You don't have to be as good as Plano's Amber Glenn, who is contending for a Winter Olympics spot, to enjoy ice skating. Photo: Lintao Zhang - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images
It's not quite cold yet, but several outdoor skating rinks will let you pretend it's winter.
Why it matters: Gliding across the ice is one way to get into the holiday spirit, even if you aren't as skilled as Plano-born figure skater Amber Glenn.
State of skates: Grapevine's outdoor rink, featuring a 64-foot tree, opened Saturday in the city's historic downtown.
Downtown Dallas' skating rink opens Wednesday in Main Street Garden. The rink will have cozy drinks, movie nights, skating with Santa and a tree lighting on Saturday.
The Fort Worth Stockyards rink is open until Jan. 4 and features fire pits, a full bar and grill, skating lessons and Whataburger coupons on Tuesdays.
Follow the money: Admission typically includes skate rentals and has time limits, but you can keep exploring the surrounding area once your slot ends.
There's enough to explore even if you don't skate.
The intrigue: Grapevine calls itself the Christmas Capital of Texas — the city's Main Street is already decked out with holiday decor and lights.
The big picture: The Galleria's rink is open throughout the year. The Stars also have several community rinks that offer free lessons.
