Dec 3, 2021 - Things to Do

Editor's pick: Favorite D.C. area ice skating rinks

People ice skate at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink.

Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

D.C. editor Kayla here! I'm stepping out of the editorial shadows to highlight my favorite holiday activity: ice skating.

I started figure skating a few years ago because I was in desperate need of a work/life balance hobby, and I highly recommend it.

Here are a few of my favorite local ice rinks:

Reston Town Center: 818 Discovery St., Reston

I've skated here every holiday since I was a kid. This is a lovely outdoor rink surrounded by shops and restaurants and decked out with more twinkle lights than you could ever wish for. Seriously, the scene looks like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie.

  • If you're not a fan of skating outdoors, check out Reston SkateQuest (the indoor rink where I practice) down the street.

Pentagon Row: 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington

Pentagon Row boasts the biggest outdoor ice rink in northern Virginia and is a short distance from the Pentagon City Metro station.

  • Their rental skates aren't my favorite, but they're perfect for a few casual laps with friends followed by drinks at one of the many nearby restaurants.

National Sculpture Garden: Constitution Ave NW &, 7th St. NW

You can't talk about skating in D.C. without highlighting one of the city's most iconic spots. Accessible via multiple Metro and bus lines, this is a beautiful place to go for a glide in the evening or even during lunch break if you work downtown.

Enchant Christmas at Nationals Park: 1500 S. Capitol St., SE

Each year, Enchant Christmas takes over Nationals Park to transform it into a winter wonderland complete with sparkling lights, a Christmas market, and Santa himself. Skating aficionados can take it all in while gliding across the ice skating trail that winds through the park.

  • Have I skated here yet? No. Is my inner child filled with glee at the thought of doing so? Definitely!

Rockville Town Square: 131 Gibbs St., Rockville

The largest outdoor ice rink between D.C. and Baltimore, Rockville Town Square offers 7,200 square feet to slip, slide, and salchow.

  • A lovely outdoor space and a big surface. What's not to love?

Email me to share which rinks you think I should hit up next!

avatar

Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Washington D.C..

🌱

Support local journalism by becoming a member.

Learn more

More Washington D.C. stories

No stories could be found

Washington D.C.postcard

Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Washington D.C..

🌱

Support local journalism by becoming a member.

Learn more