BY KAREN YOUNG
Who said there is no winter in Los Angeles? Grab your mittens, hats, scarves and wooly socks, and head on out to one of these outdoor ice rinks. From Downtown to Westwood, Culver City, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks and the Valley, there’s a winter wonderland waiting for you. We can pretend, can’t we?
Woodland Hills Ice
This outdoor ice rink next to Westfield Topanga features over 7000 square feet of real ice, offering daily recreational ice skating along with special events, skating exhibitions and shows, birthday parties, holiday activities, skating lessons, date nights and more throughout the holiday season thorough January 27. Open Monday – Thursday (non holiday): 1 p.m-10 p.m.,Fridays (non holiday): 1p.m.-Midnight, Saturdays and Holidays: 9am-Midnight, Sundays: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Children (3 & under) FREE; Children (4-12) $7 per session Helmets are required for all children 12 & under unless parent signs a helmet waiver. Students/Seniors/Military (with ID) $8 per session. Adults $10 per session ALL DAY, ALL AGE SKATE PASS $12. Skate Rental $5 (skate rental is charged on a daily basis). Unlimited passes and family passes available. 6100 Topanga Cyn. Blvd. Woodland Hills (310) 854-4151 www.woodlandhillsice.com
Holiday Ice Rink Culver City
Holiday Ice Rink in Culver City
This new ice rink is located in the middle of Culver City’s primary shopping, dining and entertainment district close to the infamous Culver Hotel (from Wizard of Oz lore). The 50′x90′ rink is the perfect escape for lunch breaks, date nights, play dates, and holiday family “stay-cations” for all ages. Admission is $10, and kids 12 and under are $6. Skate rental is $4. Group and party rates are available. Open daily through January 7. Hours vary so click here for info.
Ice in Santa Monica
Surf meets the ice at the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica. Now in its sixth year, the 8,000 square ft. rink by the beach offers residents and visitors a Winter Wonderland by the beach. Mon-Thurs: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday: 2 p.m. – Midnight, Saturday: 10 a.m. – Midnight, Sunday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Admission and Skate Rental: $12, Season Pass: $150 (weekdays only until 5pm), Locker Rental: $10 (with $5 refund upon key return). Open through January 21. Party Packages available. There’s even private cabanas! www.iceatsantamonica.com
Chill at the W Hotel Westwood
Only in L.A.! Here’s a date night for you…or a holiday magic stay-cation. Cozy cabanas, creative cocktails, eclectic cuisine and ice skating — it’s a chill fest in Westwood. The W Westwood, the swanky hotel on Hilgard Avenue, has turned its backyard pool, WET, into CHILL, a 1600 hundred square foot hybrid, environmentally friendly ice skating rink. Specialty cocktails and warm comfort food at The Ice Bar Ice skate performances by StudioSK8, Saturdays at 8 p.m.Children can decorate gingerbread cookies, weekends 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Open to the public and available for private events. Open daily through January 3, but closed on select days for private parties. $10 admittance (per hour) includes skate rentals.W Hotel. Through January 1, 2012 The W Hotel 930 Hilgard Ave., Westwood.
Pershing Square
Celebrating its 15th season, Downtown on Ice is the closest thing Los Angeles has to Rockefeller Center. Surrounded by looming skyscrapers, there’s no better way to have fun in the city and a cool way to do it at a low cost. Admission is $6 (+skate rental $2). FREE events, including the “12 Nights of Christmas Music Series,” the Winter Holiday Festival with Santa, his “live” reindeer and tons of real snow, Lunch & Munch concerts, Menorah Lighting and Kwanzaa celebrations, championship skating exhibitions, charity broomball games, and more. Check schedule for exact times. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90014 Phone: (213) 847-4970. http://laparks.org/pershingsquare/. Through January 21.
LA Kings Holiday Ice
LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. LIVE
Yes, there’s more downtown skating and its right across from The Staples Center. This is the fourth year L.A. Live has opened its skating rink, so rink hop to this 70 by 50 foot wonderland with room for up to 200 skaters. $12 includes skates. Festive holiday lights are displayed along the streets throughout the L.A. LIVE district featuring 75,000 lights that adorn 50 ten-foot angels along with over 265,000 snowfall LED lights covering 150 trees. Check schedule for exact times. Closes January 3. Nokia Plaza L.A. LIVE 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles.
The Lakes at Thousand Oaks
The Lakes at Thousand Oaks Ice Rink
It’s a winter wonderland filled with holiday décor at this shopping center in Ventura County. Fun for all ages, the ice rink is open daily. $9 admission and $4 skate rentals. Lessons and private party options are also available. Now through January 21, take a break from shopping and skate at this 60×60 ice rink. $9 admission with $4 skate rental. Private parties available. Check for exact schedule times. 2200 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks/
Got tips? News? Email: karen@mydailyfind.com
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