Winter blues got you down? Heat things up by going ice skating with family or friends at one of the suggested excellent ice skating rinks below. If you’re new to ice skating, been away for a while and need to sharpen your skills, or just want to spend a little time gliding through life, here are our favorite ice skating rinks in Pennsylvania.
When you visit downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, don’t forget to make time to stop by The MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink at PPG Place. Open from mid-November through the end of February, this amazing and unique outdoor skating rink has been updated in recent years to be bigger and better than ever. Admission is $8 for persons aged 13 to 49, and $7 per person for ages up to 12 and 50 and over. Military personnel get in at $7 with an ID, and skate rental is $4. Group rates and birthday parties are also available, and there is a pro shop on site. Additional information on skating lessons can be found on the website.
Located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, Callahan Ice Rink is a wonderful place to spend time when it’s cold and snowy outside. Open from the first week of November until the first of March to the public, this fully-enclosed ice rink has a warm viewing area for those who come to see local hockey games, a concession stand, and locker rooms. Skate rental is available and pricing is available by calling the park directly.
Sunbury Community Center in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, becomes a popular ice skating rink from Oct. 1 through March 31 during the winter season. Home for the ice hockey teams from Bucknell, Bloomsburg, and Susquehanna Universities, public admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students with skate rental only $2. Children five and younger are free. Season passes are available for families or individuals, and the rink can be rented for special private events. Open daily with Learn-To-Skate lessons available by the Susquehanna Valley Figure Skating Club, check the website for other special events.
Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an amazing adventure in urban entertainment and offers a unique wintertime activity for young and old alike. Open every day of the week during the winter, admission for adults is $5, kids 10 and under are $3, and skate rental is $10 with sizes from kid’s size nine to men’s size 14. If you don’t know how to skate, lessons are available on select Tuesdays.
In an effort to provide fun activities for the youth of South Philly, Rizzo Rink is open for public skating on Wednesdays and weekends during the winter months. The rink is a hybrid facility, meaning that it’s indoors, but subject to weather conditions. Open beginning in November each year, admission is free and it’s only $4 to rent skates. If you have your own skates and need them sharpened, services for hockey, figure, and goalie skates can be done at the rink for $7 the same day or $5 for next-day service. There’s even a pro shop nearby where you can pick up apparel, shin and elbow pads, and more. And when you’re done skating, you can stop by the concession stand and warm up with a classic Philly cheesesteak and warm beverage.
Looking for a cool activity to do this winter? Visit Galactic Ice Rink in Altoona for a great time with family or friends. Open from the end of November until the first week of January, admission is $5 per person and skate rental is free! Sizes start at toddler size six and go through adult size 13. Helmets are available on a first come, first serve basis and remember to dress warm since you will be on ice. Stick and shoot sessions are open to hockey players who want to improve their skills, and run for varied times. Contact the rink for great fundraising ideas, church youth groups, school or non-profit organizations, or to reserve a time for your next birthday party.
Flyers Skate Zones, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has everything you need to make memories of a fun family or friend outing. Admission is $10 per person and skate rental is $3. Not sure of yourself on ice? Take a public skating lesson and improve your skill. Interested in playing hockey? Sign up for the fun six-week program to increase your development.
Greenwood Furnace State Park near Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, offers year-round activities for the public. Hiking, picnicking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, and more are available during the summer months. But winter takes on a whole new dimension at the park. Snowmobiling, sledding, and ice skating become popular activities. Greenwood Lake is the location for ice skating and there are plenty of parking places, heated restrooms, and a warming hut in a nearby pavilion. This is a public park, however, and visitors must be careful of changing weather conditions and ice thickness.
If you’re planning a winter vacation to the Poconos, don’t forget to pack your skates for a great winter outdoor activity. If you don’t have a pair of skates, don’t worry. You can rent ice skates there. All ages and skill levels will enjoy the outdoor rink and can glide to their heart’s content amid the beautiful and scenic woodlands of the Pocono Mountains in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
The city of Bethlehem has the only outdoor covered Olympic-sized ice rink in Lehigh Valley. Open from mid-November until the end of March each year, public skating is a fun and frosty family activity for young and old alike. Open daily, admission is $6.50 for adults, $6 for young and senior citizens, and skates can be rented for $3. Season passes are available, and the rink can be rented for private parties for churches, community groups, non-profit organizations, and schools. Lessons are available through the Bethlehem Bureau of Recreation by trained instructors.
