Glide Onto the Ice: Where to Go Ice Skating in Nassau County, Long Island

As winter settles in, embrace the season. 

Instead of breaking out the board games yet again, head over to one of the many skating rinks to go ice skating in Nassau County, Long Island. Most of these frozen palaces offer skating lessons, hockey leagues, and figure skating instruction for children—and adults—of all ages. 

They’re also great places for a date. You can do a few laps around the ice and then warm up with cups of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. So, bundle up, lace up those skates, and hit the ice.

Children and adults can do laps—or spins—around this full-size indoor rink. You can also sign up for lessons, and hockey leagues, or rent out the rink for events and birthday parties. Don’t forget to warm up by the fireplace in the heated lounge after you unlace your skates.

The indoor rink, with a stunning domed ceiling, has a storied history. It was the practice facility for the New York Islanders from 1979 to 1992 and hosted Olympic gold medalist Nancy Kerrigan in 2004. Those who hope to earn their own medals can learn how to skate with the Cantiague Figure Skating Club.

This outdoor rink has been a winter destination since the 1960s. Visitors can enjoy public skating sessions in the afternoons and evenings and puck shooting on Thursdays and Sundays. The rink typically opens in mid-November and closes for the season in mid-March.

Long Beach isn’t just a beach destination. Its ice arena is open year-round for public skating, sticks and pucks sessions, hockey programs for kids and adults, and freestyle sessions for figure skaters practicing their jumps and spins.

Friday night is teen night at this indoor rink, where kids can show off their moves in time to the music. Aspiring ice hockey stars can sign up for the Arrows Youth Hockey program, while future figure skaters can take lessons to perfect their double axels. The rink also offers public skating and puck shooting sessions.

This outdoor rink, located in Grant Park, is open for skating and puck shooting from mid-November through March. However, children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult to be allowed on the ice. Don’t forget to go sledding in the park after a big snow.

If you dream of becoming the next Olympic figure skating gold medalist, you might want to take figure skating lessons at this indoor ice rink. Iceland is home to the Metropolitan Figure Skating Club, the oldest club on Long Island. The rink can be rented out for parties, hockey games, and hockey clinics.

Iceworks was another former practice site for the New York Islanders. Today, it offers youth and adult hockey, skating camps, and freestyle skating sessions for advanced figure skaters on its two indoor rinks.

The Long Island Sports Hub is a 72,000-square-foot facility with indoor turf fields, a hardwood court, and an ice rink for kids who want to play a variety of sports—including ice hockey. The Hub is also home to the Long Island Curling Club.

This indoor skating rink has the distinction of being home to Hot Shot Hockey, the largest fire and police hockey league in Long Island. Those who hope to someday play on the team can enroll in the arena’s youth hockey programs or skating school. 

Skate alongside legends at this indoor ice center, where the New York Islanders practice. Located in Eisenhower Park, the center has two National Hockey League-size rinks, a strength and conditioning gym, and a pro shop. Hockey and skating lessons are also offered at the facility.

The year-round indoor rink offers skating and hockey lessons as well as public sessions where skaters can take a few turns around the ice. Across the street, the center has a training facility with equipment tailored for hockey players and goalies.

The town of Oyster Bay operates three ice skating rinks in Nassau County. The Bethpage location features an indoor, regulation-size rink. The other two, the Marjorie R. Post Community Park in Massapequa and Syosset-Woodbury Community Park in Woodbury, are both outdoor ice oases. 

Did you visit any of these Ice Skating Rinks? Share your pics with @VisitNassauCountyLI and be entered to win some Nassau County faves!