Is there any better way to celebrate winter than going ice skating? Hitting the ice is a great option to keep an entire family occupied. Kids of all ages can learn a new skill while getting some exercise and fresh winter air, while parents can celebrate with a cup of steaming hot chocolate — or by enjoying the ice themselves! Grab a pair of ice skates, lace up, and check out these fun places to go ice skating in and around Bloomington, Minnesota. 
Bloomington Ice Garden and Public Rinks
Bloomington’s best-known and most popular rink is the Bloomington Ice Garden, also known as BIG. Established in 1970, BIG is an indoor facility that is open year-round. It boasts three rinks, including an Olympic-sized rink, as well as seating capacity for 2,500 spectators. BIG hosts several hockey leagues and the Bloomington Skate School, which puts on the annual Spring Ice Show in March. Skates are also available for rent.
There are actually 13 different public ice rinks dotted around Bloomington, many of them outdoors, that are maintained and staffed by the city. These rinks will be open from December 15, 2018, through February 18, 2019, and are lighted during opening hours. Check out Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation website for more up-to-date information about locations, opening hours, conditions, and more. You can even place a request to reserve ice time on these rinks through the website.
The Trebaugh park facility hosts two rinks that are for broomball only. Broomball is a unique sport that is a lot like ice hockey, with elements of soccer mixed in. Bloomington hosts the fastest growing broomball league in the Twin Cities.
Richfield Ice Arena
Slightly further afield, check out the Richfield Ice Arena, home to Minnesota’s North American Hockey League team the Magicians. Located about five minutes from the Mall of America, Richfield Ice Arena hosts two regulation-sized ice rinks. The Arena, which is open year-round, is in Veterans Memorial Park, which also hosts an outdoor mini-golf course and an outdoor pool with water slides as well as a wading pool with water play features for kids. Skating lessons and skate rentals are available, and the Arena hosts open hockey as well as open skating.
Hopkins Pavilion Ice Arena
While the Hopkins Pavilion is open all year, it hosts an ice skating rink between September and February. The Arena is home of the Hopkins High School Boys’ Hockey team and Hopkins Youth Hockey Association. You can also rent the Arena for figure skating, hockey, or broomball beginning in September. Check out their learn to drive a Zamboni program!
Braemar Arena
The Braemar Arena is located in Edina, Minnesota. The Arena has three regulation-sized ice rinks that are open all year, in addition to the Backyard Rink, which becomes an outdoor rink in the wintertime. All four rinks are available for rental. Established in 2015, Da Beauty League, a four-on-four professional hockey league, plays high spirited games at Braemar that are a lot of fun to watch.
No matter what you’re looking for, there’s an ice rink nearby sure to fit your needs!
Image via Flickr by shanelinesphotography used under CC By
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