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Rose visits Outdoor ice rinks in Washington, DC

Whether you are entertaining the kids, enjoying a romantic date, practicing your pirouettes, or spending a day out with your friends or family, ice skating outside is a Washington, DC tradition. As soon as Thanksgiving rolls around, the ice rinks are open long hours complete with music and nearby food options. If it's a tradition to open ice rinks around Thanksgiving, it is our personal tradition to visit all of them!

Here's a few of our favorite options in the Washington, DC metro area.

Canal Park Ice Rink

Hours

Sunday 10am-10pm
Monday 12pm-10pm
Tuesday 12pm-10pm
Wednesday 12pm-10pm
Thursday 12pm-10pm
Friday 12pm-11pm
Saturday 10am-11pm
 

Rink Fees

Adults $9.00
Children $8.00
Seniors $8.00
Skate Rental $5.00

Family Season Pass - $350
Individual Season Pass - $150
10 Visit Pass - $75

Our favorite ice rink is located in Canal Park. This unique rink isn't just another oval. It's a figure eight complete with beautiful trees and architecture set within a park that is a modern masterpiece. This park is purpose built for a winter ice wonderland complete with a camouflaged home for the Zamboni machine. We didn't measure, but it appears to be the largest ice rink in DC and it is pristine. There are public restrooms nearby and numerous vantage points, including from above the adjacent restaurant's rooftop deck which is always open to the public. Videos made by locals are played on the large cube and speakers stealthily mounted inside light posts play holiday music. It's really festive and fun, whether you are on a date or out with the family--and both families and couples are prevalent here.

Importantly the rink is located near to numerous food options in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, including the Lot 38 and Slipstream coffeeshops, Blue Jacket Brewery, and numerous restaurants such as Due South, Morini, The Big Stick, Shake Shack, Tacorean, Sweet Green, Cava DC, The Arsenal, Whaley's, Salt Line, All Purpose and more. Normally a family oriented park, Canal Park is so convenient for skating. It's only a block from the metro and has plenty of parking, including charging stations for electric vehicles. We know this park very well because it is just three blocks down L Street SE from Rose Physical Therapy Group. 

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canal park ice skating washington dc physical therapy - kids

The Canal Park rink is under new management this season with extended hours. All of their rental skates are new this season as well. The staff is extremely helpful and passionate about the ice rink which is why it runs so well. 

canal park ice skating washington dc physical therapy - skates on shelf plus window

canal park ice skating washington dc physical therapy - skates on shelf

canal park ice skating washington dc physical therapy - penguin

canal park ice skating washington dc physical therapy - toward capitol hill

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canal park physical therapy navy yard ice skating - 1

canal park physical therapy navy yard ice skating - christmas tree washington dc district skate rental

 

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Smithsonian Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

The Smithsonian sculpture garden is an old stand by. This ice rink is circular, built atop a fountain in the sculpture garden. Skating adjacent to beautiful artwork is a fantastic experience. This location also has the Pavillion Cafe adjacent to it, which has excellent food and offers a weekend brunch and has panoramic views of the sculpture garden.

Hours

Monday through Thursday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 11:00 am (for lessons only) and 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (for general public)
Sunday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Rink Fees

Fees are for two forty-five-minute sessions, beginning on the hour.

Adults $9.00
Children age 12 and under, students with valid ID, and skaters age 50 and over $8.00
Skate rental $3.50, ID required
Locker Rental $0.50 plus a $5 deposit
Season Tickets $195

sculpture garden physical therapy ice skating smithsonian

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sculpture garden physical therapy ice skating smithsonian restaurant

 

Georgetown Washington Harbour Ice Rink

Georgetown's ice rink is located directly on the Potomac River at the end of Jefferson Street NW. Called the "Washington Harbour Ice Rink", it is built atop a fountain. With parking being a challenge and a location far from the nearest metro stop in Foggy Bottom, this rink is popular amongst hotel stayers in Georgetown who enjoy the waterfront and a break from shopping on M Street NW. There is a Starbucks only feet from the ice rink along with several restaurants, but better options like Washington, DC favorite Baked and Wired and numerous restaurants are located nearby in Georgetown.

Rink Hours

Monday - Tuesday  12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday - Thursday 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday  12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday  10:00 am -10:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Rink Fees

Adult Admission $10.00
Child Admission $9.00
Seniors/Military Admission $9.00
Group Rate Admission $12 per person including skate rental for groups of 10 or more
Skate Rental $6.00 
10 Admission Pass $85.00 (does not include skate rental) 
Socks/Gloves $4.00

 

georgetown physical therapy ice skating - potomac river

georgetown physical therapy ice skating - closeup

 

Watergate Hotel Rooftop Rink

The Watergate Hotel ice rink is on the rooftop of the hotel and the proximity to the rooftop bar and panoramic sunset views are the primary reasons to enjoy this ice rink. When we toured it, there were plenty of kids on the ice and parents at the bar. You might be thinking that it is cold on a rooftop in the DC winter and you would be right, but that is mitigated by firepits and heaters as well as some strong drinks.

You may want to reserve a bar table before you visit, but reserving skating is unnecessary.

As an interesting fact, we note that the rooftop was different from most of the photos we saw ahead of our visit. This ice rink is also much smaller size in comparison to others in the District.

To access the rink, head past the front desk to the elevators on the right and press "R"--the elevators on the left do not have rooftop access. 

Rink Fees

Adults $20.00*
Children age 12 and under, $10.00*
1 hour minimum skate time, no reservation required
1 hour minimum skate time, no reservation required

* - includes skates

Hours

Wednesday - Friday, 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - sign physical therapy

A unique feature of the Watergate is that you select your floor outside the elevator. For the rooftop just press "R", but note that only certain elevators have rooftop access.

watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - elevator rooftop physical therapy

The views from the edge of the rooftop bar are incredible and one of the best places to watch the sun set in downtown Washington, DC.

watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - 1

There is even a firepit to help keep you warm while you don your ice skates.

watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - fire pit couple on a date physical therapy

 

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The rooftop has great views of the Washington Monument and Kennedy Center.

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watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - kids

Keeping warm by the fire is a must.

watergate hotel rooftop bar ice skating iceskating rink cost washington dc - fire pit physical therapy

There are igloos you can reserve at the ground floor bar near the hotel entrance.

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