6. Ice on Main

Ice on Main in downtown Greenville, South Carolina
  • Location: Greenville, South Carolina
  • Opening Date: 2011
  • Dates: mid November – mid January
  • Pricing: $10 Monday – Friday, $12 on weekends (includes rentals)
  • Highlight: Located in the center of one of the South’s trendiest Main Streets

Located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of one of the South’s most up and coming cities, Greenville’s small skating arena is always bustling with tourists. This rink has been drawing big crowds since opening in 2011. There’s twinkly lights, Christmas music, and plenty of holiday cheer. I lived in this area for several years and absolutely loved strolling the old time Main Street which is lined with all sorts of independent restaurants and shops. Ice on Main is in the middle of it all, and thus, it’s super easy to walk to a great restaurant or coffeeshop after skating. I recommend a coffee or cocoa at Methodical or Coffee Underground to warm up.

Ice on Main is one of the only real ice rinks in South Carolina. It’s also the best due to its’ prime location in the center of a bustling downtown district. Unlike many other cities, it’s usually quite pleasant skating here as temps are typically mild and snow is super rare. Greenville News reported that NYC’s Rockefeller was the inspiration behind this rink. While it may share some of the same charm of the iconic NYC favorite, thankfully, admission is much cheaper and you do not have to wait hours to get on this one!

The Upstate is an underrated vacation destination for nature lovers, hikers, and foodies. I had the opportunity to live here for 2 years and enjoyed every minute exploring the outdoors. Check out my Upstate tourist guide for the best waterfalls, restaurants, and attractions to enjoy.

7. The Providence Rink

Downtown Providence, Rhode Island ice skating rink
  • Location: Providence, Rhode Island
  • Dates: Late November – early March
  • Pricing: $9 adults, $6 kids, $8.41 skate rentals
  • Highlight: Central to many attractions

I love Providence’s small but festive ice rink. When I lived in nearby Fall River, I skated here more than Frog Pond. This one remains a bit more quieter than Boston’s super popular rink, plus it’s easier (and cheaper) to find parking. I love the great downtown location within walking distance of the Providence Place Mall and many other restaurants and city attractions. This rink tends to attract more adults, making it a perfect date night destination.

Providence is a great little often overlooked city. Check out my guide to exploring the best historical attractions, Italian restaurants, and more. After your skating sessions, definitely treat yourself to some authentic Italian fare. I recommend Andino’s for their amazing Shrimp Scampi.

8. South Park Ice Rink

South Park ice skating rink in Bethel Park, Pennsylania
  • Location: Bethel Park, PA
  • Opening Date: 1958
  • Dates: mid December – mid March
  • Pricing: $5 admission ($6 non residents) $2 skate rental ($3 non resident)
  • Highlight: Gorgeous NHL size rink with a cozy rink side fireplace & separate skating ribbon

Pittsburgh is one of the best winter getaways for anyone who loves skating. While living in the metro, I absolutely loved all the different options. I’ll say that it is overall the best skating city I’ve lived in. Many of the suburbs have their own (very nice) park rinks. The beautiful North and South Park ice rinks are both affordable, spacious, and located within beautiful park settings. I love skating downtown amongst the festive surroundings, but it does get crowded. If you do not want to put up with the crowds, skating at either of these parks is a wonderful budget friendly alternative.

South Park (located in Bethel – a small town about 20 min outside of the city) is my favorite small town option. The NHL sized rink is huge and never overly crowded. The surrounding park scenery creates a charming winter wonderland backdrop. I skated here a few times with the snow falling down and it was a really magical wintry wonderland. I enjoyed the opportunity to skate on a ribbon which I have always wanted to do. Best of all, there is a cozy little fireplace where you can warm up in between skating sessions. Indoors spectators can watch all the action with a cocoa or coffee in hand.

Also, I recommend skating at PPG Place downtown at least once. It’s super crowded (and quite pricey) with a lengthy wait most nights, but it really is a festive and fun experience! You get to glide around as you enjoy a choreographed light show and festive music. While living in the ‘Burgh, I splurged a few times to enjoy the holiday ambiance.

Santa show on the Christmas tree at PPG Place in Pittsburgh
The festive PPG rink show

Although most tourists plan a summer visit to enjoy baseball games and cruises, The ‘Burgh is an awesome winter vacation destination with a nice mix of holiday festivities and indoor museums to explore. I definitely recommend exploring the exhibits at The Warhol and The Carnegie Museums.

9. Nestlenook Farms

Nestlenook Farms ice skating rink in Jackson, New Hampshire
  • Location: Jackson, New Hampshire
  • Pricing: $10 admission, $12 (1hr)-$15 (whole day) skate rental
  • Dates: mid December – March (weather dependent; they need 8+ inches of ice to open)
  • Highlight: Old-fashioned Currier & Ives vibe

Nestlenook Farms is the most enchanting place to skate on this list. If you dream of recreating a snowy Hallmark style moment, this is definitely the place to do so. Skating on this 3 acre Victorian style rink is a snow globe-like fantasy complete with snow capped mountains surrounding you in every direction. As you glide by, bells chime as a horse drawn carriage travels through the snow.

The romantic made-for-TV Christmas movie style ambiance is unmatched anywhere else in New England. To date, this is one of my more memorable experiences. I almost wish I still lived in the Boston area just so I could skate and take a sleigh ride here one more time.

This resort is located in the quaint town of Jackson, with the serene White Mountains comprising the backdrop. After your skating session, warm up with a hot cocoa or bundle up and take a Austrian sleigh ride around the gorgeous property. If you feel like getting a bit more active, there are miles of snowshoeing trails to explore (it’s a great workout in a gorgeou setting). Overall, I would say Nestlenook is a dream destination for any snow lovers out there. It’s first on my list should I ever plan an upcoming trip to the White Mountains.

10. Rothman Rink at Dilworth Park

Ice skating at Dilworth Park in Center City Philadelphia
  • Location: Center City Philadelphia
  • Opening Date: 2014
  • Dates: mid November – mid February
  • Pricing: $10 adults, $10 kids under 10, $10 skate rentals
  • Highlight: Centrally located to Center City attractions

Philadelphia is home to two great ice rinks. Mentioned earlier is Riverrink located in the Old City neighborhood along the waterfront (my personal favorite). The second rink is located at Dilworth Park at City Hall. This rink is a big smaller, although located within walking distance of many great restaurants, coffeeshops (I recommend Gran Caffe) and interesting tourist attractions. This rink feels more urban, especially at night when the buildings are all lit up.

The bustling vibe and view of prominent buildings such as City Hall in the background make it a great choice for history buffs and tourists. Skating here is a real bargain coming in at under 20 bucks total for admission and skates. Best of all, after your skate you can head over to Rothman Cabin and warm up with a hot cocoa and special winter treats.