The Rink at Park Tavern

Ice Skating returns to the Park Tavern in November 2011. Here’s a round up post I did in 2010 on outdoor skating rinks in Atlanta. Remember, this link goes to a 2010 post, so there may be updated times and prices. We’ll update the post soon with 2011 information.

Do you have a favorite ice skating rink in Atlanta? Tell us which one you like and why.

This year our family did a tour of the many ice skating rinks within the city of Atlanta. Here’s our take on comparing the various rinks (including links to our original posts with information on dates, prices, photos and video)

St. Regis Astor Ice Rink

The St. Regis Astor Ice Rink
Pros: This is an intimate setting, only 30 people on the ice at a time. Perfect for younger kids who aren’t too sure of themselves. Staff wait on you as you would expect at the St. Regis. The hot chocolate is like drinking a chocolate bar and I loved the crunchy jimmies on top. If you’d rather, there is a full bar, so you can enjoy an adult beverage while the kids skate. If you have an extra $12, buy a s’more kit and roast marshmallows by the poolside fireplace. The life-sized gingerbread house in the lobby is not to be missed.
Cons: Price. At $30 for an adult and $18 for kids, this is the most expensive option and it’s only an hour of skate time.

 

The Rink at Park Tavern

The Rink at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park
Pros: This rink is housed in a tent on the Park Tavern patio, so unlike the others, it’s semi-inside. I loved the comfy couches and toasty fireplace. There’s also a full bar if you need an adult hot chocolate. The kid friendly version is pretty awesome too. The location off Piedmont Park can’t be beat and has a beautiful view of the Midtown Skyline. This rink is open through Valentine’s Day, so if you don’t get there over the holidays, there’s still time to skate after the other rinks end their season.
Cons: After 9 pm this rink is adults only. They’ve recently put up a ticket booth for parking in the gravel lot behind the restaurant. (If you’re going to charge me to park, at least pave the darn thing.)

 

Holiday Lights around Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink

Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink
Pros: This rink is the least expensive of the three. I love the location in Centennial Olympic Park and at night the holiday lights in the park and on nearby buildings add a festive atmosphere. This is probably the biggest of the three rinks as well, so there is more space for skating.
Cons: This is by far the busiest of the three (at least when we went) and the little ones can get a bit overwhelmed with the crowds. The larger rink can also be a bit scary for those that don’t know how to skate.

Note: There is also an ice skating rink in Conyers, Georgia. We have not visited this rink.

Got an opinion on these ice skating rinks in Atlanta? Tell us about it.

What: Ice Skating
Where: Astor Rink, The St. Regis Hotel, Atlanta
When: Nov. 24, 2010 – Jan. 3, 2011, 12 – 9 pm M-F and 11 – 9 pm Sat. and Sun.
Cost: $30 an hour for adults, $18 an hour for children under 16 (sessions are 1 hour)
For additional photos, visit the Field Trips with Sue Facebook page

During the Thanksgiving break we went on a tour of ice skating rinks in Atlanta, including the Astor Rink at the St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead. This rink is located on the 7th floor of the hotel above the pool area. The price of admission includes skate rental.

The St. Regis is an intimate rink and limited to only 30 people per hour. Reservations are recommended, but when we went, there were only a few reservations that evening, so don’t assume they’re booked. However, as you get closer to Christmas, things do get a bit more crowded, especially on the weekends.

When we went the ice was hard and well frozen. (this can be a problem for outdoor rinks in the South) The St. Regis Atlanta partners with Ice Rink Events, the company responsible for New York’s Bryant Park rink. There is a 100-ton chiller that pumps glycol gel refrigerant through coils that lay below the ice rink which freeze the ice down to -6 degrees. It’s also the smallest of all the outdoor rinks, which I’m sure helps to keep the ice at the right temperature.

In addition to ice skating, don’t miss the hot chocolate ($8). It’s made with chocolate shavings, real whipped cream, more chocolate shavings, sprinkle beads and marshmallows.You literally need a spoon to eat the topping (the beads give it a nice crunch) and when you get down to the hot chocolate, it’s so thick, you can see lumps of chocolate at the bottom.

You can also purchase a s’more kit for $12 and roast the marshmallows in the fire pit on the pool deck. If you’d rather, relax with an adult beverage while the children skate.

Leave a little time to explore the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel as well. In addition to a beautifully decorated tree, there is a life-sized gingerbread house that makes the lobby smell delicious. As you walk through you’ll notice gummie bear lights, lollipop flowers and even a chocolate dipped gummie dog!

Disclosure: Field Trips with Sue was provided tickets to the skating rink in exchange for a review of the rink as is common in the travel industry. The views expressed here are our own.

What: Skating Party at Centennial Olympic Park
When: Wed., Dec. 8, 2010 7 – 10 pm
Where: Centennial Olympic Park Ice Rink
Cost: Skating is $7 but you can win tickets to the party here!

I love ice skating and it’s even more fun when you do it with a group of friends. On Wednesday, join Field Trips with Sue at a skating party sponsored by my friends at Atlanta Events, and Like Atlanta. If you’ve never been, take a look at this video I did of the Centennial Olympic Park’s ice rink.

The invitation is below, but if you’d like to win 4 tickets, here’s what you need to do (each action is a new entry, so enter as many times as you like)
Suscribe to Field Trips with Sue and leave a comment below (Be sure to activiate your subscription. You’ll receive an email after registering and you’ll need to click on that link to complete your registration) If you’re already a subscriber, just leave us a comment below.
Like Field Trips with Sue on Facebook and leave a comment.
Follow @suerodman on Twitter and tweet me if you want to win the tickets
Send this post in an email to two friends who might be interested and cc: sue(at)fieldtripswithsue.com so I can count your entry.

If you don’t win, feel free to join us anyway. It will be a great time!

What: The Rink at Park Tavern
Where: Piedmont Park
When: Nov. 22, 2010 – Feb. 15, 2011, go to the website for session times (NOTE: The 9 pm session is for those 21 years or older)
Cost: $10 for a 3 hour session, $5 skates (Parking at The Tavern is $3 or $5)
For more photos, visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta’s treasures. This winter, there is a new attraction at the Park, The Rink at Park Tavern. This seasonal ice skating rink is a great family outing. We tested it out last week and had a great time. Tickets must be ordered online. You can order them prior to going or use a computer that has been set up at The Tavern for that purpose. Skate rentals are hockey skates and there is only one kind, so if you’re little princess wants skates like Olympic skaters, better bring your own.

This rink is a bit smaller than Centennial Park, but the amenities are much nicer. Couches and chairs line the waiting area and there is even a fireplace inside the bar area. Special rink desserts are available including gourmet hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings – Mmmm. For those that just want to watch the little ones, there is a full bar available within the ice rink.

Image via Wikipedia

What: Thrashers Practice
Where: The IceForum, Duluth
When: Fri., Jan. 22, Wed. Jan. 27 at 11 am and Mon. Jan. 25 at 10 am
Cost: FREE

Thanks to Jenn for this tidbit. Atlanta Thrashers practice sessions are free and open to the public. For school age fans, the times probably don’t mesh with your schedule, but for young fans, what a great opportunity to see your favorite hockey players up close.

For those of you that can’t make the practice sessions, you can still get good deals on tickets. This Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 is Thrashers Thursday. All tickets in the 300 level are $15. The game is against the Hurricanes. Coming up in March are Thrashers Kid’s Days where children under 12 get in free with a paying adult

The Georgia Aquarium

The winner of the Centennial Park Ice Skating tickets is Stephanie! Congratulations Stephanie. Next up: A four pack to the Georgia Aquarium. My favorites are the weedy seadragons and the spider crabs. Oh yeah, and the otters.

If you don’t win tickets, don’t forget about Mommy and Me, the deal has been extended through Feb. Get one adult + up to four children under 5 AND parking for $25! You must go before noon and purchase your tickets online.

How to win the Georgia Aquarium Tickets: We’ll announce the winner Friday morning, so become a subscriber of Field Trips with Sue via email (it’s FREE) and leave a comment below to let me know you want to win. That’s it.

Want an extra shot at winning? Follow @suerodman on twitter and tweet this: I want to win a present in the Field Trips with Sue #FTWS Birthday Bash http://bit.ly/53XBco. Make sure you include the link.

Drawing winner Jackson Roche and his mom Shawn McDaniel

Field Trips with Sue’s first birthday bash, held at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta was a fabulous time. The museum’s awesome birthday party room was a great location for our get-together. It was fun to see old friends and new faces. I met a lot of folks that follow the blog and several who just learned about it. For pictures of the event, visit our Facebook page. While you’re there, become a fan and feel free to tag yourself in the photos from the event. There are more photos coming, so check back. Thanks to Diane Maicon for snapping the shindig.

Don’t put your party hats away yet. It’s time for our online party and….presents. The first present we’re giving away is 4 tickets to go ice skating at Centennial Olympic Park. To win, become a subscriber to Field Trips with Sue (it’s FREE) and leave a comment on this post that you are interested in winning. We’ll choose a winner on Thursday morning. Stick around the rest of the week too. We’ve got more presents each day. Want an extra shot at winning? Follow @suerodman on twitter and tweet this: I want to win a present in the Field Trips with Sue #FTWS Birthday Bash http://bit.ly/53XBco. Make sure you include the link.

What: Field Trips with Sue’s First Birthday
Where: Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
When: Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 3:30 – 4:00 pm
Cost: FREE – It’s Target Free Day from 1 – 7 pm

Like a 5-year-old, I’ve been excited about Field Trips with Sue’s first birthday party for a couple of months. Just like a 5-year-old, we’re going to celebrate for more than a week. Join us on Jan. 12 for an offline party at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. We’ll have cake and lots of fun. Please RSVP to the party so we have an idea of who is coming. It is Target Free Day, so you don’t have to pay, but if the museum is at capacity, you may have to wait to enter.

Starting on Jan. 13, we’ll continue with an online party – and you get the presents! Our first present to giveaway: 4 tickets to skate at the Centennial Olympic Park’s Ice Skating Rink. Here’s how to win: Register as a subscriber of Field Trips with Sue via email. Registering is FREE and you’ll receive a confirmation email. You must confirm your registration by clicking the link in the email. Then, tell all your friends to register as well. Each day, starting on Wed., Jan. 13, we’ll give away a prize. Post a comment to let us know you are interested in winning that day and we’ll randomly pick a winner (you must be a subscriber via email. Sorry, but I don’t know how to confirm reader subscribers).

Wanna peek at the presents? Go ahead. A HUGE thank you to these folks for donating items for the party.

Family 4-packs to Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta (and our FABULOUS host for the offline party!)
A family membership to the High Museum
Family 4-packs to the High Museum of Art (sooo excited about the upcoming Car exhibit)
Family 4-packs to Callaway Gardens (Wonderful butterfly house)
Family 4-packs to an upcoming Center for Puppetry Arts Puppet Show (My 5 year old LOVED the Shoemakers Elves)
Family 4 -packs to The World of Coca-Cola (try the Beverly…. really)
Family 4-pack to the National Museum of Patriotism (The Olympic Pin collection really brings back memories)
Family 4-pack to the Centennial Park Ice Skating Rink (The rink is actually open until Jan. 31!)
Family 4-packs to the Georgia Aquarium (Can’t wait to meet the dolphins)
A Thomas the Tank Engine Hero of the Rails/Thomas Wooden Railway Prize Pack (We know you all LOVE Thomas)
A Jekyll Island Package (Don’t miss Boneyard beach, or Tidelands Nature Center, or the Turtle Center — well everything.)

So brighten up your dark, cold January by joining us for a great party. Tell all your friends, neighbors, your preschool, church groups, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to join us for the fun. Remember, you must be a verified Field Trips with Sue blog subscriber to be eligible to win a prize, so register today – it’s free! How do you know you are verified? You’ll receive an email every time we post, generally Tues. through Thurs. each week.

What: Centennial Park Outdoor Ice Rink
When: Nov. 14 – Jan. 31
Where: Centennial Olympic Park
Cost: $7 to skate and $2 for skate rental, Click here for discounts and see how you could win tickets.

Ice skating at the Centennial Olympic Park ice rink is a holiday tradition in my family. I recently asked Nicole Rateau, public relations specialist at Centennial Olympic Park to give FTWS the Inside Scoop on skating at the rink.

1. What is the best time to skate at the rink? There is no bad time to come to the rink But if you want to feel like you own the ice, come early in the week (M – W) or early in the mornings. Also just an FYI, groups that have 50+ or more skaters and pre-purchase tickets, we will open the rink privately outside of regular operating hours at no additional cost.

2. Sometimes we’ve been to the rink and the ice is a bit mushy. When is the ice the smoothest and most frozen? The ice rink does have a miniature Zamboni to smooth out the ice but the ice is the most fresh first thing in the morning and the most solid on cold, winter days.

3. What if I have small children? What is the best time for them to come? The best time for small children is in the mornings.

4. How long is the skating? Skating sessions are 90 minutes, but most people don’t spend 90 minutes on the ice. They are essentially going around in circles

5. What other holiday events are there at Centennial Park? Holiday in Lights opens Nov. 14 as well (but ends Jan. 3). 4250 individual strands of lights have been installed around the Park, (each 25 ft. long) that’s approximately 20 miles of lights!