There are a lot of good places to ice skate in the city, but most are heavily booked with classes and hockey leagues, so hours for the general public are limited. We like CitiPond at Bryant Park because it's pretty much for leisure skaters; the pond is state-of-the-art and good-sized (100 feet by 170 feet), and it's free! If you're hungry, stop by Celsius, a two-story restaurant with great views of the park, for real food or drinks. Skate rental is a reasonable $13, and for your own skates, the pavilion offers sharpening. There are free lockers and bag check for a small fee. Lessons from professional coaches are also available. The rink is open October 27 to February 26 and is usually not too crowded on weekends. Bryant Park, from 40th to 42nd streets, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-661-6640, bryantpark.org/things-to-do/pond.html (10018)