MomsTribute
Ever since my daughter saw the movie Ice Princess, she has wanted to try ice skating so badly. Living in Texas, we don’t have many ice rinks outside of the mall. Our trip to Chicagoland last winter presented the perfect opportunity to finally take the kids ice skating. On the last evening of our trip, we visited the McCormick Tribune ice rink in Millennium Park, and I am so glad we did. If you are looking for one of the best kid friendly venues and have not visited Millennium Park during the winter months, you must! Ice skating in the heart of downtown Chicago is truly magical and is one of the best places to visit with family for something to experience together.
Although there is parking available at the Millennium garages, I highly recommend using public transportation. Chicago has many kid friendly options for public transportation, and Millennium Park is easy to get to by bus. We had been coming from dinner at a nearby Lou Malnati’s, so the ice rink was just a quick taxi ride away. Truthfully, we probably could have walked, but we were not feeling particularly motivated after filling up on all that delicious deep-dish pizza. Besides, we don’t use taxis in Dallas, so we figured it was all part of the experience of being in Chicago. As we approached Millennium Park, I could see the kids’ excitement building.
“Ah! I can’t believe we get to go skating at The Bean!” my son shrieked as we hopped out of the taxi and headed toward Millennium Park. I’ll admit I shared the same sentiment! Although I was born and raised just outside of Chicago and had been to Millennium Park dozens of times, this too would be my first time ice skating in downtown Chicago. The ice rink is nestled right in front of Chicago’s famous Bean sculpture, reflecting the gorgeous city lights. The McCormick Tribune rink is open four months out of the year, but I highly recommend visiting around the holidays. The rink is situated right beside the city’s enormous Christmas tree. The ambiance is truly indescribable!
The anticipation was at an all-time high while waiting in line for our ice skates. Although the wait was almost an hour, it went quickly as the kids had so much to talk about after their week full of Windy City adventures. After finally getting our skate rentals, we wasted no time and hurried out to the ice. “Mom, look at me!” my daughter squealed as she put her hands up and did her best impression of a figure skater. I was so impressed by how she immediately got the hang of it. You never would have known that she hadn’t skated before.
Preferring to start off on the cautious side, my son was a little uneasy at first, but we started slow, and he got the hang of it quickly. Pretty soon, he was ready to let go of my hand and take off on his own. Even with the capacity limit, the rink was a little busy, so we kept the little ones close, but it was still relaxing enough to enjoy a few leisurely laps on the ice while taking in the gorgeous city views. After skating for a while, we stopped to warm up with some hot chocolate. According to the kids, it was the “best hot cocoa ever.” I must agree the bitter cold makes hot chocolate taste that much better!
Skating around under the twinkling lights while soaking in the backdrop of the Chicago skyline was the cherry on top to a spectacular trip. Best of all, admission was free! Though, we did pay for skate rentals since we did not have our own. I will say the line was quite long, so plan for a wait if you are renting skates. As mentioned, there was also a place to buy snacks and warm up with some hot cocoa, which was certainly a plus given the frigid temperatures that evening!
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is open late November through early March. Be sure to make a reservation online, as walk-up reservations are limited. There are five skate sessions available Monday through Thursday:
The weekend and holiday skate session hours are as follows:
Although our visit wasn’t long enough to take advantage of the free lessons offered by McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, it is certainly worth mentioning! These free ice skating lessons are offered each Saturday and Sunday 9-10am. Be sure to make your reservation before you go. In addition to this mom to mom blog, you can find all the details on the free Kid Friendly Venues app.
Allison M.
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