People have been moving on ice for a long time. As early as 5,000 years ago, they glided on animal bones. Back then, people skated out of need. They had to travel to survive. But today, ice skating is all about fun. People zip around and do tricks. From rinks to lakes, there are cool places to cruise!
People make ice rinks in famous places. One rink is at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Skaters can look up at skyscrapers. They can see the lit-up Rockefeller Christmas tree.
In 2023, there’s a special rink at the White House in Washington, D.C. That’s where the U.S. president lives. This is the White House’s first rink in 43 years. First lady Jill Biden showed it off. Figure skating champion Brian Boitano was there. He said, “This is the most place I’ve ever skated.” The rink will be open to local students, military families, and .
Near London, England, there’s a rink at Hampton Court Palace. King Henry VIII used to live at that grand home in the 1500s. London has another rink outside of the Somerset House art gallery. The rink has colorful lights and DJs playing music!
Austria takes ice skating to another level. Vienna Ice Dream lets skaters scoot on two stories. Ice ramps connect the levels. There are also ice paths through a park. The trails connect different rinks.
Other skating spots are made by nature. Lakes, rivers, and can freeze in cold weather. If the ice gets thick enough, it can be safe to skate on! Russia’s Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest lake. Sometimes, its ice is clear enough to see through as skaters zip around!
In Canada, people can go on Lake Louise in Banff National Park. That water is usually famous for being blue. But in winter, it gets icy! There’s another skating spot in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. The Rideau Canal freezes. It becomes the world’s largest skating rink! The Rideau Canal Skateway is about 4.8 miles (7.8 km) long. It goes right through the city.
Back at the White House rink, Jill Biden thought of frozen canals from her own childhood. “An ordinary town into a sparkling landscape,” she said. “Glittering as if it were covered in magic.”
Will you experience the magic of the ice?
Updated December 5, 2023, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Ashley Morgan
