7 Best Places to Go to Ice Skating on New Year's Day ...

By Neecey

With outdoor rinks popping up for the festive season in all sorts of locations, it’s hard to narrow down the best places to go ice skating on New Year’s Day. Slipping into some skates, but hopefully not slipping on your bottom, is a great way to revive the senses if you’ve partied all night on New Year’s Eve. It will certainly blow any festive fog from your brain! If you’re up for some blade action, here are some of the best places to go ice skating on New Year’s Day:

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1

Rockefeller Center, New York, USA

Rockefeller Center, New York, USA Sometimes a classic just wins out. It may be one of the oldest outdoor rinks in the world but the iconic Rockefeller Center rink is still one of the best places to go ice skating. It is iconic and New York’s festive season wouldn’t be the same without it. Despite its celebrity status, it sets a romantic scene because there’s only room for 150 skaters at any one time. And of course, there’s the added bonus of the magnificent Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Opening times: Mon-Thu 9am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 8:30am-midnight; Sun 8:30am-10pm
Prices: Adults from $19, but prices vary by date. Tickets must be bought in person, there is no advance online booking.

2

Somerset House, London, UK

Somerset House, London, UK Christmas has exploded in London in recent years and there are so many festive events and shows. This means there’s a few outdoor ice rinks to choose from too. You’ve got everything from rinks in shopping malls to splendor of the National History Museum to parks to the Tudor magnificence of Hampton Court Palace. One thing to note is that most of London’s rinks close in the first week of January – other than Canary Wharf which is open to the end of February. My pick however, is the glamorous Somerset House. Overlooked by a sparkling Tiffany Christmas tree, the rink fills a spectacular 18th century courtyard.
Opening times: to Jan 11 2015. First session 10am, last session 10:30pm
Prices: from £7.50 plus booking fee

3

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Yosemite National Park, California, USA Thanks to the weather, Yosemite’s outdoor ice rink is around from Mid-November to early-March. If you want to get close to nature with your New Year’s Day ice skating adventure, there probably isn’t a better place to do it. Yosemite’s ice rink has been wowing the crowds for more than 70 years and is at Curry Village, overlooked by Glacier Point and the majestic Half Dome.
Dates: Mid-November – early-March
Opening times: Weekends 8:30am-9:30pm; weekdays 12 noon-9:30pm
Prices: Adults $10 and skate rental $4

4

Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa, Canada

Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa, Canada The rink at Rideau Canal is the largest ice skating rink in the world. And not only that, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the heart of downtown Ottawa, the scenic rink runs for 7.8km from the Hartwell Locks at Carleton University, past the Parliament Buildings to Dows Lake with rest stops dotted all along offering warm drinks and tasty snacks. The Skateway is definitely a highlight of winter in the Canadian capital and is open 24/7 for the season which is between December and February.
Dates: Seasonal and typically December-February
Opening times: 24 hours a day, but skate patrol and first aid is only available until 11pm

Prices: Free, bring your own skates or hire from Capital Skates - CAN$17 for 2 hours.

5

Rathausplatz, Vienna, Austria

Rathausplatz, Vienna, Austria I’ve been lucky enough to have been in Vienna a few days before Christmas and it was under a blanket of snow. It was one of the most romantic places ever! Although I’m sure the romantic festive atmosphere pervades, it’s not an intimate ice skating experience you’ll have at the city’s most famous outdoor ice rink. Known as Vienna Ice World, the rink at Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) covers a massive 5,400 square meters. There’s also curling rinks and a 750 meter skating trail. The only issue is that you have to wait until mid-January to skate here.
Dates: 23 Jan. – 8 Mar. 2015
Opening times: Daily 9 am – 10 pm
Prices: Free on opening and closing nights, other prices as advertised

UPD:

Vienna Ice World at Rathausplatz is the perfect place to go ice skating on New Year's Day. Located in the heart of Vienna, the 5,400 square meter rink is the largest outdoor ice rink in the city and is open daily from 9 am to 10 pm. The rink also offers curling rinks and a 750 meter skating trail for those looking to do more than just skate. For those looking for a romantic experience, the rink is open on New Year's Day until 10 pm and is free on opening and closing nights. With its festive atmosphere, Vienna Ice World is the perfect place to start off the New Year.

Famous Quotes

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

George Santayana
6

Boston Common Frog Pond, Boston, USA

Boston Common Frog Pond, Boston, USA When I think of Christmastime in the USA, I must admit, I think of beautiful snowy images of New England. That means I might have overly-romanticized ideas of what it’s really like, but whether that be true or not, even just the name of the Boston Common Frog Pond does it for me. And when I learned that it’s also the oldest park in the USA, that kinda sealed the deal for me. Someone will have to tell me if you can get a mug of steaming clam chowder after you’ve enjoyed skating on the rink in the shadow of Beacon Hill and Back Bay.
Dates: Late Nov. – to mid-Mar. 2015
Opening times: 10AM-4PM, Tue-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-9PM
Prices: Adult admission $5, skate rental $9

7

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France So not only do you get to go ice skating in one of the greatest cities in the world, but when you choose an outdoor rink in the City of Light, you get a globally recognizable landmark as an option. Possibly the most glamorous of all the places to go ice skating on New Year’s Day is the Observation Deck on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. The best time surely has to be late afternoon/early evening when you can enjoy the spectacular views of Paris by daylight and then dressed in her festive finery illuminations in the evening.
Dates: Mid December – late January
Opening times: 10:30am-10:30pm daily
Prices: From € 9.00 to access the first floor deck.

If you don’t do much on New Year’s Day – except maybe nurse a hangover – maybe this year is the time to start a new tradition? Make it a special day by heading out with your hunny or the family and enjoying the frosty fresh air. It’s a great excuse to indulge in some seriously decadent hot chocolate.

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