1 / 3Winter Lodge
📍 Midtown, CA
Winter Lodge has operated since 1956 as the Bay Area's oldest ice rink and only permanent outdoor rink west of the Sierra Nevada.
Two good sized ice skating rink with one indoor and the other half outdoor. Cozy seating areas and convenient vending machines for snacks and drinks with reasonable price. Friendly staffs and offer good lessons for the beginners. Class registration is a bit hassle since the space is limited. Would be better to offer class with longer period or multiple classes per week. Also more options for open skating ( weekdays after 5 pm) would also be better.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for Bay Area families seeking a genuinely atmospheric outdoor skating experience. Beginners and young children thrive in structured classes. Group reservations and fire pit areas make it a standout choice for birthday parties and youth outings in the fall and winter season.
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💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →560 Google reviews
Yi Zhang
“Two good sized ice skating rink with one indoor and the other half outdoor. Cozy seating areas and convenient vending machines for snacks and drinks with reasonable price. Friendly staffs and offer good lessons for the beginners. Class registration is a bit hassle since the space is limited. Would be better to offer class with longer period or multiple classes per week. Also more options for open skating ( weekdays after 5 pm) would also be better.”
Shoshanna Bowen
“We went to Winter Lodge with a small youth group and we loved our experience there. I was truly impressed with the quality of the outdoor ice after the area experienced a heat wave for a whole week. I loved the size of the ice rink and the fire pit areas you can reserve. The staff were also friendly and helpful.”
Alice Wu
“Pretty nice rink. I wish it were open all year round.”
Kushal Shah
“Super nice staff”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Rated the #1 ice skating rink in the US by Yelp users and ranked a top-10 outdoor skating experience by Outside Magazine, Winter Lodge is a Palo Alto institution. The outdoor rink maintains quality ice even through heat waves. Fire pit areas can be reserved for groups. Skating classes run beginner through advanced Freestyle Skills levels. Public session tickets must be purchased online in advance—walk-up sales are not available.
