| When the first frosty winter air arrives, thoughts | | | | Best of all, if you need something hot to drink or |
| of ice skating - Boston's favorite winter outdoor | | | | tasty to eat, you can head into the adjacent Frog |
| sport - inspire everyone to seek out the closest | | | | Pond Pavilion snack bar, overseen by chefs from |
| rink. Fortunately, great places to ice skate can be | | | | Cheers, the nearby Beacon Hill bar of television |
| found all over the city. | | | | fame. |
| When you visit Boston or nearby Cambridge | | | | The indoor Steriti Ice Rink, located in the nearby |
| during the winter months, you can have a lot of | | | | North End area of Boston, is a great alternative |
| fun by chasing away the cold with a few spins on | | | | when the outdoor weather is, shall we say, less |
| the ice. Here are my recommendations for three | | | | than ideal--in other words, rain, sleet, strong winds, |
| super-convenient public rinks where you can | | | | heavy snow. The waterfront rink is located on |
| enjoy this sport from late November through | | | | the Charles River, right before it widens into the |
| mid-March. | | | | Boston Harbor, so you can enjoy the spectacular |
| Two of these rinks are in the middle of the city, | | | | views from the ice. |
| and the third is only 5 minutes away in | | | | The Steriti is run by the Massachusetts |
| Cambridge, just across the Charles River. Best of | | | | Department of Conservation and Recreation, and |
| all, you don't have to have your own skates with | | | | admission is free. Public skating hours at this rink |
| you because they all offer inexpensive rentals. | | | | are limited, so be sure to verify ice availability by |
| You don't know how to skate? No problem--you | | | | calling the number at the end of this article before |
| can arrange for lessons at all of these rinks. | | | | you go. Afterwards, stop by one of the terrific |
| Boston Common's Frog Pond, a 6" deep pool right | | | | bakery/expresso bars or Italian restaurants on |
| in the middle of the city, is a favorite children's | | | | nearby Hanover Street. |
| splashing pool during the summer. In November, a | | | | Across the Charles River in Cambridge, only 5 |
| refrigeration system magically turns it into a | | | | minutes away by subway, you'll find Kendall |
| glassy surface kept smooth by the resident | | | | Square Community Ice Skating near MIT |
| Zamboni. | | | | (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). |
| As you twirl around the ice of this outdoor rink, | | | | This seasonal outdoor rink is in the middle of a |
| you'll enjoy the views surrounding Boston | | | | busy commercial area surrounded by hotels, |
| Common, established in 1634 and America's oldest | | | | stores, and restaurants. It has its own snack bar, |
| park. You'll see the stately mansions of Beacon Hill | | | | plus you'll find many other dining options nearby, |
| to the east, the sleek mirrored glass sides of the | | | | as well as a movie theater. You can easily plan a |
| John Hancock Towers designed by I.M. Pei to the | | | | whole day of fun here--ice skating, dinner, and a |
| west, and the bare branches of the Common's | | | | movie. |
| many trees in all directions. | | | | |