Lysacek's Top 10 Rinks

[FigureSpins]

Interesting list, which includes a synthetic ice rink!

Sun Valley
Idaho
This resort may be famous for skiing, but Lysacek loves the history connected to the outdoor rink. "Every Hollywood celebrity from the last 75 years has walked through the halls and put on skates." The scenery, surrounded by mountains, is just as stellar, and the rink is open year-round. 208-622-2194; sunvalley.com/things-to-do/iceskating

Trump Wollman Skating Rink
New York City
Lysacek has several reasons for liking this Central Park rink. The views are great. "You can actually see the city. You have the buildings of the Upper West Side and Upper East Side around you." And the skating is good, too. "It's a very big rink and there's plenty of room for people to get out there." Finally, he has become friends with Donald Trump, whose company renovated and manages the attraction. "His office looks right over the rink." 212-439-6900; wollmanskatingrink.com

Toyota Sports Center
El Segundo, Calif.
Although an indoor rink, Lysacek is particularly fond of the Southern California facility because it's where he trained for the Olympics. "I spent the last eight years of my life skating there," he says. The center has two rinks, one built to National Hockey League standards and the other Olympic-sized. Although the facility's used by professional athletes, it's open to the public daily. "It's a great opportunity for kids to jump on the ice." 310-535-4400; toyotasportscenter.com

ockefeller Center
New York City
Perhaps the country's most famous rink, Lysacek says this midtown icon is also a quiet place, with a limit of 150 skaters at a time. "It has the energy of the city, but for some reason, it's very quiet on the ice, like a little sanctuary." The rink, presided over by a statue of Greek Titan Prometheus, even offers private skating lessons. 212-332-7654; rockefellercenter.com/

Leon Black Family Ice Rink
Beaver Creek, Colo.
Don't make the mistake of thinking outdoor skating is limited to winter. At Beaver Creek ski resort, the rink is open summers, too. Lysacek likes it any time of year. For skiers, it offers a break from the slopes. "The skating is best at night under the stars." During the summer, visitors can add a winter activity to summer sports like hiking, whitewater rafting and mountain biking. 970-845-0438; beavercreek.com

Skating Club of Boston
Boston
Lysacek admires the sense of tradition at one of the oldest skating clubs in the country. "You can check out the history and become part of it by getting out on the ice yourself," he says. Although a private rink, the public's welcome at two open sessions a week, on Saturday afternoons, and on Tuesday evenings for skaters 18 and older. The club also runs the Frog Pond rink in Boston Common, which is open daily to all. 617-782-5900; scboston.org

Ice Castle International Training Center
Lake Arrowhead, Calif.
It's practically wall-to-wall ice at this spacious rink, which isn't surrounded by barriers or boards. Although indoors, the rink has windows and is light and bright. Located near the San Bernardino National Forest, it has long appealed to athletes seeking high-altitude training. "A lot of great names have come out of that training center," Lysacek says. 909- 337-0802; icecastle.us

Ice at the Galleria
Houston
Maybe it's in a shopping mall, but the rink is under a towering atrium and feels quite spacious. After 30 years of operation, kids who learned to ice skate here are now bringing their own children. Even if you don't want to get on the ice, you can watch the action from the second floor. 713-491-6137; iceatthegalleria.com

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
Washington
It's hard to beat the location just off the National Mall, and down the street from the Capitol. While you're working on your skating moves, you can also take in the art surrounding you: sculptures by the likes of Alexander Calder, Claes Oldenburg and Roy Lichtenstein. The rink's open late Friday and Saturday nights. 202-216-9397; nga.gov/ginfo/skating.shtm

Alexian Brothers Skating Plaza
South Barrington, Ill.
This rink at the Arboretum of South Barrington shopping mall near Chicago has synthetic ice, and although Lysacek wouldn't recommend the surface for Olympic-style moves, he likes the atmosphere. "It's lots of fun for families, and to take a date," he says. 847-426-6200; shopthearboretumsb.com

Full story: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2011-01-13-ice-skating-rinks_N.htm

Pictures: http://travel.usatoday.com/gallery/Great+places+to+lace+up+your+ice+skates/A8273