The Best Outdoor Ice-Skating Rinks on Long Island

Last week we listed Long Island's top indoor ice-skating rinks, but for authentic ice-skating, you gotta do it outdoors! And Long Island has some beautiful settings for ice-skating. In perfect winter weather like we've been having, there's no better family activity than bundling up the family and going ice-skating (with hot chocolate breaks built in). Here's a list of our favorite outdoor rinks:

Christopher Morley Park
500 Searingtown Rd., Roslyn-North Hills
Rates: Residents with Leisure Pass: adults $7; teenagers 13–17 $5; children 12 and under $5; seniors, disabled, volunteer firefighters, ambulance corps, auxiliary police, veterans $4. Nonresidents: adults $20; children $14. Skate rentals $5.
This is one of the best places to skate outdoors on the Island, with its picturesque setting. Open-skate sessions are offered six days a week, and individual or group skating lessons are offered as well. To warm up, take a seat inside in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. Visit their website here for more information.

Syosset-Woodbury Community Park Ice Rink
7800 Jericho Tpke., Syosset
Rates: Residents: adults $5; children 5–17 $4; children 2–4, senior citizens, Town of Oyster Bay volunteer firefighters and auxiliary police $2. Nonresidents: adults $8; children 5–17 $7; children 2–4, senior citizens $4. Children under 2 free. Skate rental $3.
With a location you cannot beat (just off all major highways and the expressway, as well as Jericho Tpke), this outdoor rink also offers free skating for kids 2 and under. The park itself is beautiful, and this rink sits just inside it. After a fresh snow, we love to visit this rink for a true winter wonderland. There is a snack shop that serves seasonal favorites like hot cocoa open on the weekends and sporadically during the week. For more information, click here.

The Rinx at Harborfront Park
101 A East Broadway, Port Jefferson
Rates:  weekdays: adults $9.50, children 11 and under $7, senior citizens $4; weekends: adults $10.50, children 11 and under $8, senior citizens $5; Friday, Saturday night 8–10pm. Skate rental $5.
If you live in Eastern Suffolk County, this is a great spot to visit. Located right on Port Jeff harbor, Harborfront Park offers a small rink with a big view. For a reasonable fee, you can skate for an hour and a half any day, seven days a week. They also offer rink rentals for parties as well as skate rentals. The park is located right in the center of Port Jefferson VIllage and within walking distance you'll find great eateries and spots to warm up with a nice cup of hot cocoa afterward. Click here for a schedule and more information.

Tanger Outlets
152 The Arches Circle, Deer Park
Rates: Monday–Thursday $7,  skate rental $3; Friday–Sunday $10, skate rental $4.
Though the only surrounding scenery is stores and restaurants, this still makes my list for great outdoor rinks for kids. Open seven days a week for public skating, Mom can do her shopping at the mall while Dad takes the kids skating (or vice versa). Click here for the public-skating schedule.

Grant Park rink
Broadway and Sheridan Ave., Hewlett
Rates: Nassau County residents with ­­­Leisure Pass $7, children 4–17 $5; nonresidents $20, children under 17 $14. Skate rental $5.
This rink nestled in a picturesque park ­overlooks a small pond. There are public sessions Wednesday through Sunday. Click here for the schedule.

Mitchell Park Ice Skating Rink
115 Front St. Greenport
Rates: weekdays: $5, children under 18 and senior citizens $3; weekends: $10 , children under 18 and senior citizens $7. Skate rental $5. Family Night (Friday 5–7pm) $7 (includes skate rental).
Located in beautiful Mitchell Park, this rink sits on the village’s waterfront and offers daily public sessions. Click here for more information.

Marjorie R. Post Community Park Ice Rink
  Unqua and Merrick Rds., Massapequa
Open through February 26, this outdoor rink offers public skating about four days a week. Click here for the schedule.