Hit the Ice! Holiday Ice Skating in the Bay Area

Even though it's an activity that you can do year-round, ice skating seems to be something that's especially appealing around this time of year. While you're not going to be able to go ice skating in Marin (those who grew up here probably remember Raydine's in Corte Madera, at the site of Gold's Gym), there are several locations close by where you can hit the ice.

Snoopy's Home Ice

In Santa Rosa you can find Snoopy's Home Ice at the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. Opened by the late Santa Rosa resident and Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in 1969, the Redwood Empire Ice Arena offers daily public skating hours (check their schedule for details), skating lessons, birthday parties, and special events. The entire place offers an alpine ambience, and is decorated with a Swiss theme. Through this weekend, they'll be presenting a Christmas tree lighting ceremony on every weekend day at approximately 1:45 pm. The Redwood Empire Ice Arena is also home to Snoopy's Warm Puppy Cafe, where you can sit by the fire and eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or just have a hot chocolate and watch the action on the Snoopy's Home Ice.

Weekend session prices are $9 for adults 18 and over and juniors 12–17, and $7 for children 11 and under. Skate rental is $3. Weekdays are less expensive with adult s/juniors $7 and children $5.50; skate rental $2. They also offer Puppy Practice, a session for children under 12 and their parents that's perfect for beginners, since it includes a 20-minute group lesson for both adults and kids. Puppy Practice is $7 for adults and $5.50 for children.

Snoopy's Home Ice is located on West Steele Lane in Santa Rosa. To get there, take 101 north to the Guernville Road/Steele Lane exit; at the signal, turn left on Steele Lane and go under the freeway. Cross Cleveland Avenue and bear right onto West Steele Lane. The Redwood Empire Ice Arena, along with Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop, will be on your right after Range Avenue. For information, visit snoopyshomeice.com or call (707) 546-7147.

Embarcadero Center Holiday Ice Rink

For the past 15 years San Francisco's Embarcadero Center has hosted an outdoor ice rink at Justin Herman Plaza. It's open through January 15 for 90-minute sessions Sunday through Thursday from 10 am to 10 pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 11:30 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $4.50 for children 10 and under weekdays until 6 pm. After 6 pm and on weekends prices go up by $.50. They also host birthday parties and private rentals. Get more info at embarcaderocenter.com or (415) 837-1931.

It's located near Embarcadero Four right across from the Ferry Building. A handy way to get there from Marin is to take the Golden Gate Ferry. 

Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center

Also in San Francisco is the indoor Yerba Buena Ice Skating rink at Yerba Buena Gardens. They have a winter holiday schedule through January 2 for 90-minute sessions (check their schedule for details). Admission is $8 for adults (13–55), $5.50 for seniors (55 and over), and $6.25 for children up to age 12. Skate rentals are $3. Discount cards are available. They also offer year-round birthday party packages as well as skating lessons. As the name implies, there's also a bowling alley on site.

The Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center is located in the South of Market district at 750 Folsom Street, between Third and Fourth Streets in San Francisco. The Ice and Bowling Centers are located at the Rooftop at Yerba Buena Gardens, which is built literally on the roof of Moscone Convention Center. Parking is probably easiest at the Fifth and Mission Garage a couple blocks away. Visit skatebowl.com for more info.

Ice Skating at the San Francisco Zoo

Another seasonal outdoor ice rink is located at the San Francisco Zoo. It's the Zoo's first-ever ice skating rink, and it's open through January 1. It's in conjunction with the Zoo's Reindeer Romp, where kids can visit with real reindeer Holly, Velvet, Belle and Peppermint. Ice skating tickets, which includes skates but not Zoo admission, are $6 for adults and youth and $4 for children 11 and under. Ice time is good for one hour during the 11 am to 4 pm skating time slots. Zoo admission is $11 for adults, $8 for youths (12–17) and seniors, $5 for children 3–11, and free for kids 2 and under.

The San Francisco Zoo is open daily (including Christmas!) from 10 am to 5 pm, and is located at Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway. There's paid parking with entrances on Sloat and the Great Highway, as well as plenty of free parking along Sloat, if you don't mind a short walk. For more info, go to www.sfzoo.org.