New York local Ice skaters as well as visitors have a number of choices when it comes to skating in the city. The many choices differ in the entertainment environment they deliver and choice makes a difference in your enjoyment of the moment.
Here are few rinks and some commentary from real life experience:
MY FAVORITE
The Pond at Bryant Park
For many years running now Citi Bank has sponsored the annual conversion of Bryant Park "pond" into a really wonderful skating rink. This is not half-ass or lacking in effort. For the second season I love what they do and encourage you to visit. The best thing is it's FREE!! at least at the time of this writing and for the last 2 years I've been in NYC. The Citi free ice skating is the best outdoor ice skating experience I believe in NYC. Citi should be applauded for their generosity and bailing them out (as a tax payer) is well worth it when you see them giving back to the community! Rental skates are available as is a bag check and food. If I am not mistaken, in the past I have saved some amount of money on hot chocolate and other purchased items by using my Citi credit card.
The pond also offers or used to offer a webcam so you could see how the weather was down there before you started your trip. This is actually a very valuable and convenient service provided by Bryant Park as it helps you decide what to wear, now how many free ice skating rinks offer this!
Wollman Rink
This is tourist city and that would be ok except I hate crowds of this size and magnatude flying around in a circle on blades where people fall and get run over in some cases. It's crazy out there on the weekends with lines etc.... About the worst thing of all are the bottles of water with Donald Trumps name and face! Will it ever end? One super cool thing you can do that I would highly recommend, rent the entire rink out for the night. It may cost you $9K but you'll have a really good time.
Some things to know about Wollman Rink:
- Its a little more expensive thank others
- Crowds of people from everywhere
- You will have to walk into the part to get there, no easy way
- Skate rental is not so bad, they suck less.
- Some water bottles have Trumpp face which does suck but hey he does run it well.
Chelsea Piers - Sky Rink
Sky Rink is location on the second floor of the pier structure. It is a very large hockey sized rink with plenty of room on most days including weekends. Chelsea Piers Sky Ring helpful notes:
- Bring your own skates, their rentals will hurt your feet almost absolutely. For some reason they suck, from child to adult Male, every person in my party had to leave early. The price is $13/adult and $7 skate rental.
Chelsea Piers - Pier 61
23rd St. & the Hudson River
New York, NY 10011
212.336.6100
