SoCal might be the land of sunshine and palm trees, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some good old-fashioned ice skating at these seasonal rinks all around Los Angeles. Take a look below to find a few of the merriest places in the city to tie-up a pair of skates and hit the ice. From figure 8's to guest "celebrity" appearances, an outing at one of these rinks is sure to elicit some holiday cheer from just about anyone.
Beverly Hills Ice Rink
For the first time ever, the City of Beverly Hills is hosting a full-scale public ice rink in the Golden Triangle area right in front of the iconic Beverly Hills City Hall building on Crescent Drive between North and South Santa Monica Boulevards. The rink will be open from December 1, 2012 – January 6, 2013, and will operate daily. Sunday – Thursday it will be open from noon until 9:00 pm, while Friday and Saturday it will open from noon until 10:00 pm. Admission and skate rental for an hour session is $15 per adult and $11 per child under 12 years of age. The rink will include a stand selling bottled water, gloves and socks as well as lockers for belongings and viewing areas for visitors. While you’re there, check out the city’s other holiday happenings including special menus at neighborhood restaurants, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus on the weekends in December, and plenty of decorations and lights along the streets.
Photo Courtesy of Love Beverly Hills
The Lakes at Thousand Oaks
One of LA’s most popular ice skating rinks is back this winter with a packed schedule of activities from now through January 21, 2013. Guests can visit from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm daily except Christmas Eve and Day and New Year’s Eve and Day when the schedule is shortened. Admission is $9 for adults plus $4 skate rental with discounted group rates, and the opportunity to buy out the rink starting at $1,350 per hour. Bordered by red Christmas trees and candy canes, with lights strung overhead, this truly is a winter wonderland.
Photo Courtesy of The Lakes at Thousand Oaks
Woodland Hills Ice
Now in its fourth season, Woodland Hills Ice has opened for the season until January 27, 2013. This open-air, 7,000-square-foot ice skating rink is open daily, including holidays, and will be hosting public skates, private events including birthday parties and field trips. At the only open-air rink in the San Fernando Valley, locals can glide along the ice under lofty pine trees in the warm Mediterranean climate. Adults are $10 per session (they range from 2.5-5 hours) and $12 for an all-day pass, while children ages 4-12 are $7 and skate rentals are $5.
Photo Courtesy of Woodland Hills Ice
CHILL at the W Westwood
For the fourth year in a row, the W Westwood will be transforming its WET pool deck area into CHILL, a winter getaway with an ice skating rink decorated by Z Gallerie and offering private skate lessons, hourly snowfall, holiday giveaways, and a specialty ICE BAR menu of dishes like hearty poutine with fried cheese curds, smoked almonds and grilled cipollini onions. But the main attraction is the 1,600-square-foot, custom-shaped ice rink surrounded by luxury winter cabanas and offering amenities like organic ice cream, a kids’ corner station selling candles to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and even a gingerbread cookie decorating station on weekends. The rink will be open Monday-Friday from 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm, and Saturday-Sunday from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm from now through January 3, 2013. Entrance is $10 per guest for one hour of skating and includes skate rental. No reservation is required.
Photo Courtesy of CHILL at the W Westwood
Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square
The small ice rink at historic Pershing Square set up by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks is back this year until January 21, so you can head downtown to take a glide around the ice surrounded by the towering skyscrapers of LA. Though small, the rink is routinely voted as one of the top holiday activities around town, and in addition to the skating sessions held every day, there are holiday concerts, ice skating exhibitions, broomball games and a Winter Holiday Festival. Tickets are $6 for an hour skate and $2 for skate rental. The rink is open Monday-Thursday from noon until 10:00 pm, and Friday-Sunday from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm with special extended holiday hours for Christmas, New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day. The free Winter Holiday Festival will take place on Saturday, December 8, from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm, and will include performances, a miniature train village, children’s crafts, puppet shows and more.
Photo Courtesy of Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square
Ice at Santa Monica
It might be right on the beach, but Santa Monica is a winter landmark as well thanks to its annual SoCal ice skating rink, which is back this year until January 21, 2013. Located at the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue, just blocks from the popular 3rd Street Promenade, ICE at Santa Monica becomes the wintertime neighborhood hangout for Westsiders. The rink is open from 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm Monday-Thursday, 2:00 pm – midnight Friday, and 10:00 am – midnight on Sundays. Skate rental is $12 and lockers cost $5 each. Buy a 12-pack for $100 and skate a dozen times throughout the season. There are also weekly lessons and skate clinics available, as well as private tutorials. The rink also hosts a Thursday-night broomball league, so meander on down to watch a match one evening.
Photo Courtesy of Ice at Santa Monica
