Dear Readers,

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas with family, friends and loved ones.  Each year is special but, for me, this year was even more exciting. Stan and I went to see Pippin last night and it was truly spectacular.  While we always enjoy seeing a great Broadway show this was our very first Christmas play, and we have been married for 26 years.  In a word, it was priceless!  I am already contemplating next year’s adventure.

Earlier today I was speaking with a friend who was looking for fun things to do with family members who are spending their first Christmas in New York City.  I can imagine how exciting this must be for them.  Since children are involved, we knew there were 2 requirements – affordable and fun.

Ten minutes later, and with the help of a quick tour on the internet, we came up with 11 ice skating rinks to explore.  We were even more pleased to discover that 3 are located here in Brooklyn.

After working with my friend on this project I thought of each of you, and I decided to share this information for today’s post.  No pressure is intended, nor is any commitment required except for one; whatever you decide please have fun!

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

With an impressive 80-year history, the Rink at Rockefeller Center is a favorite New York City destination for residents and tourists.  If you decided to visit Rockefeller Center, please be prepared to wait for there is a 90-minute ice schedule.  However, when your time does come,  you will be transported to a winter wonderland.

Prices: Adults $27; Seniors/Children (under 11): $15.   Skate rental: $12
Hours: Open daily 8:30 am until midnight
Location: 600 Fifth Avenue
Nearest Subway: B, D, F, M to 47th-50th Streets/Rockefeller Center

The Rink at Winter Village in Bryant Park

Considered to be one of Manhattan’s best locations for seasonal skating and admission is free.  Open from November 1, 2013 until March 2, 2014, this is one of the best bets in Midtown without the crowds.

Prices: Free admission.  Skate rental: $15
Hours:  Sundays through Thursdays 8 am – 10 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 8 am – midnight
Location: Between 40th and 42nd Streets & 5th and 6th Avenues
Nearest Subway: 7 to 5th Avenue; B, D, F, M to 42nd Street/Bryant Park

Wollman Rink in Central Park

Located in beautiful Central Park, with an added bonus of New York’s breathtaking skyline, Donald Trump’s ice skating rink is open from late October until early April.  If you decided to go to visit, please be prepared to wait for it is very crowded.  Like Rockefeller Center, it is a favorite destination for New York City residents and tourists.  This rink also offers private lessons as well.  To make the most of your visit, be sure to visit their website for accurate information.  Please follow this link.

Prices: Adults: Mondays through Thursdays $11.25; Children: (under 11) $6; Seniors: $5
Fridays through Sunday and Holiday Weeks, Adults: 18; Children: $6 (under 11); Seniors: $5.  Skate Rental: $8 and Locker Rental: $11 (includes a $6 refundable deposit)
Cash only – no credit cards
Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 10 am – 2:30 pm; Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 10 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 11 pm; Sundays 10 am to 9 pm  please visit the link above to confirm public skating hours).
Location: 59th Street and 6th Avenue
Nearest Subway: A, B, C, D, 1, 9 to 59th Street; N, R to 5th Avenue; B, Q to 57th Street

The Standard Ice Rink

Located in New York City’s Meat Packing District, this “miniature” skating rink is open for only a few months each year.  While children are most certainly welcome, this venue is geared towards adults, especially in the evening when the rink takes on a party atmosphere.

Prices: Adults: $12; Children $6.  Skate rental: $3
Hours: Weekdays noon until midnight and weekends 9 am until 1 am
Location: 848 Washington at 13th Street
Nearest Subway: L to 8th Avenue, A, C, E to 14th Street

Trump Lasker Rink

Trump Lasker Rink, on the north end of Central Park, is far less  crowded than Wollman Rink.  Many sources confirm this is the perfect place to take professional classes due to the crowd size.  Public hours are limited due to its many hockey programs.  If you would like to visit Lasker Rink, please visit their website by clicking here.

Prices: Adults: $7.50; Children: $4.00; Seniors $2.25.  Skate rental: $6.50
Hours: December 25th – December 28th: 10 am to 11 pm, December 29th and 30th: 10 am to 10 pm, December 31st: 10 am to 7 pm, January 1st: 10 am to 9 pm
Location: 110th Street and Lexington Avenue
Nearest Subway: 2, 3 to 110th Street; C, B to 110th Street

Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers

The Sky Rink, at Pier 61, is open year-round, 7 days a week to skaters (novices and professionals) of all ages.  This twin rink facility is also home to the Sky Rink Skating school.  There is so much to do at Chelsea Piers.  This is well worth a visit.

Prices: Admission $10.  Skate rental: $5
Hours: Given the various programs, please click here.
Location: Pier 61, Hudson River Greenway at 23rd Street
Nearest Subway: A, C to 23rd Street

City Ice Pavilion

City Ice is a fabulous roof-top skating facility in Long Island City and is open year-round.  The “Pavilion” boasts an NHL-size rink and offers public skating and hockey programs for youths and adults.  It is also home to the City Ice Pavilion Skating School and is a favorite of people throughout the five boroughs.

Prices: Weekdays: $5; Weekends and Holidays: $8.  Skate Rental: $5
Hours: Given the various programs, please check out City Ice Pavilion’s website by clicking here.
Location: 47-32 32nd Place
Nearest Subway: 7 to 33rd Street; E, R to Queens Plaza

Riverbank State Park Ice Skating Rink

Riverbank State Park is in the Hamilton Heights enclave of Manhattan.  This spectacular park is a  28-acre structure that rises 69 feet above the beautiful Hudson River.  This is a state-of-the-art facility with a covered roller-skating rink that, in the winter, transforms into an ice skating rink.

Prices: Adults: $5; Children (age not specified) $3.  Skate Rental: $6
Hours: Open November through March, Fridays 6 pm to 9 pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.
Location: 679 Riverside Drive
Nearest Subway: A, B, C,D to 145th Street/St. Nicholas Avenue; 1 to 145th Street

Abe Stark Rink at the Coney Island Boardwalk

The Abe Stark Rink is located right next to the famous Coney Island Boardwalk.  A hidden gem, this public skating is available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from mid-October through late March.  Ice Hockey and Ice Skating classes are also available.

Prices: Admission: $9. Skate Rental $5
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm
Location: Coney Island Boardwalk and W. 119th Street

McCarren Rink

Last year when the McCarren Pool reopened, in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, the New York City Parks Department decided to install an ice-skating rink to fill the winter lull in activity.  The rink opened last month (November 2013) with 7,200 square feet of ice set up in the center of the pool area.  It is truly a beautiful sight.

Prices: Adults: $8; Students and Seniors: $5; Small Children: $4.  Skate Rental $5
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11 am to 10 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm
Location: 768 Lorimer Street
Nearest Subway: G to Nassau Avenue; L to Bedford Avenue

Lakeside Rink in Prospect Park

Just in time for Christmas (December 20th), the Lakeside Rink in Prospect Park opened to the public.  Prospect Park has been without an ice skating rink since the old one closed in 2010.  This $74 million project includes two rinks (one covered and one open air) and 32,000 square feet for skating.  This is the first new structure to be built in Prospect Park since the 1960s.  Be sure to stop by and check out Brooklyn’s newest gem.

Prices: Weekdays: $6; Weekends $8; Children under 12: Free.  Skate Rental $5
Hours: Monday through Thursdays: 11 am to 6:00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays: 9 am to 10 pm; Sundays 9 am to 8 pm.
Location: Use the Parkside and Ocean Avenue entrance to Prospect Park
Nearest Subway: B, Q to Parkside Avenue

Credits:
Information on the Top 11 Ice Skating Rinks in New York City – Newyork.com