With the winter season and the holidays fast approaching, it's about time to lace up those skates and embrace the cold-weather spirit.



Bundle up, grab your family and friends and get ready to skate your heart out. Here are some of our favorite rinks to show off those salchows and triple toe loops:

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink
Washington, D.C.
Find your inner Kristi Yamaguchi as you skate amidst the scenic backdrop of the National Gallery of Art. Lovely sculptures and festive lights line this outdoor rink making it one of the nation's most beautiful places to swirl and twirl.

Pond at Bryant Park
New York, N.Y.
Think ice skating in New York and Rockefeller Center immediately comes to mind. It's a New York landmark and a winter tradition for many families, but skating around this rink doesn't come cheap. Instead, chill out at the Pond at Bryant Park. It's free and it's a great area to do some holiday shopping after you skate.

Blue Cross RiverRink
Philadelphia, Pa.
Blue Cross RiverRink is Philadelphia's only outdoor public ice rink. The rink opens the day after Thanksgiving and attracts nearly a quarter million ice skaters throughout the season. Each month, the rink hosts a free event including the always-popular "Skate with Santa" and the "New Year's Eve Party on Ice."

Downtown on Ice
Los Angeles, Calif.
L.A.'s answer to New York's Rockefeller Center, Downtown on Ice is Southern California's largest outdoor skating rink located smack dab in the center of downtown Los Angeles. Palm trees surrounding the rink will make you feel an ice queen in paradise. The rink often hosts free concerts and occasional hockey clinics run by the L.A. Kings.

The Depot Skating Rink
Minneapolis, Minn.
Named one of the top ten best places in the country to ice skate by USA Today and MSNBC, The Depot Rink is located inside a stunning historic train shed. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide beautiful views of the city skyline. You'll be shielded from Minneapolis' biting cold winter, but practically feel like you're skating outdoors.

Boston Common Frog Pond
Boston, Mass.
Take your skates for a spin at the Frog Pond, situated in America's oldest public park. Afterwards, warm up with a cozy lunch or dinner at some of Boston's best restaurants. And if you can't wait until after you skate, the kid-friendly menu at the rink's snack bar is overseen by local restaurant chefs.

McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park
Chicago, Ill.
Kick off winter in the Windy City at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. The rink is free and open to the public and draws more than 100,000 skaters each year. You'll enjoy great views of Michigan Avenue as you glide around the rink. The frosty fun begins November 18.