Ice skating at Fountain Square is a beloved Cincinnati tradition. I mean, nothing says “holidays” quite like ice skating.
However, for those of us born with a dominate “clumsy” gene (myself included), ice skating can seem very daunting. So when my 5 year old suddenly got the idea to ice skate (thanks, books), I immediately punted this activity to my husband. I’ll stay on solid, non-slippery ground with my two toddlers, thankyouverymuch.
I shouldn’t have been so nervous: Ice skating at Fountain Square is actually quite kid-and-family friendly!
We went on a stunning fall day: bright blue skies and a slight chill to the air. In fact, if you’re taking small kids, I recommend going before it gets too cold. The ice rink naturally feels a little colder — and kids are much more receptive to trying new things when they’re not freezing!
The kids were immediately enthralled by the ice skaters, eagerly watching as kids their own age went around the rink. The Zamboni was also a big hit with Julian.
What I was most nervous about was the actual ice skates. So I was relieved to find that we had options: rubber grips for Daddy and tie-on cleats for Julian. (Both fit snugly over their shoes.)
The two made their way onto the ice, and slowly looped around. By the second go-round, Julian was doing it on his own! He only fell once. There were lots of families on the ice that afternoon, and everyone was mindful of the littler kids on the ice, which helped calm my mama nerves.
The other two and I watched from the side (there are lots of benches). Had it been cooler, we would have hit up the Lykins Warming Tent, which is heated and comfortably furnished by IKEA with tables and benches.
Ice Skating at Fountain Square is a rite of passage in Cincinnati — and I highly recommend you put it on your holiday bucket list this year! Julian’s already asking to return — and maybe next time, I’ll try it with him.
The U.S. Bank Ice Rink at Fountain Square is open daily through February 20 (some exceptions apply; see Calendar for details). Admission is $6 and skate rental is $4. (Our rubber traction grip and tie-on cleat were also $4 each) and Fountain Square stocks rental skates in youth sizes 8-4, women’s sizes 5-13 and men’s sizes 5-13. Skates are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons are also welcome to bring their own ice skates.