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On Thick Ice: Three Places to Go Skating with the Family

January 08, 2009

Now that winter is here in earnest, where better to spend some fun family time than at the ice skating rink? Because while you can, technically, go ice skating at any time of year, there's just something more cozy and fitting about skating on a chilly, hot chocolate-worthy day. And while ponds and reservoirs might seem more romantic than loud, crowded skating rinks, they're incredibly dangerous, you daredevil. And anyway, has it even been cold enough this winter for those ponds and reservoirs to have frozen over? I doubt it.

To be honest, I'm a miserable skater--I'm much too afraid of breaking an ankle--but I love the idea of an ice skating outing. So when we go (odd, isn't it, that I'm not overly worried about my children breaking their ankles), we'll probably head to one of these spots.

Dominic "Mimi" DiPietro Family Skating Center

Located at Patterson Park, this rink features a warm-up room, a fireplace a concession stand and a skate shop. Public sessions are held Tuesdays (noon-2 p.m.), Fridays (7-9 p.m.), Saturdays (3-5 p.m.; 7-9 p.m.) and Sundays (3-5 p.m.), October-March. General admission is $4, and skate rental is $2.

Mt. Pleasant Ice Arena

A full-service rink, located just off of Northern Parkway on Hillen Avenue, Mt. Pleasant offers public sessions every day but Wednesday, October-April. And perfect for parents of preschoolers: Morning sessions, from 10 a.m.-noon, are held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Beat the crowds! General admission is $4, and skate rental is $2.

Northwest Family Sports Center Ice Rink

This is where I learned (or, more accurately, didn't learn) to skate. Open year-round (they're only closed on Thanksgiving Day), Northwest offers sessions from 3-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, as well as a Sunday session from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and a "Saturday Family Night" from 6:30-8:30 p.m. General admission is $6, skate rental is $2, and registration cards (which I think may be required) are 50 cents each. The rink is located in Mt. Washington.