From Santa Monica to downtown, here are all the seasonal pop-up ice skating rinks where you can channel your inner Gretzky or Dorothy Hamill
The Yuletide season is here with all of its wintery goodness, regardless of how comfortable the temperature might be in Southern California. It’s possible to go play in the snow near Los Angeles, but if you want to do something really cool, this is a great time to take to the ice. While there are plenty of holiday experiences for the whole family in town, there’s something special about bundling up and going ice skating in LA.
Grab your little hockey fans and head to this ice skating rink nestled outside the home of the L.A. Kings. Your skating tykes can imagine they're scoring one for the home team at the arena while you whirl around the rink and admire the twinkling lights of the 66-foot Christmas tree towering in the center of the ice.
Insider Tip: Buy a fast pass for $45 and go straight to the front of the line, which can get long at this popular spot.
This ocean-side rink is the only place in town where your mini ice dancers can celebrate the holidays just blocks from the beach. If you plan it right, you could splash in the Pacific and go ice skating all on the same day—a true only-in-LA adventure. If you'd rather just stick with skating, then enjoy a few loops around the rink and cozy up with some hot chocolate from the snack bar or walk around the corner to the 3rd Street Promenade for a bite.
Insider Tip: If your pint-sized skaters are looking to get more serious about their ice skills, sign them up for weekly lessons at the rink through the Randy Gardner School of Skating. Beginner and advanced group classes are available on Sunday mornings.
The Holiday Ice Rink in historic Pershing Square is surrounded by the glittering lights of downtown's skyscrapers, making it a scenic location for ice skating in LA. On Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to closing, keep the fun spinning with DJ HowLy, an old-school turntablist with a cutting-edge, new-school vibe. Each night has a theme such as Holiday Hits Night, Ugly Sweater Night, Disco Night, and more.
