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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:

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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]

Tags: 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]

Tags: 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]

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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]

Tags: 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]

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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]

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

Where to Ice Skate... In Mexico City?

We wouldn't normally put ice skating high on our activities list for a trip to Mexico City, but maybe we should reconsider. The DF recently set up an enormous skating rink in the city center, and ice time and skate rental is free. (Good thing: We'd hate to have to schlep our own skates to Mexico.)

The massive rink sits on top of miles of refrigeration tubes, ensuring that the ice stays frozen even in the from-from-frigid December weather. And though a handful of residents think the big price tag for the rink ($1.5 million) could be better spent on repairing the city's infrastructure, most people think it's great, including this high school student:

Yeah, you could say we're skipping school...Ice-skating isn't very popular, but at the moment it's in style. It's something really cool for us because, well, we don't even have any snow.

There you have it: Ice skating cool enough to skip class for. That's all the endorsement we need!

Related Stories:
· Mexico Tries Out an Ice-Skating Rink [NYT]
· Ice Skating coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times]

Tags: Christmas / Ice Skating / UK Travel / → All Tags

Christmas Travel: London's Winter Wonderland

When Londoners want to get into the Christmas spirit, they go to Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland where revelers can enjoy the city's biggest ice rink, a giant ferris wheel, carol concerts and a "German Christmas Market" attempting to replicate the traditional atmosphere of Britain's famed festive neighbors.

For the most part, it works, with over 25 chalet-style stalls selling authentic handicrafts, decorations and foodstuffs from mulled wine to gingerbread. So far, so German.

The ice rink is the Wonderland's main attraction, however, where an hour-long session costs between £7.50 ($16) and £12.50 ($26), depending on when you skate (earlier is cheaper).

For those whose skating skills are reminiscent of Bambi, there's plenty else to do on site. At the Bungy Dome you can perform complex aerial aerobatics, or simply jump around to your heart's content. We'd suggest doing this pre-bratwurst.

The less adventurous may prefer to simply sit back in one of the ice cafes and sip a steaming gluhwein (mulled wine) or hot chocolate while enjoying the carolers. If you're lucky, you may even see Santa, who's said to be making an appearance in the run-up to Christmas.

--Annabel Ross

Related Stories:
· Winter Wonderland [Official Site]
· Christmas coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ooitschristina]

Tags: Ice Skating / Active Travel / Christmas / Winter Travel / → All Tags

Where to Ice Skate in St. Louis

We've told you where to ice skate in New York and in LA, but that hardly helps when you're stuck visiting the relatives in the Midwest this holiday season. Fortunately, St. Louis' Forest Park--also home to the zoo and science center--has one of the country's largest outdoor ice rinks.

While beginners are more than welcome, you'll also see a good amount of talent at Steinberg Rink. Speed skaters love the large surface, and athletes with local connections have appeared in every winter Olympics since 1968. If you still need a little practice before you go to the Games, admission to the ice is 6 bucks and skate rentals are $2.50.

One more thing: Locals say Steinberg is one of the most romantic spots in the city, and it'll be open late for lovers on Christmas Eve. But don't swoon too soon if your date asks you to a post-skate dinner at Lucas Park Grille.

Related Stories:
· Steinberg Rink [Official Site]
· Steinberg Skating Rink: A St. Louis Tradition [KWMU]
· Ice Skating coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Herkie]

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Where to Ice Skate in Los Angeles

Southern California is best known for its beaches, warm temperatures and constant sunshine--along with raging wildfires, smog and plastic surgery. It's not, however, known for spitting out champion hockey players or world-class figure skaters. No, this is a land known for beach volleyball stars and year-round soccer players.

But this is also the land of Hollywood dreams and make-believe so you if you want to ice-skate on a 75 degree day in December, then doggone it, you will.

Where to make your figure-8 dreams come true

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To Do in Chicago: Last Call For Ice Skating

If you've got the balls to make it to Chicago before April, then you've certainly got the balls to risk falling on your ass in the middle of an ice rink. Or maybe you're an incredible skater, just like us. Whatever your level of skill, you don't need much cash at all to savor the last weeks of some of Chicago's wintry pleasures. There are about two weeks left until the seasonal closing of Millennium Park's McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. Admission is free, but skate rental is $7. McCormick is one fine urban rink--its views are great--and a good value. City skating can mean tiny spaces and outrageous prices, but not here. Don't worry, we'll start the countdown to Chicago beachcombing when the time is right.

[Photo: shakeboy2k]

Related Stories:
· McCormick Tribune Ice Rink [Official Site]