Public Ice Skating in America

Rockefeller Ice Rink may not be the most ideal place to ice skate, but it is the most iconic. Located in the center complex buildings between 47th and 50th Streets and between 5th and 7th Ave., the rink is open between early November until April. Rentals and rink time is more expensive before New Years ($15.50 on weekdays, $19 on weekends and $9 skate rentals and $19 after November 20, 2009) but it decreases in cost, as well as the crowd after January 1st. After the holidays it cost $12 on weekdays and $16 on weekends all the way down to $10 on weekdays and $14 on weekends with only $5 rentals after March 1, 2010. The rink is only 122 feet long and 59 feet wide, and holds 150 skaters at once, so lines may be long and the rink crowded. The best time to go to avoid this is early mornings during the holidays and weekdays before 4pm. The rink, first opened in 1936 on Christmas Day, only accepts cash and reservations are not accepted.

If you are in NYC and would like somewhere else to skate, try The Pond at Bryant Park, NYC's only free ice rink. Admission in free, but skate rentals are a staggering $12, so this is probably best for those who have skates or a cheaper alternative to Rockefeller. The 170 foot by 100 foot rink is located between 40th and 42nd streets and 5th and 6th Avenues. It is open from November 6 through January 24, 2010. If you choose to skip waiting in lines, there are "skip the line" passes you may purchase online which is a good idea for groups. The shortest lines tend to be on weekend mornings while the longest are on weekends, evenings, and during holidays. There is no skating session length, although the park recommends you not stay on longer than an hour and a half to be courteous to other skaters.

Lake Placid. Located about five hours north of New York City, Lake Placid is a chance to skate where Olympic winners have. Public skating is available on the Olympic Oval where Jack Shea and Eric Heiden both took home Olympic gold medals in the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympic games for speed skating. Adults cost $7, 12 and under $5 and seniors 65+ $5, rentals are $3. The indoor rink which allows public skating (2 out of a total of 4 allow public hours) is where 16 years old figure skater Sonja Henie won a gold medal in 1932.

Downtown on Ice. Skating in 70 degree weather may seem odd, but for a city with so many transplants, many of L.A.'s residents often long for a piece of the real holiday season. Located in Pershing Square, the outdoor concert and event center in downtown Los Angeles, is open from November until mid January seven days a week until as late as 10 pm, including holidays. Located at 535 S Olive Street, the rink has been running for 12 seasons now. At a paltry 90 feet by 50 feet in size, it is surprisingly the largest and the cheapest in the area. Music and live bands are frequently featured beside the rink, and it is walking distance from several bars in the area. It may not be the most ideal skating conditions, but to be ice skating in Southern California outdoors at all is pretty unique.

The Frog Pond at Boston Common. The oldest public park in America, during the rest of the year this natural mud pond poses as both a reflecting pool and in the summer a 6 inch deep wading pool and fountain for kids. During the winter months, it transforms into an 16,000 square foot ice rink from November until mid-March. Open seven days a week, the costs is $4 per person, kids 13 and under are free, $8 for skate rentals, and only $5 for children 13 and under. Lockers can be purchased for $1 and there is a snack bar on site. If you live in the Boston area and can get a lot of use out of the rink they even sell season passes for $100 for an individual, $150 for a family, and a $60 lunch pass to be used mid day during the week. You may even take lessons for kids or adults and rent to ice out on Monday evenings for a Birthday. Although inexpensive, the rink can get crowded and parking can be tough, unless you are reading to pay to park in a deck. Located at 84 Beacon Street, call 617-635-2197 for questions.