The Rink at PPG Place

We had a blast last night ending our date night at the ice rink. I havent been skating or to this rink since i was about 16, so i was super excited. Bobby is from Florida and said he hasnt been ice skating since he was 5 and was superrrr nervous! I guess he got over that quickly because as soon as he hit the ice he did a fast lap around the rink– leaving me behind to get my footing right, lol. Five minutes later, he was skating backwards and looking like a pro, while i looked like a baby penguin who had just hatched.
We enjoyed an hour of skating. Phew i forgot how bad skating made your feet hurt!
The rink is really nice and the ambiance of the city adds a great touch. This is not a pricey date by any means. $ 11 per person if you’re renting skates ($ 8 admission, $ 3 skate rental) They have lockers to rent for 50 cents both in the admission area and concession area. Speaking of that we didnt experience the food so cant review about that.
I’m hoping that our work schedules allow us to head back to the rink before this season is over :) fun times!

A must do in Pittsburgh! I had a hard time with the star rating on this one, so I’ll break it down.
— Atmosphere — 5 stars. I love the whole outdoor skating in the city vibe. It’s definitely something you shouldn’t miss.
— Service — 3 stars. Lots of staff, but they aren’t well coordinated and don’t really put a lot of thought into it. I returned the first pair of skates because the clasp piece was broken off. The second pair came out and I sit down to find they have the same problem.
— Ice quality — 2 stars. Even freshly surfaced, it’s a tad uneven. And it gets choppy pretty quickly because the surface area is so small. I recommend going right when they open or waiting till they resurface for the easiest skating experience.

I remember when the rink at PPG place was first built several years ago. My mom, brother, and I came down on Christmas Day to skate. Even if you’re not a fan of the cold, there is just something magical about skating around a giant lit up Christmas tree, stopping for hot cocoa, and watching the flakes fall. This past Saturday, the rink was more crowded than I had ever seen it before. It could have partly been due to the unseasonably warm weather we seem to be having on the weekends this year, but anyways, there was a huge line and it looked as if they were letting people in systematically rather than anyone who buys tickets can start skating. Prices are reasonable as is the skate rental. This is a solid family activity and, I imagine, would be an extra special treat for any kids coming down to the gingerbread house to see Santa. Also of note, they are open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so it is always a nice way to break up one of those days as well.

This is Pittsburgh’s answer to the larger cities’ ice skating rink. It is a nice rink with the Christmas tree in the middle. Prices are reasonable although I’m not really a skater. The tree itself is built over an obelisk when not in use. During the other times of the year it serves as a nice place to get out on the plaza and have a outdoor lunch. There are several eateries surrounding it.
Right now coupled with the holiday market next door in Market Square it makes for a fun filled family day when the weather is nice. Downtown usually isn’t that crowded on weekends and parking at that time is affordable. Sometimes they set up gingerbread displays in one of the buildings but this last visit I wasn’t looking for it.

Who doesn’t love an ice rink in the winter as the holidays approach? PPG’s ice rink opens every year on Light Up night and continues on until spring. I love skating here, it’s actually a bigger skating surface than most in the area. It’s in a great location too, surrounded buy the buildings of PPG Place with a huge christmas tree in the center. Who’s up for some hot chocolate?

This is the burgh’s mini Rockefeller Center! I get so excited when I see the rink going up every year around October. It’s one of the best things to do around the holidays regardless of if you have kids, going with friends or date. Remember that it will be the most crowded Friday-​Sunday and also you’ll be paying around $ 10 including skates. But it’s worth it at least once a year!