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Hey, it may not snow or get all that cold in Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean we can't get into the holiday spirit. From downtown to Woodland Hills, outdoor skating rinks are popping up this month. So, lace up those skates and practice your triple axel jumps because ice skating season is in session. Here are some great outdoor rinks.
Photo courtesy of L.A. Kings Holiday on Ice at L.A. Live
L.A. Kings Holiday Ice At L.A. Live
We may not have the famous ice skating rink at NYC's Rockefeller Center, but Holiday Ice at L.A. Live is as close as it gets in L.A. In the middle of downtown by the Staples Center, you can test out your best triple axel jumps around a 66-foot Christmas tree beaming with an LED light show. L.A. Live is already sparkling with lights year-round basis, so this kicks it up a notch. The rink is open from Nov. 29 to Dec. 31. Admission is $15 and that includes skate rentals.
L.A. Live is located at 800 W Olympic Blvd. in Downtown, (213) 763-5483
CHILL At The Queen Mary
CHILL at the Queen Mary isn't your run-of-the-mill ice skating experience; it's kind of like going to an amusement park—but on ice. It launches on Nov. 21 and runs through Jan. 11. In addition to their ice skating rink, CHILL is featuring towering, next-level ice sculptures (with lights) in a giant frozen igloo you can step into. Pro-tip: bring a jacket. There's also ice tubing, live music, and other festive events. Tickets are $34.99 for adults and $24.99 for children ages 4 to 11.
The Queen Mary is located at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach, (877) 342-0738
Woodland Hills Ice Skating (Photo via Facebook)
Woodland Hills Ice Skating
The over 7,000-square feet rink at the Westfield Promenade will open to the public on Nov. 14 and run through Jan. 19. And if you want to partake in their grand opening festivities, that takes place on Nov. 15, where there will be free pizza, food trucks and DJs spinning in the evening. Tickets are $15 for adults and $20 for an all-day pass.
Woodland Hills Ice Skating is located at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, (818) 854-4151
The Rink In Downtown Burbank
What we love most about The Rink in Downtown Burbank is that they host fun events throughout their 8-week run from Nov. 28 to Jan. 19. There are weekly ugly sweater and '80s dress up days, performances by the L.A. Ice Theater, and even a Skating Santas night (costumes are encouraged) on Dec. 20. The rink, which is located at the corner of N 3rd Street and E Orange Grove Avenue doesn't break the wallet either—it costs $10 for admission and $3 for skate rentals.
The Rink In Downtown Burbank is located at the corner of N 3rd Street and E Orange Grove, Burbank
ICE at Santa Monica (Photo via Facebook)
ICE At Santa Monica
ICE is back this year in Santa Monica, so the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue will once again be transformed into a winter wonderland. The 8,000-square feet ice skating rink gives beach dwellers a chance to experience the "cold," and the cool part is that you can skate late into the night—midnight that is—on Fridays and Saturdays. ICE is already up and running and goes on until Jan. 19. It's $15 admission and that includes skate rentals.
ICE at Santa Monica is located at 1324 5th St. in Santa Monica, (310) 260-1199.
Downtown Disney's Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink
In its second year celebrating the film Frozen, Downtown Disney will be hosting Olaf's Frozen Ice Rink. (Olaf is a talking snowman from the film.) The rink, which sits between AMC Theatres and ESPN Zone, will be surrounded by a 30-foot Christmas tree. As it nears the holiday season, you'll see carolers by the festive rink. It runs from Nov. 13 to Feb. 22. Adult tickets are $17, and that includes skate rentals and helmets.
Downtown Disney is located at 1580 S Disneyland Dr. in Anaheim, (714) 781-4565
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square (Photo by Eric Chan via the Creative Commons on Flickr)
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square
In the middle of downtown, amidst tall skyscrapers, you can ice skate outdoors and even put on a scarf to pretend it's actually cold. In its 17th year, the Pershing Square folks will be kickstarting this ice skating season on Nov. 13; the grand opening will take place that day at 11 a.m. and feature a performance from Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Carruthers and Snoopy. The open-air rink will be operating through to January 19. General admission is $9 and skate rentals are $3. And for the Metro/Metrolink riders, if you show your ride receipt or pass, you can get a dollar off.
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square is located at 532 South Olive Street, downtown, (213) 624-4289
Spectrum On Ice
Over at the Irvine Spectrum, you can kill two birds with one stone: get your holiday shopping done and take a break to ice skate. Every year, the mall hosts a tented ice skating experience next to their giant Ferris wheel. It's not a particularly huge rink, but you can still go for some laps. It's already open and it runs through to Feb. 16. For adults, it's $18.50 for admission and skates, but if you bring your own pair, then it's $15.
Irvine Spectrum is located at 670 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, (949) 753-5180
