New York City Holiday Guide: Outdoor ice skating in Manhattan's parks

November 9, 10:36 AMLong Island Budget Travel ExaminerLeslie Koch

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Autumn in Bryant Park (photo: Leslie Koch)

The holiday season in New York City means great shopping, slow moving crowds, and the chance to fulfill your Olympic figure skating fantasy... in public.

Test out your triple Salchow or quadruple Lutz under the gaze of a thousand tourists. Make sure you've got the routine down before you hit the ice; you don't want to end up on You Tube!

The Vancouver Olympic Games don't start until February 2010, so you have plenty of time to practice your moves.

Slideshow offers inspiration

Check out the figure skating slideshow (below) for outrageous costumes and moves, demonstrated by professionals. You may pick up a few pointers to show off on the New York City ice. 

Crews setting up the Bryant Park ice rink this fall (photo: L Koch)

Outdoor skating rinks in Manhattan

The following outdoor ice skating rinks are great places to people watch and soak up the New York ambiance. The Bryant Park rink is already open for business and offering free giveaways; why not stop by today?

The Pond at Bryant Park (Nov. 6 - Jan. 24) is a convenient place to ice skate in Manhattan; its location on 6th Avenue and 42nd Street is just a stone's throw from Times Square. Admission is free and you will soon be able to reserve a time and date to skate on the ice (check the website for details). Stop by this week from 8AM to 6PM for Broadway ticket giveaways. Rub elbows with tourists and businesspeople on their lunch breaks at Celsius restaurant, which looks like a ski lodge created by The Jetsons. Round out your day by shopping at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, a series of small kiosks selling stocking stuffers and affordable gifts.

Rockefeller Center (Nov. 6- Jan. 9) is the most famous outdoor ice skating rink in Manhattan, and offers visitors the chance to skate under the giant Christmas tree and a gold statue of Prometheus. For a fee, you can also book time on the ice for birthday parties or even an engagement; after you propose to your beloved, you are entitled to one "victory lap" around the rink (assuming she says yes, of course). Adult admission varies from $15.50 to $19, depending on the day of the week and time of the year (visit the website for details).

The Wollman Rink in Central Park (November through March) was taken over by Donald Trump in the 1980s; Trump no doubt fired a Zamboni driver or two as he renovated this popular tourist attraction. The rink can be entered at 59th Street and 6th Avenue and is close to many subways. It is especially popular with New York City children, probably due to the affordable price: $5.50 for children and $10.25 for adults on the weekdays. Weekend rates are slightly higher for kids, and jump to $14.75 for adults. For more information, visit the rink's website .

The Lasker Rink in Central Park (November through March) is located between 106 and 108 Streets near the center of the park. This is an inexpensive place to ice skate in the city, with adult admission set at $6.25 and children's admission costing just $3.50-- on any day of the week. Skate rental is $5.50, so the total price of your ice skating experience is still cheaper than going to a movie in Manhattan. The Lasker Rink shares the same website as Wollman.

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