Thrilling Places To Skate In NYC

Bryant Park, photo by asterix611 on Flickr

Although it’s near the infamous High Line, The Standard Ice Skating Rink is one of the least crowded pop-ups in the city. With an Alpine-themed food stand serving seasonal spiced apple cider and sweet and sour crepes nearby, it’s definitely a hidden gem. 848 Washington Street, standardhotels.com

The iconic Trump Rink (also known as Wollman Rink) provides a delightful view of the city. Perform axel jumps and spirals, or opt for one of the special services like skating school, hockey leagues, and figure skating classes during the winter season. Tip: Cash only. Central Park South and Sixth Avenue, wollmanskatingrink.com

Citi Pond at Bryant Park is the city’s first free-admission rink, charging only for skates and bag check. When you’re not skating underneath the holiday tree, shop at the surrounding pop-up stores or get a bite to eat at the Celsius Restaurant. 41 West 40th Street, citipondatbryantpark.com

If you’re looking for the classic New York holiday experience, bring the family to the famed Rink at Rockefeller Center this season. It’s one of the pricier rinks to be sure, but there’s nothing quite like whizzing underneath the Swarovski star-topped tree and fluttering flags from around the world. Fifth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, patinagroup.com

Riverbank State Park won’t break the bank even when you take the whole family; adults are $5 and children $3. The outdoor weekend-only venue is covered to protect skaters from snow or rain and also offers hockey and skating lessons. 679 Riverside Drive, nysparks.com/parks/93

As one of the larger arenas in NYC, Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers actually offers two full-sized indoor ice rinks for winter skating. We love that it has a helmet rental, especially considering the activities like hockey held there. Figure skating and lessons also available. 23rd Street and Hudson River Park, chelseapiers.com

The Bronx’s newest ice skating rink has finally opened this winter season! The indoor Van Cortlandt Park Ice Skating Rink keeps the cold winds away so you can skate around and watch the youth hockey teams in comfort. Classes available for those looking to up their game, too. 242nd Street and Broadway, Bronx, vcpicerink.com

Leave the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and head to World Ice Arena in Queens for daily lessons, hockey, or free time on the ice. And just because the rink is indoors doesn’t mean you can’t cozy up with a hot chocolate at the café. 13135 Avery Avenue, Queens, worldice.com

WCS Education - Wildlife Conservation Society

Explore nature, learn about the planet, and get close to animals&mdash;all in New York City! WCS zoo and aquarium day camps are for every young adventurer, from toddlers to teens. Campers experience hands-on learning, from STEAM classrooms and animal exhibits to nature trails and the beach. Recognized as industry leaders, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Education Department was the first of its kind to offer zoo camps and continues to provide award-winning programming. Visit wcs.education/camps to explore summer camps at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium!

BAMkids

BAMkids presents adventurous art and ideas for young audiences, igniting the imaginations of creative kids ages 3&mdash;11 with a fun and engaging lineup of workshops, movie matinees, and live performances from around the world. BAM Education connects learning with creativity, engaging imagination by encouraging self-expression through programs for students, teachers, and audiences of all ages. Explore the programs on their website to learn more about their opportunities for creative online engagement!

New York Society of Play Summer Camp and Classes

Summer Game Camp There are many who do not feel safe sending their children back out into the world with summer camp, this year. To serve those parents and keep the children connected and stimulated during this challenging time, we are offering NYSP Digital Summer Camp. The name of the game with NYSP Summer Camp is community. We have made a large effort to make our camp feel like a living space, with features including &ndash; - Role-Playing games familiar and new, led by our master storytellers! - Enriching electives such as Chess, World Building, Character Acting, Crafts, Drawing, and more! - Discussion and media screening rooms during lunch! - A digital campus! - Moderated chat hours! &nbsp; Join us for a summer of games, friends, and more! Mon - Fri 10am - 2:30pm &nbsp; Roleplay Expeditions: Dungeons &amp; Dragons No experience is required to join one of our Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our game masters have pre-made character sheets, so you'll be able to start playing the game right away! We adapt the rules of traditional Dungeons &amp; Dragons to make them more approachable to children of various ages. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop!&nbsp; &nbsp; Public games meet once per week, with different groups every time. Private games meet 1 to 2 times per week with the same group of kids. Since the players and the storyteller in the group are consistent, this enables us to tell epic tales of adventure together! &nbsp; Dungeons &amp; Dragons Junior No experience is required to join one of our drop-in Dungeons &amp; Dragons games. Our Dungeons &amp; Dragons Jr. game provides a D&amp;D storytelling experience without character sheets. Battle in dungeons, search for relics, and make new friends in our one-of-a-kind Dungeons &amp; Dragons workshop! A great way to introduce young children to D&amp;D so they can eventually move onto the main game.