Jaunted

Chicago Travel / Ice Skating / Skyscrapers / Winter Travel / Sports Travel / → All Tags

The World's Highest Ice Rink Opens in Chicago

BYO Disney ice-skating outfit.

While most people were likely nursing a hangover on January 1, others hit Chicago's John Hancock Observatory for the debut of the world's highest ice-skating rink. Skating in the Sky, which sits on the 94th floor of the famous building, puts its ice more than 1,000 feet up in the air.

This isn't the Hancock's first time offering a rink. When the building first opened, there was an ice rink in the sunken plaza out front. Unfortunately, those Windy City winds picked up debris from nearby construction areas and threw them at the skaters, putting an end to that idea.

more ›

Chicago Travel / Ice Skating / Travel News / Skyscrapers / Tourist Traps / Winter Travel / Sports Travel / → All Tags

The World's Highest Ice Rink Coming to Chicago's John Hancock Center

Like it isn't bad enough that the coast of Lake MIchigan freezes over during the winter, Chicago's John Hancock Center has announced that they'll have an ice skating rink installed on the 94th floor. This news comes from TimeOutChicago, who doesn't neglect to point out that an ice rink more than 1,000 feet up makes it the world's highest ice skating rink.

Expect to rent ice skates and do some figure-eights as soon as January 2011. The rink will be the newest entry in a list of recent upgrades at the Hancock's Observatory: "Over the last couple years, the observatory has rolled out a cafe and full bar, augmented reality telescopes, and a sleek design." Perhaps to compete with the Sears Willis Tower's tourist-attracting glass ledges on their 103rd floor? We bet!

We love the response of our friend—who lives in the John Hancock Building—to the new ice skating rink plans: "WTF that is insane. What are we—Dubai?"

[Photo: Jaunted]

Dance Travel / Ice Skating / Chicago Travel / Events / → All Tags

Boogie Near the Bean at Chicago's Free Winter Dance Festival

Chicago is trying to prevent people from hibernating this winter by enticing them to boogie on down at the new Chicago Winter Dance Festival, which debuts this month at Millennium Park. Best of all, you can shake it for free.

Modeled after the city's super-popular SummerDance series, the month-long festival offers an hour of dance lessons and time afterward to work your new skills. But the festival will add another perk by allowing you to show off your moves at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink with skating lessons, ice dancing demonstrations and nighttime themed ice parties.

more ›

Holiday Travel / San Francisco Travel / Ice Skating / Los Angeles Travel / → All Tags

Figure Eights In The Sunshine State: The Top Public Ice Skating Rinks In California

In Los Angeles, where this story is being written by a window with sunlight streaming through, it is a comfortable 65 degrees outside. Not a raindrop, not a flurry, and certainly no snow storms to speak of. The same is virtually true of San Francisco, so neither can claim being winter wonderlands, at least not in the traditional sense.

Ultimately, what is there to complain about? Bright skies allow us to shed bulky layers, and access to a wealth of ice rinks means we're not precluded from participating in chilly holiday activities. Just in time for winter's impending arrival, we're updating our list of worthy California ice rinks. Finding that hot toddy is up to you, though.

Check out the full list after the jump!

more ›

Travel Snapshot / San Francisco Travel / Holiday Travel / Shopping Travel / Ice Skating / San Francisco / → All Tags

San Francisco's Shopping And Ice Skating Scene Centers On Union Square

As we learned the hard way last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving earned its ominous nickname for good reason. We decided to brave the crowds in San Francisco's Union Square on the busiest shopping day of the year, only to be shoved and given the occasional dirty look by those supposedly bubbling with the spirit of the season.

The madness was due in part to some of the bargains to be had, and the tree lighting ceremony that took place that evening. News vans, families, and tourists from all over elbowed their way past each other to secure a viewing spot, but by 6:30 that night, most decent vantage points were taken and onlookers had to settle for a place on the sidewalks across the street. Standing at the intersection of Powell and Geary that night, our only thought was, "This must be what hell looks like."

Check out the pictures, after the jump!

more ›

Jaunted Travel Videos / Ice Skating / Active Travel / → All Tags

On Thin Ice in NYC :: Where to Go Ice Skating

Oh lovely, dreamy ice skating. In Manhattan, it's like the default activity suggestion for cutesy second dates, suburban friends come to visit, and wide-eyed children. Thanks to the movies and tourist brochures, many people believe that the sunken skating rink in Rockefeller Center is the hot spot for ice, when in actuality the city is dotted with other far more affordable, far less crowded frozen ponds.

Inspired by the dry, cold weather in New York and the absence of Christmas decorations, we've revamped our list of two years ago for the best ice rinks of New York City:

more ›

Ice Skating / Active Travel / → All Tags

Pass the Dutchie: Queen Beatrix Laces Up Her Ice Skates as Canals Freeze in Holland

A rare, week-long stretch of subzero temperatures has transformed the canals and lakes of Holland into a frozen wonderland, prompting more than two million Dutch citizens to don their blades and participate in the age-old pastime of ice skating across the flat country. An interesting Reuters item explains that increasing global temperatures have made thick natural ice rare in the Netherlands, so when an opportunity to skate for miles and miles along the interconnected canals comes up, plenty of people take advantage.

If the ice remains thick enough, officials hope to hold the Elfstedentocht (Journey of Eleven Cities), a daylong ice skating race in which skaters complete a 200-kilometer loop that begins and ends in the city of Leeuwarden. The race hasn't been held in a decade due to flimsy ice, but Dutch skating fans like Queen Beatrix would be especially pleased if the weather cooperates this year, as 2009 marks the race's centennial.

Visitors to the newly-sanitized city of Amsterdam, however, will need to make for the countryside if they want to try their hand at canal skating. The urban ice isn't quite thick enough yet to support skaters, but something tells me there will be a few folks just loopy enough to try.

[Photo: AP via Yahoo! News]

Related Stories:
· Dutch Take to Skates as Cold Snap Freezes Canals [Reuters]
· Elfstedentocht [The Holland Ring]
· Ice Skating Coverage [Jaunted]

Active Travel / Ice Skating / Healthy Travel / → All Tags

Working Off Your NYC Restaurant Week Meals

Just because New York City is home to some of the world's best restaurants--enticing us with Restaurant Week discounts later this month--doesn't mean you have to gain the Tri-State Five when you visit. These wintry athletic pursuits will have you looking as slim as the Flatiron in no time:

Cross-country skiing: We weren't able to find any vendors who will rent skis, so bring your own to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx (1 train to W. 242nd Street, the end of the line) or Prospect Park in Brooklyn (2/3 to Grand Army Plaza or B train to Prospect Park) for some snowy sightseeing.

Ice skating: Can cool UWS newcomer the Polar Rink (79th and Columbus, B/C to 81st Street) at the American Museum of Natural History replace the classic Rock Center rink? Not so much, says one blogger who calls its high-tech surface "a piece of crap" and bemoans the lack of lockers around the rink. But if the Rock's $19 price tag and long lines put you off, try The Pond at Bryant Park (42nd and 6th Avenue) where skate rentals are $8 but admission is free.

Of course, you could also just jettison the double-decker bus--trust us, no real New Yorkers are on that thing--and walk as much as possible. Once you get out of the crowd-choked Times Square area, a stroll can be quite pleasant. Or, in case you're scheduled to arrive just before Saturday's storm hits, snag a day pass to the Equinox (call 212-871-0425 for the Columbus Circle location, where Anderson Cooper works out) to work up a sweat.

Related Stories:
· More Skate Picks from Our 2006 Round-Up [Jaunted]
· Chuck Draws Blood [Jaunted]
· New York Breaks Out the Zambonis [Jaunted]

Christmas Alternatives / Christmas / Ice Skating / Winter Travel / → All Tags

World's Largest Ice Rink Now Open In Mexico

For the second year in a row, Mexico City is home to the world's biggest ice rink. Set in the heart of town--in the Zócalo--the ice spans more than 300,000 square feet, making it about 20 times bigger than an NHL hockey rink.

The five-hour opening ceremony Saturday included Mexican pop stars, pro skaters inaugurating the ice and the lighting of Christmas decorations--including a 163-foot tree--in the square. There were even some mountains of snow for kids to enjoy.

While it's not exactly sweltering in Mexico City right now, the weather is far from frightful: Highs above 70 are forecast for this weekend. The rink will be open until January 10, and admission is free.

Related Stories:
· Mexico City Opens World's Largest Ice Rink [EFE, via MarketWatch]
· Where to Ice Skate... In Mexico City? [Jaunted]

[Photo of the 2007 fun: El Fotopakismo]

Adventures of Link / Ice Skating / → All Tags

Poor People Ice Skate, Too

As if you needed anyone to tell you: The US is now officially having a recession, and these headlines agree.

Spirit Airlines has announced its latest fare sale with a possibly racy name, though you can't argue with one-way trips for $28 plus tax. Chicago is letting visitors ice skate for free, and in New York you can try a synthetic rink for just $10. Meanwhile Ryanair apparently has enough money saved up that it's launched another bid to buy up Aer Lingus while the economy is in the tank.

But in the recessionary world, one thing does remain constant: You can still get trapped on a tarmac for nine hours!

Related Stories:
· "Ocho's Crazy 8's Tournament" [Spirit Airlines]
· The Ice Is Right [Chicago Sun-Times]
· New York Gets Its First "Fake Ice" Rink [BT]
· Ryanair Returns with Bid for Aer Lingus [WSJ]
· Diverted Plane Stuck on Tarmac for Nine Hours [KCAL]

[Waiting for skating in Chicago: liz_noise]

Ice Skating / Winter Travel / Winter Sports / Holiday Travel / → All Tags

New York Breaks Out the Zambonis

Hey, speaking of Zambonis, New York's Wollman Rink opened today. Most recently the site of David Blaine's hang-upside-down "trick," it's probably the city's second-most famous skating venue.

The ice at Rockefeller Center is already open, though we tend to avoid it thanks to the public humiliation potential of wiping out in front of busloads of European tourists. Bryant Park is scheduled to open its rink tomorrow; admission is free but skate rental runs $12 a pair.

We'd rather lace up our blades at Lasker Rink on the north end of Central Park, where the scene is a bit more calm. Also worth checking out next month is the new rink the American Museum of Natural History is setting up behind its HQ on Central Park West.

Related Stories:
· Today in NY: Central Park Skating [NewYorkology]
· Museum of Natural History Opening Rink [NY1]
· Where to Skate in Manhattan [Jaunted]

[Photo: pbb]

Winter Travel / Ice Skating / Cruises / Royal Caribbean / → All Tags

Where to Ice Skate on the Open Water

Clearly, on-board casinos, Broadway-style shows, movie screening rooms and even that annoyingly over-hyped rock climbing wall weren't enough to keep Royal Caribbean's passengers amused between tropical ports of call. Over the past decade, the cruise ship juggernaut saw fit to outfit its Voyager family of ships--including a couple of the world's largest passengers vessels--with a series of indoor ice rinks, used for professional shows and open skating.

This may seem like an incongruous amenity considering that most winter cruisers are trying to get as far away from the frost as possible, but it's a darn good way to cool down after overdoing it on the mini golf course.

While the patch of ice you'll find on board is a fair sight smaller than your neighborhood rink, you can still get a good figure eight going. Just don't forget to toss a pair of long pants and socks in your bag along with that bikini.

Related Stories:
· Royal Caribbean [Official Site]
· World's Largest Cruise Ship [Jaunted]
· Ice Skating coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: James Ellsworth]