Every time I step out onto a rink, my heart starts to pound a little faster, my cheeks get rosy from the frosty air and a smile automatically appears on my face – from ear to ear. There’s just something so liberating and exciting about gliding on a thick sheet of ice. I’m not by any means a pro skater (no double axels here), but I do love the winter sport. So, on my first holiday trip to NYC, I went on a little Canadiana-inspired mission to test out the ice down south. Here are the three spots that topped my list:
1. Where The Locals Skate: Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Hubster patiently watching the Zamboni. He stole my new Canada Goose Aviator Pilot hat!
As New York City’s only free admission rink, Bryant Park is where most Manhattanites head when the urge to skate arises. You can take your own skates for a completely free experience or rent them onsite ($20). The lockers are free of charge, but you’ll need to bring a lock or check your bags ($10 small, $12 large). The winter village has a lovely open-air market during the holidays which, along with the Christmas tree, seems to put everyone in a festive spirit. One thing to note though: they occasionally close down the rink for special events, so check their online calendar before getting too excited (I was sadly rejected the first time around). Oh, and as with almost everything that is free, there’s usually a line to get in (locals say the wait ranges from 5-40 min).
2. Where The Tourists And The Nostalgic Skate: Rockefeller Center
Some people head there because the guide books tell them too, others go because it’s a celebrated tradition. Whatever the reason, there is a special kind of air that surrounds the magical rink at Rockefeller Center. There are wide eyes and squeals of excitement everywhere you turn. That being said, it is the smallest rink in the world (well, I’m sure there are smaller, but still – it’s tiny!!) And it’s a bit pricey; one skate will cost you $27 plus a $12 skate rental. My suggestion: go grab yourself a warm bevvie at Blue Bottle Coffee and watch the skaters go round and round. Your time and dollars are better spent elsewhere. If you do decide to skate, you might as well go all out: they have a VIP package ($60-$150) that allows you to book an advance reservation and get on the ice immediately through their exclusive Igloo. The fee also includes rentals, hot cocoa and baked goods.
3. Where Everyone Should Skate – Wollman Rink, Central Park
Out of all the rinks I visited, the Wollman Rink impressed me the most. Not only did I meet a good mix of locals and tourists as I glided along gracefully (or so I’d like to think), but I really felt like Manhattan was giving me a big hug. You see, this smooth patch of ice is located in the heart of the city (on the east side of Central Park between 62nd and 63rd) and is surrounded by many of the buildings that makeup NYC’s iconic skyline. Although the admission is not free like Bryant Park, the skate rentals do cost less ($9). Admission for adults is $12 or $19 (depending on which day of the week you visit). Oh, and they have youth and seniors rates! It is cash only though, so make sure you take some along. They’re also pretty strict about not having any bags or cellphones on the ice for safety reasons. I was sad at first because I wanted to snap some pics, but after a few minutes I was happy to be technology-free during my magical skate in Central Park.
If these three rinks don’t sound appealing to you, there are 12 more venues in NYC to get your skate on. Just visit nycgo.com for a full list. Happy skating!
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