SeeCalifornia.com

LONG BEACH, CALIF. — When someone tells you to CHILL this time of year, it’s usually a harbinger of things to come…only good things, of course. Right now as you read this, expert ice sculptors from Harbin, China are chiseling, chipping and shaping two million pounds of ice into the most amazing attraction to hit the West Coast. It’s called CHILL.

My CHILL experience: My father died several months ago and it’s still hard to get over losing him, but I fondly remember his and my mother’s visit to Southern California to see CHILL last year. My dad loved it so much he told everyone about his experience and was responsible for getting half a dozen people to drive from Central and Northern California to the wonderland of fantasy ice castles, Nutcracker scenes, and even a two story replica Queen Mary ship that guests could slide down on an ice slide. It felt so good to see my parents filled with delight like children, enjoying an attraction that you normally must travel to places such as China to enjoy. CHILL’s ice kingdom that fills the former Spruce Goose hangar also has ice tubing, plus an outdoor ice skating rink, a food court, entertainment and many surprises. I plan to see CHILL’s new carvings this year and will smile, remembering how my dad and I split an ice cream sundae while watching the ice skaters with the regal Queen Mary as a backdrop.