When I asked my friend (that would be Georgette) if she liked to ice skate, she said, “I suck. I tried with my daughter when she was 4, and it was torture.”
To Georgette and anyone else who feels that way, I beg you to ice skate again. I am the worst kind of skater because I think I’m great, and I’m terrible. I was really into roller skating in the ’80s, so this is my modern outlet. And it’s complete with loads of bangs and crashes to humble myself in front of my kids. My children can barely stand up on their rented thin blades, but they love to ice skate with me at Clary Anderson in Montclair. We go to the crazy open skate on Saturdays, and we glide as we sing along to Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Ke$ha songs. We hold hands; we fall down; we laugh; we repeat. Some of my best bonding time with my 7-year-old daughters and 5-year-old son has been on the ice. Every time we go, someone cries and someone learns to keep trying. We always wind up at the grimy concession stand where we drink hot chocolate and eat churros.
Maybe you already love ice skating, but if you don’t, go back. Ice skating is one of the greatest winter experiences for families. You don’t want to miss the hockey-player smell, the crowd (you’ll know everybody there) and the Zamboni.
And please note: If your child is 5 and under or has never skated, arrive early and rent the walker (they always run out of them). This is just what it sounds like: A red walker that glides on ice that allows even the most uncoordinated kid to rock it out. The walker is the secret to true ice skating happiness for anyone who goes with a beginner.
Where do you like to ice skate? There are tons of places to go locally and beyond. Click below for our ice skating guide that includes arenas, public skate times and costs.
See you on the ice!
Indoor rinks
Codey Arena at South Mountain
560 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ
Various Public Skating hours. See schedule here.
Cost: Adults $8 / Children $6
Skate rentals: $4
Clary Anderson Arena
41 Chestnut Street
Montclair, NJ, 07042
Various Public Skating hours. See schedule here.
Cost: $6
Skate rentals: $4
Floyd Hall Arena
One Hall Drive
Little Falls, NJ
Various Public Skating hours. See schedule here.
Cost: Adults $7 / Children $6
Skate rentals: $4
Ice Vault Arena
10 Nevins Road
Wayne, NJ
Various public Skating hours. See schedule here.
Cost: Adults $9 / Children $8
Skate rentals: $4
Outdoor skating
Verona Park Lake
Bloomfield Avenue & Lakeside Avenue
Verona, NJ
You can skate when the “Skating Today” sign is up.
Cost: Free
Skater rentals: None, it’s BYO skates.
Edgemont Park Pond
Valley Road
Montclair, NJ, 07042
You can skate when the “Skating Today” sign is up.
Cost: Free
Skater rentals: None, it’s BYO skates.
Grover Cleveland Park Pond
Brookside Avenue & Runnymede Road
Caldwell, NJ
You can skate when the “Skating Today” sign is up.
Cost: Free
Skater rentals: None, it’s BYO skates.
The Pond in Essex Fells
Corner of Fells Road and Forest Way
Essex Fells, NJ
You can skate when the “green flag” is up.
Cost: Free
Skater Rental: None, it’s BYO skates.
For a real treat, head into New York City and go skating at one of these rinks:
Citi Pond at Bryant Park
W 42nd and 6th Avenue, NYC.
Hours: 8am – 10pm
Admission: Free and you can rent skates for $14. Lockers available for free if you bring your own lock. Locks are $9.
Wollman Rink in Central Park
Central Park South (59th Street) and 6th Avenue. Wollman Rink is a two minute walk into Central Park from this entrance. Follow the footpath directly into the park.
Hours:
Monday & Tuesday 10 am – 2:30 pm
Wednesday & Thursday 10 am – 10 pm
Friday & Saturday 10 am – 11 pm
Sunday 10 am – 9 pm
Admission: Weekdays: Adults $11, Kids $6 / Friday – Sunday: Adults $17 Kids $6. You can rent skates for $7 and a locker for $11 ($6.00 will be returned with the lock.)
The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center, between West 48th & West 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues, NYC.
Hours: Check schedule here.
Admission: Adults $25, Kids $15. You can rent skates for $10.
Know of another spot to do figure 8’s? Let us know in comments and we’ll add it to our list.
I love to skate. I went everyday after school growing up in MI at our local pond. I think I’m great too KK. I probably suck.
We try to go to CA every weekend in the winter.
Who is down for an old fashioned Barista Kids skating party?
My kids love to skate. We first took them to a rink in DC where they had double blades and buckets for the kids to push. My girls are only 4 and still could use the double blades–does anyone know if you can rent those around here?