In California, one need not endure sub-freezing temperatures to enjoy a holiday-season spin around an outdoor ice rink. Ski resorts, city centers, and even plush resorts set up seasonal rinks this time of year and the holiday cheer naturally follows. Better yet, plenty of these outdoor rinks stay open well past New Year’s—check their websites for dates—and add enticements such as customized soundtracks, VIP firepits, and plenty of hot cocoa. Here are nine cool rinks to include in your California winter getaway:
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink
Located at St. Rose of Lima Park near downtown’s Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, the capital city’s annual rink got bigger last year. Skate on special themed days, like Silent Disco Day or Princess and Superhero Day, and the annual Ugly Sweater Party.
Skating by the Sea at the Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
This San Diego County resort is idyllic year-round, thanks to its Queen Anne architecture and cool Hollywood history, but its annual rink next to the beach takes the ambience up a notch—and you don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy it. Grab a hot cocoa and plan to stay into the evening (it’s usually open until 9 or 10 p.m.) to see the hotel’s white holiday lights. To go VIP-style, book a fire pit with lounge chairs in the Frostbite Lounge.
The Rink in Downtown Burbank
Not far from Warner Bros. Studio Tour, this rink tucked behind City Hall reminds you that Burbank has a charmingly walkable downtown with restaurants and shops—including the nearby Burbank Town Center. Come on Saturdays for regular skating lessons.
Holiday Ice Rink at Pershing Square, Los Angeles
This seasonal rink in the downtown Los Angeles park—just blocks from The Broad and The Grammy Museum—is open every day, and DJs spin music on Wednesday evenings with themes like Holiday Hits Night, Onesie Night, Disco Night, and more. Learn-to-curl clinics are held on select Saturdays.
Ice at Santa Monica
Skate at this annual rink in the heart of Santa Monica’s renowned shopping area—at the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue along the Third St. Promenade. Glide along more than 8,000 square feet of glistening ice—if you need a few pointers, lessons are available, and a 400-square-foot tot rink means there’s a safe place for kids to get their start.
The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square, San Francisco
Set in the heart of downtown San Francisco, this rink has been dubbed one of the best ice rinks in the U.S. Don’t miss December’s traditional Drag Queens on Ice event, and check out the rink’s calendar for other fun themes, like Lion King Simba Saturdays, ‘80s Flashback Fridays, the Silent Skate, and the New Year’s Day Polar Bear skate (come in best beachwear). A number of area hotels offer deals that bundle stays with rink sessions and other holiday-season perks.
Siskiyou Skate Rink, McCloud
This Shasta Cascade outdoor rink in the shadow of Mt. Shasta offers Santa meet-and-greets in December and a pajama-clad skating session on New Year’s Day. Also in Siskiyou County, downtown McCloud gets into the spirit with Victorian ambience each Saturday during the holiday season, with events such as an innkeeper’s tour, a high tea, and a Dickens dinner.
L.A. Kings at Mammoth Lakes
Located at Mammoth Creek Park and slated to open on November 24, 2023, L.A. Kings at Mammoth Lakes is a community-driven partnership with the Los Angeles Kings franchise of the National Hockey League. The indoor, Olympic-sized rink will host everything from hockey league play and pick-up games to curling, figure skating, skating lessons, and seasonal events.
Rinks at Yosemite National Park
Yosemite in winter boasts two good outdoor rinks: the Curry Village Ice Skating Rink and the Ice Rink at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The Curry Village rink (which dates back to 1928 and was formerly known as Half Dome Village Rink) has views of the legendary Half Dome granite formation, along with a firepit, while the Tenaya Lodge rink is next to a sledding hill and is surrounded by the Sierra National Forest. Best of all, both typically stay open until late March.