I visited 4 of New York City's seasonal ice-skating rinks, and the most iconic was my least favorite

Gabbi ShawDec 17, 2021, 22:06 IST

The author at Rockefeller Center.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I visited Manhattan's four seasonal ice-skating rinks over the course of two weeks.
My favorite was at Bryant Park's Winter Village due to its atmosphere, cost, and safety.

Holiday season in New York City is one of the most magical places in the world, and ice-skating is one of its best winter activities.

The Wollman Rink in Central Park.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My least favorite ice-skating rink, unfortunately, was the rink at Rockefeller Center, which is beneath the city's famous Christmas tree.

Rockefeller Center.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

People were snapping selfies left and right, which led to some unfortunate collisions ... including someone skating directly into me from behind.

Me at Rockefeller Center, pre-someone smashing into me.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Some pros: It is a romantic place — my friend and I even watched a couple get engaged.

The newly engaged couple.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

The skates were my favorite compared to those offered at other rinks, as they didn't need to be laced up.

Rockefeller Center rental skates.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

But overall, the small size of the rink, the crowds, lack of rules regarding phones or masks, and the lack of any other activities puts this at the bottom of my list.

My friend and I trying our best not to stop traffic.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

In third place on my ranking: the Wollman Rink at Central Park. While it's huge, I found it very disorganized.

Wollman Rink.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Walking up to the rink, I had a feeling it was going to be a rough wait — the line snaked around the rink and up a hill, making it the longest line I encountered by far.

Part of the line.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Walking up to the rink, I had a feeling it was going to be a rough wait — the line snaked around the rink and up a hill, making it the longest line I encountered by far.

The line continued up the stairs. Here's where I was able to finally join it.

More of the Central Park line.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Wollman Rink offered the lace-up skates that all the other rinks (besides Rockefeller Center) had.

The skates at Wollman Rink.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Central Park itself has great views, but something else that put it above Rockefeller Center was the concessions area and a Four Five Coffee stand.

The concessions area at Central Park.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Checking off the Wollman Rink was definitely important to me as a New Yorker, but I don't think I'll be compelled to come back and skate.

A selfie at Wollman Rink.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

My second favorite was the Rink at Brookfield Place, which is next to the mall of the same name in downtown Manhattan.

The Rink at Brookfield Place.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

This is the view from the other side of the rink.

The Rink at Brookfield Place.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

It was also the least crowded of the rinks I visited.

The Rink at Brookfield Place.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Right next to the rink indoors was The Lodge, which is Brookfield Place's version of a mini-holiday market.

One of the stands at The Lodge.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

They also had a little bar area that featured repurposed ski gondolas.

The Lodge.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Due to the overall atmosphere, the Rink at Brookfield Place comes in second on my list.

The inside of Brookfield Place.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

To my surprise, my favorite place to skate in Manhattan was at the Winter Village in Bryant Park.

The rink at Bryant Park.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Instead of lockers, they offered clear rental backpacks that were free with a skate rental.

My sneaker bag.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

These skates, admittedly, were the most beat up.

My rental skates at Bryant Park.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

But once I got on the ice, it was easily my favorite. Everyone had to wear masks and there was no one whipping our their phones and potentially endangering people.

Bryant Park.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

Once you were off the ice, you had an entire holiday market to browse, and a full bar.

The Rinkside Bar.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

After skating, I secured myself a mulled wine.

My mulled wine.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

With the atmosphere, cheap skates, safety of the rink, and, crucially, alcohol, the Bryant Park rink won by a mile.

The view.Gabbi Shaw/Insider

I flew on JetBlue's Embraer 190 for the first time and though the aging aircraft lacked the bells and whistles of the carrier's newer Airbus jets, I wouldn't hesitate to book it again

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I visited 4 of New York City's seasonal ice-skating rinks, and the most iconic was my least favorite

Holiday season in New York City is one of the most magical places in the world, and ice-skating is one of its best winter activities.

My least favorite ice-skating rink, unfortunately, was the rink at Rockefeller Center, which is beneath the city's famous Christmas tree.

People were snapping selfies left and right, which led to some unfortunate collisions ... including someone skating directly into me from behind.

Some pros: It is a romantic place — my friend and I even watched a couple get engaged.

The skates were my favorite compared to those offered at other rinks, as they didn't need to be laced up.

But overall, the small size of the rink, the crowds, lack of rules regarding phones or masks, and the lack of any other activities puts this at the bottom of my list.

In third place on my ranking: the Wollman Rink at Central Park. While it's huge, I found it very disorganized.

Walking up to the rink, I had a feeling it was going to be a rough wait — the line snaked around the rink and up a hill, making it the longest line I encountered by far.

The line continued up the stairs. Here's where I was able to finally join it.

Wollman Rink offered the lace-up skates that all the other rinks (besides Rockefeller Center) had.

Central Park itself has great views, but something else that put it above Rockefeller Center was the concessions area and a Four Five Coffee stand.

Checking off the Wollman Rink was definitely important to me as a New Yorker, but I don't think I'll be compelled to come back and skate.

My second favorite was the Rink at Brookfield Place, which is next to the mall of the same name in downtown Manhattan.

This is the view from the other side of the rink.

It was also the least crowded of the rinks I visited.

Right next to the rink indoors was The Lodge, which is Brookfield Place's version of a mini-holiday market.

They also had a little bar area that featured repurposed ski gondolas.

Due to the overall atmosphere, the Rink at Brookfield Place comes in second on my list.

To my surprise, my favorite place to skate in Manhattan was at the Winter Village in Bryant Park.

Instead of lockers, they offered clear rental backpacks that were free with a skate rental.

These skates, admittedly, were the most beat up.

But once I got on the ice, it was easily my favorite. Everyone had to wear masks and there was no one whipping our their phones and potentially endangering people.

Once you were off the ice, you had an entire holiday market to browse, and a full bar.

After skating, I secured myself a mulled wine.

With the atmosphere, cheap skates, safety of the rink, and, crucially, alcohol, the Bryant Park rink won by a mile.