winter. Don’t worry, there will also be hot drink trucks so travelers have opportunities to warm up.

Even though it may be cold, this off-season Midwest getaway will be worth it thanks to its lighter crowds, lower hotel rates and the event itself.