Go Ice Skating at Bryant Park
What better way to ring in the holiday season than to go ice skating in New York City? I took to the ice at Bryant Park for a day of outdoor holiday fun.
Ice Skating at the Bryant Park Winter Village
We all know about ice skating at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, but did you know about the amazing rink at Bryant Park? This may be one of New York’s most overlooked winter gems — it’s less crowded, seriously beautiful, and best of all, it’s free! If you find yourself in the city this holiday season, this is one item you simply must check off your wish list.
Food Kiosk Frenzy
My boyfriend and I got to the park around 2pm and decided to grab some lunch before we took to the ice. After surveying the restaurants like Celcius and the Bryant Park Grill that surrounded the park, we decided to go with the more affordable lunch option: the pop-up food kiosks located all around the rink.
We ran over to Marty’s V Burger tent (the V stands for Vegan) and got a couple of veggie burgers and sodas, with a killer view at a rink-side table in the park. We ate, watched ice skaters, and were merry — and after a few minutes, we were pretty full, too!
Let’s Hit the Ice!
A little after we finished our delicious meal, it was finally time to take the ice. Here are a couple of tips: bring your own “gym locker” lock, pack your own skates if you have them, and bundle up with lots of layers! My skate-savvy boyfriend brought his own blades, but I had to rent mine.
For only $19/pair, it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially when you consider that access to the Winter Village rink and lockers is free. You only have to pay to rent skates and locks for the lockers to keep your shoes and bags in while you skate.
After lacing up my skates (and getting a quick pep talk from my guy to keep me from spending this skate session in bleachers), we hit the ice. We skated around in circles in the brisk winter afternoon, with the view of a beautiful Christmas tree beaming behind us. We were laughing, making up cool tricks, and watching all the people, young and old, skate along beside us. It was an absolute blast and somehow, I didn’t even fall once!
Take a Walk Around the Shops
After about an hour or so, we were more than a little bit tuckered out. We spun off the ice, changed back into our shoes, and decided to stroll around the Bryant Park Winter Village for a little while to put the wind back in our sails. The Winter Village has tons of cool little holiday shops you can peruse that sell everything from hot chocolate to quirky, off-beat holiday gifts. Tons of shopping, a few hours to kill, and boyfriend with a wallet — what more was there to ask for?
Ring in the Holiday Season Right
This was such an incredible day of outdoor winter fun, not to mention an affordable way to get a New York City holiday experience without getting caught in a classic holiday tourist trap! I would definitely take family and friends to check out this staple of the holiday season in the next few weeks.
