With the cold weather upon us, it's the perfect time to strap on a pair of ice skates and visit your local rink. New York gives us 15 great places to stride, glide and dip! Whether you are a wobbling wonder or dreaming of Olympic gold, ward off the wintertime blues by hitting the local ice!

Wollman Skating Rink
New York, NY
Directions
212/439-6900

Ice skating in Central Park is synonymous with the holiday season and luckily this popular park has two rinks where you can spend the whole day and night gliding on ice. Wollman Skating Rink, located in the southern part of the park, attracts thousands of guests seasonally and is one of the most popular winter destinations in New York. With the city's skyscrapers in full view, guests can skate the 38,000 square-foot rink, even in the coldest temperatures, thanks to Wollman's heated tent. Wollman is the perfect rink for skating novices since it has the largest learn-to-skate program in the country, so don't be afraid to hit the ice if you never have before. At the other end of the park is the much smaller Lasker Rink (located between 106th and 108th Streets). Ice skating will cost you $6.50 (children under 12 are $3.50) and skate rentals are $5.50. Like Wollman rink, admission is good for a full day of access.

City Ice Pavilion
Queens, NY
Directions
718/505-6230

Ever skate on an NHL-sized rooftop rink before? If you haven't then visit City Ice Pavilion, the only rooftop rink of its kind in the NYC area. This massive world-class facility is covered by a weatherproof dome making it a year-round destination. There are public and private learn-to-skate classes as well as hockey for kids and adults. Public skating hours are limited to mid afternoons during the week and weekends from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. At other times, the rink is devoted to skating lessons, hockey practice and private parties.

Aviator Sports and Events Center
Brooklyn, NY
Directions
718/758-7500

Aviator Sports and Events Center is the Chelsea Piers of Brooklyn, operating indoor and outdoor turf fields, rock climbing, flight simulators and of course, two indoor NHL-sized rinks where figure skaters, hockey leagues and amateurs come to get blade time. Aviator Center is part of the former 800-acre Floyd Bennett Field airport, decommissioned since the late 70s, which, continues to be a tremendously popular New York destination. The Aviator Center has soaring ceilings and a rich architectural style that makes this facility a unique New York destination. The venue is open year-round.

The Playland Ice Casino
Rye, NY
Directions
914/813-7059

Playland Ice Casino, Westchester's 80-year-old ice skating rink, has three temperature-controlled indoor rinks, including a quarter-size rink for small children. There's a family skate day on Sunday and a party night on Friday, providing a fun skating experience for all. Ice Casino is a beginner's paradise; there are 'No Fast Skating' signs around the rinks and careful skating is promoted on the ice. In typical Playland fashion, there are video games and snack bars on premises. Lessons are available.

Bear Mountain Ice Rink
Bear Mountain, NY
Directions
845/786-2701

Bear Mountain Ice Rink, part of Bear Mountain State Park, is in perfect view of the rugged snow-capped mountains, making it a perfect winter skating spot. Skating is timed at this facility giving you about 90 minutes per paid public session. The rink is an uncovered outdoor spot meaning it's unheated even in the blistering cold of winter so dress warmly. Extend your trip with an indoor visit to the warm fireplace, snack bar and arts and crafts section. You can also take a spin on the indoor merry-go-round, open on the weekends.

Sky Rink
New York, NY
Directions
212/336-6100

Skate indoors at the Sky Rink and enjoy the view of the skyline along the Hudson River. Part of the 28-acre waterfront sports complex Chelsea Piers, Sky Rink has two-rinks that host skaters of all ages and abilities. Visitors can rent or buy skates and equipment for lessons or just take a recreational spin on the ice. In addition, Sky Rink offers adult and youth hockey programs, figure skating, and a popular ice skating school with international training staff and state-of-the-art facilities. Chelsea Piers itself offers a variety of athletic activities, including golf, skating, batting cages, bowling, a gym and even a spa. Ice skating is offered year-round at the Sky Rink.

Chenango Ice Rink
Binghamton, NY
Directions
607/648-9202

Chenango Ice Rink is one of the primary skating and hockey facilities in Binghamton. There's daily public skating from 12-2pm and open hockey games from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. A bar and grill located above the ice offers food, drinks, a great view of the rink and a big screen TV to watch sporting events. The Chenango Ice Rink Pro Shop offers both new and used equipment and skate sharpening. Skate rentals are not available at this site.

Riverbank State Park
New York, NY
Directions
212/694-3600

Ice kings and queens who don't mind practicing their craft against the West Side Highway's rumble should check out this uptown spot along the Hudson River, where the canopied hockey rink is open for skating Friday through Sunday. The Riverbank State Park, built on top of a residential wastewater treatment facility, is the first park of its kind in the U.S. At 69 feet above the Hudson River, it offers visitors fabulous views of Manhattan and New Jersey from every vantage point. The 28-acre park has multiple levels with facilities that include an outdoor lap pool, tennis, basketball and handball courts. A running track, and softball, football and soccer fields are housed on the upper terrace.

World Ice Arena
Flushing, NY
Directions
718/760-9001

Glide with a sense of nostalgia at World Ice Arena; a state-of-the-art complex housed in the 71-year-old Flushing Meadows Corona Park. One of the largest facilities located inside a city park, World Ice Arena offers a day full of skating fun on its NHL regulation-size rink. There are daily public skating lessons for the rookie skater as well as advanced ice activities, which include figure skating, speed skating, and ice and sled hockey. The 110,000 square-foot building also houses an Olympic-size indoor pool. Flushing Park is home to a zoo, art museum, 39-acre botanical garden, and a baseball stadium as well as six playgrounds, making it perfect for an extended day trip.

The Pond at Bryant Park
New York, NY
Directions
212/661-6640

The Pond at Bryant Park is Manhattan's first and only free-admission ice skating rink. This means that the line can get long in the evening and on weekends, and skate rentals will set you back more than at most rinks. But the Pond is the centerpiece of Bryant Park's winter season, offering special events, activities and skating shows for visitors. At 17,000 square feet, it is about half the size of the Wollman Rink in Central Park and twice as big as the rink at Rockefeller Center. Skaters at the pond can enjoy the ice for as long as they'd like or take a skating lesson. If you're not skating, you can enjoy the outdoor Holiday Shops or refuel with some refreshments and snacks at The Pond Snack Shop.

Whiteface Olympic Center
Lake Placid, NY
Directions
518/523-4436

Ranked number one in North America for its off-hill activities, Whiteface Mountain's Olympic Center boasts four public skating rinks - three indoors and one outdoor- each representing the center's dynamic and lengthy history. It was in the outdoor Speed Skating Oval where Eric Heiden made Olympic history in 1980 by capturing an unprecedented five gold medals. The public is allowed to skate on the very same surface where he performed. Visitors can take in views of the High Peaks while they train for Olympic victory around an outdoor fire pit or stride recreationally at one of the three indoor rinks, open all winter long. National and international level skaters such as Johnny Weir and Rachael Flatt are regulars at this facility.

Palisades Center Ice Rink
West Nyack, NY
Directions
845/353-4855

Located in the Palisades Center, a major Rockland County mall and entertainment destination, this rink is more than just a place to skate while on a winter shopping trip. With stick time, freestyle skating, open hockey and public sessions, everyone can enjoy equal skate time. The Palisades Center also offers year round ice activities including learn-to-skate programs, learn-to-play-hockey programs, summer camps and clinics. Palisades Center offers four floors of fun shopping and exhilarating entertainment making it the perfect place to hide away on a snowy day.

Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center
New York, NY
Directions
212/332-7620

It's not really wintertime until you take a spin around New York City's most famous ice rink. This world-famous attraction, which can accommodate approximately 150 skaters at a time, is not only a quintessential winter spot for tourists, but for locals as well, and the ice tends to get packed pretty fast. Here you'll skate around the backdrop of Rockefeller Center's sparkling lights and the gilded Prometheus statue, one of the most famous sculptures in the world. At Rock Center you pay per skating session, meaning you can skate as long as you want as long as you do not leave. Once you leave, the tickets are no longer valid. Keep in mind prices increase after November 18, the peak holiday season. After your skating session, stop by Radio City to celebrate Christmas with the Rockettes or check out the Top of the Rock Observation Deck for an unobstructed open-air view of New York City.

The Rinx at Port Jefferson
Port Jefferson, NY
Directions
631/403-4357

The Long Island Sound provides a distinctive backdrop for skating enthusiasts at the Port Jefferson Rinx. Nestled along the harbor, and part of Harborfront Park Village Center, the facility is open seven days a week until mid-March. This rink is ideal for the outdoor skater who doesn't mind a bit of whipping wind in their face during a glide. The Village Center can accommodate visitors all day because it hosts an array of cultural presentations such as concerts and art exhibitions, as well as a variety of educational, fitness and senior programs.

Staten Island Skating Pavilion
Staten Island, NY
Directions
718/948-4800

The Pavilion is Staten Island's only year-round ice rink. This 32,000-square-foot facility in the southern section of Staten Island has a large rink and seats more than 400 spectators. The public skating session is the most popular attraction at the Pavilion, but it's limited due to the amount of instructional sports programs available. There's figure skating, youth hockey programs, goalie clinics and a free hockey clinic that teaches participants the fundamentals of skating and introduces them to the game of hockey. The Pavilion also provides open hockey sessions and a disco ball for Friday night visitors.