Central Oregon Skating Rinks: Pure Family Fun & Winter Laughs
There are plenty of awesome ways to spend time with your family in Central Oregon. There’s taking part in any of the hundreds of activities during Sunriver’s Traditions holiday celebration, there’s the plethora of Holiday Happenings at the Old Mill District and there’s always the old standby – sledding at Wanoga Sno-Park just off the road up to Mt. Bachelor.
But for the most laugh-out-loud, hand-holding, smile-inducing good times, hit up one of the local ice skating rinks. Bend Parks and Rec this winter opens a brand new ice rink and pavilion at the corner of Columbia and Colorado near the Old Mill District. It’s the region’s first full-size rink for hockey and curling and will be a hit for locals and visitors alike.
A stop at Seventh Mountain Resort on your way back to Bend from Mt. Bachelor would be a perfect end to a day filled with skiing or snowboarding. It’s a large open-air rink that’s open well into the night. The resort rents skates and the rink is located next to a cozy fire pit and spot to get coffee, snacks and beer.
The Village at Sunriver’s centerpiece each winter is the ice rink. It’s covered, so there’s some escape from the weather if it’s bitterly cold, but exposed enough to feel like you’re getting that true winter experience. With shops like Hot Lava Baking and Coffee Co. and the Sunriver Brewing Co. next door, parents can drop off the kids if they want to hunker down with a cocktail or hot cup of joe.
And Redmond’s relatively new ice rink is located right across the street from Centennial Park downtown. It offers free skating days/times for those of you with your own skates, along with rentals.