Rating the experience signing up for kids' classes. We've tried for many seasons to register our child, but we inevitably get shut out, because classes fill up within the first 2 minutes of registration. I'm sure plenty of others have experienced the same frustration. Management: PLEASE PLEASE change this to a lottery system. Ie registration is open for one day, and then names are randomly chosen from that pool. read more

Came here for a toddler playdate. We bought tickets the day before for their 3-5 pm open session. Not cheap. You buy general admission tickets and also can do shoe rentals. They don't really check. Session is 2 hours but we only really skated for about 45minutes - 1 hour. The young kid area can be hectic. There are plenty of little penguins to go around which is nice. It was a nice first experience for my kiddo. Plenty of parking but can be hectic as well. Please watch as many areas are one direction lanes. read more

Winter Lodge is proof that Palo Alto can, in fact, pretend to have seasons. From October to April, this outdoor rink turns into a little slice of winter -- minus the actual weather commitment. When the snow machine is on, it's absolute chaos in the best way. Kids screaming, parents pretending they're in Lake Tahoe, and about 47 phones out recording "core memories." It's hilarious and kind of magical at the same time. The polar bear skate aids deserve their own fan club. They're basically the emotional support animals of the rink. I've watched wobbly first-timers cling to those bears like life rafts and somehow leave feeling like figure skating prodigies. Is the ice NHL-level? No. It can get a little soft, especially when it's busy. But this isn't where you train for the Olympics. This is where you laugh, almost fall, actually fall, and then go get hot chocolate from a vending machine and call it character building. Food options are minimal, but that paper cup hot chocolate hits differently when your fingers are frozen and your kids are flushed and happy. It's wholesome. It's a little chaotic. It's very Palo Alto. And somehow every time we go, everyone leaves in a better mood than when we showed up. read more

Took the family to try out a different ice skate instead of always going to Union Square. They have their own parking lot. One outdoor and small indoor ice skating area. Went in December so full of Christmas Decor and photo ops. The outdoor had plenty of seating area. read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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This was such a cool ice skating rink! We booked tickets in advance ($20 for admission and $6 for shoes) and the line to get in was like 10 minutes. The line went really fast and the workers were really nice. There were 2 rinks; 1 outside and 1 inside which was really unique and cool! We skated for 2 hours and had such a great time. I would come back! read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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This is one of if not the best outdoor rink in the Bay Area. It's got such a cute winter vibe with the decor, tree, and fireplace. There's plenty of seating, and I love that the seating is actual benches instead of plastic chairs. There's a vending machine with hot cocoa. The price is reasonable relative to the other rinks. Their website for buying tickets is unfortunately a horrible one that is not mobile friendly despite the many QR codes outside encouraging you to book in advance online. However, I didn't entirely enjoy my time here because it was so crowded. The ice was torn up within 15-20 minutes into the public skating session. I often found myself stuck behind a group of 3 or so people skating together slowly in one line. My feet started cramping after a while from constantly having to brake to avoid people. I might try to come again sometime during the middle of the day on a weekday to see if it's better then. read more

We came here for a private event and it's such a beautiful setting for a holiday event! Lots of Christmas decor throughout the venue with a cute red sleigh, perfect for photos. There's a big tree in the middle of the outdoor rink and they even drop snow at the end of the event! There are two ice skating areas. One smaller indoor rink for little kids - they have some plastic bears that the kids can sit on and parents can push, or kids can use to skate around as well. Other outdoor rink is bigger/regular size. Plenty of picnic tables to sit/eat at, but only the main path near the lodge is heated. Lots of parking available, but paths are pretty narrow with a small turn radius. read more

Took my nephews to ice skate for the first time and they loved it!! They had two separate rinks and we mostly stayed in the beginner rink. The beginner rink had tons of push carts so my nephews could get familiar with the ice by either riding the cart and later pushing it. My 2.5 year old had so much fun that he even ventured onto the ice and went around the whole rink pushing the cart and then holding onto the wall! There is plenty of parking and, although it was busy, it didn't feel overwhelming. Will definitely come again! read more

Came here on a Thursday for their public skating session at 3pm. We bought the tickets online the day before, and on the day of, there was a sign outside the rink saying all public skating tickets were sold out. It was $25 per person, and skate rentals were included in the price. We felt that this price was on the lower end of outdoor public skating sessions. There was a large lot, so parking wasn't any difficulty, although each lane was a little narrow. Right when you walk into the lobby, you can check in and get your skates easily. After quickly lacing up and leaving your shoes under a bench in the open, you can head out the doors to the rink. We were greeted with a semi winter wonderland, with a large outdoor rink. There was a Christmas tree in the middle, with semi circle walls to grip onto it. Periodically, there would be fake snow falling shooting out from above, which definitely added to the holiday vibes. There is plenty of seating around this large rink for parents to sit on, or seating on the side of the rink for you to take a break. It seems like you can host events here, as I witnessed a birthday party in session. There were a lot of kids in the large rink during the time I went, but also in the small indoor rink next to it. These kids were doing lessons, if you're a parent interested in enrolling your kids. The ice at the big rink was scraped up and needed a fresh layer of ice; however, there were multiple young "lifeguards" around on ice to help you if you fell or needed skating tips. Overall, I had a very enjoyable experience at this rink. I was so happy to check this off my holiday bucketlist. The lovely ambiance and winter wonderland makes me want to return in the near future. Happy holidays! read more

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We reserve online . We had a great time . It's a really nice place , lovely sitting area and atmosphere. We would definitely come again! read more

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There aren't that many ice skating rinks out here in the year-round temperate SF Bay, so when Peninsula folk find themselves hankering for some time on the ice, they go to Winter Lodge. Our kiddo and her friends love it here, and it's a popular venue for kiddo winter birthday parties. The plastic "safety bears" make it easy for novice skaters to keep their balance, although the bears are often in short supply and sometimes get monopolized by middle/high school aged kids pushing their friends around rather than used by younger kiddos as intended. Winter Lodge public skating sessions can get pretty crowded, especially on school holidays and weekends. The vending machine hot chocolate/snacks here are meh so pack your own. You will definitely need to book tickets in advance, and be warned: their booking website hasn't been updated since the late 90's. Still, if you plan ahead, you can enjoy a fun afternoon on the ice. read more

Came here for my friend's daughter birthday party at three for two hours ice skating but according to my friend, she said she can't reserve the table and it's go by first come first serve basis. She went there one hour ahead. They have two ice skating areas. One is indoor, pretty much is for the beginners. One is in the outdoor for all levels. It's not a big ice skating place but I love their setting, decoration and they did maximize number of people. It won't feel crowded at all. They have two vending machines for hot drinks and snacks. They also had a heater on the pathway and you wouldn't feel cold. Staffs are friendly. :) read more

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We visited on a Saturday night and we found parking right away, I did struggle buying the tickets on the last step with the payment on their online website but my boyfriend was able to buy them. It was $25 for the ticket for the 8-10 pm ice skating time and for renting the skates which was worth it. They had vending machines with coffee options and the heaters were on as we were leaving. It was beginner friendly, very cute winter decor, and an enjoyable experience, would recommend for a cute winter activity: ice skating session with friends! read more

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This place has always provided an amazing experience. The ice is not always smooth, but the atmosphere and the fake snow are fun

I really liked this venue. Pretty and cozy vibes. It was rainy season when I went, though. Every lounge area was wet unless it was covered by a gazebo. RIP. I appreciate the beautiful christmas tree + the fake snow they drop towards the end. read more

Best rink ever....come at Christmas time. Beautifully decorated....lots of fun! Any age, any level, just plain fun!!

Very nice place. The only skating rink that opens to the public at night. Friendly staff. Lots of parking available.

Came for a girl scout event and it was pretty awesome. Stressful going in and getting out because everybody was trying to do the same thing at the same time. The staff were fast about giving out/exchanging skates. No staff person knew if there were those polar bear things to help girls skate so at first we were told no and then they were suddenly out so ehhhh communication issue. read more

Winter Lodge - Indoor rink - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

TERRIBLE Manager refused to give a teen supplemental "ice bears" to assist in the safety of a novice ice skater simply because she was not "young enough". She ended up falling and injuring herself, which could have been easily prevented had the manager had the common sense and empathy toward a beginner skater. He refused to support her because ice bears are only in use for toddlers or on weekend skating sessions, but there were adults clearly using them on the inside rink. It also seemed like they were personally connected, as he started talking and laughing with the adults as the teen was struggling, completely ignoring the safety concerns for the novice. Would not recommend for novice skaters, though the junior Ice Guards were delightful and willing to help, though their manager barred them. read more

It was all right, my team and I just had to wait for about 30 minutes to get inside. The workers are really nice, I just didn't like the waiting time. read more

Very festival place to be during the holiday season! Beautiful decor and a big Christmas tree in the center of rink. Public skating time is 3-5pm and 8-10pm. Holiday could be little differ, recommend booking ahead as they could be sold out. There is both indoor and outdoor area. Rink itself is not big, but with everything combined, it's still very nice. There are many sofa, picnic tables for seating 2 fireplaces too. read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This fun rink is a local treasure. The ice is small, but the outdoor setting and fireplaces provide a wonderful ambiance. Great place for a group to go and enjoy a casual, fun skate. read more

Even if it was raining, we still enjoyed our time. They have an indoor/outdoor experience. Fun adventure for the whole family. Looking forward to retuning again soon. read more

Winter Lodge - Atmosphere - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The venue is adorable, but unfortunately due to overpacking and closing half the ( already small) rink it didn't make for a good time at all. It was packed at an unsafe level and almost impossible to even skate (see picture). Also, out of order hot chocolate machine and no music playing. Just not fun. We got off the ice after 30 minutes and asked for a refund. I was pleased that it was offered without hesitation. read more

Winter Lodge - Packed like sardines! - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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HELLO. Today a magnificent bioluminescent jelly fish employed by Winter Lodge named !JOSH! made my goddamn*d day. I grew up in the area and our family used to go together to Winter Lodge when I was a kid. When my grandfather passed away yesterday I came to skate in his honor and Josh was just such a sweetheart to me and even PERSONALLY pulled a tissue from the box and handed it me. Starting with the fact that he did NOT bat an eyelash at me weeping to him about this. Someone give this kid a raise. :-) read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

While visiting Palo Alto, I decided to check out Winter Lodge with my daughter and a few friends. Sadly, the equipment is outdated and despite requiring purchase-ahead tickets for family skate times, it didn't seem like they placed a limit on capacity. We went during the family time specifically to utilize the 'bears' for balance and were surprised at the complete chaos in the family area and poor quality of the bears themselves. They were hollow, plastic and wobbly making it extremely difficult for kids to even balance before the bear itself tipped over. If you're bringing a young kid and hoping to utilize the bears, I would suggest going elsewhere. If you're a seasoned skater and hoping to use the big rink, go for it! read more

Rink is on the small side but pretty. Soap falls from the sky like snow at times, and everyone runs around to get those Instagram pics ;). Admission is $12 if you bring your own skates and an additional $5 if you need to rent. Keep an eye out for the signs advising for you to have your method of payment ready to speed up the line, and let them know your shoe size for skates (they'll convert it to skate size). We went from 8-10pm. Kind of bummed that you only get ~2 hours for what you pay but still a cute place that's great for pics ;) read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I love winter lodge so much. I enjoy the relaxed feel and how cozy it is. I love that the lessons focus on having fun and things that will help you as a recreational skater. The ice is pretty torn up and sometimes wavy in warmer weather, but I've come to enjoy this. I'm more prepared for when I go skating on natural ice than I would be if the ice was always perfect. read more

Very cute ice rink with reasonable prices. During the holidays they decorate the space with lights and put a tree up in the middle of the rink. Only downside is it can get pretty crowded, but so is everywhere else in the Bay. read more

Crowded when we went (first week of December) but not overwhelmingly crowded. Two hours is actually the perfect amount of time. There was a short snowfall (it was TOO short) which was nice towards the end. Beautiful setting. Would go again. read more

Came here for a work event, and a Thursday afternoon from 3-5pm was not the best idea. However, I love the decor and layout of this place. Decent rink size, with enough room for 10 adults and a few dozen kids there for lessons haha. Love that the rink is surrounded by seating, tables, fire pits and greenery meant to give a cabin feel. Cute ambience for an afternoon/evening of ice skating. Would love to return when the kids aren't there for lessons! read more

Winter Lodge - Entrance - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Really nice community ice skating rink to take your family or friends too. Nice and clean safe skate center for all ages to enjoy. There are rsvp areas that you can book; there are other sitting areas with tables and heated spaces to take nice pictures; Restrooms are available; No food or drink concession stands, but you are welcome to bring your own items inside. The ice rink is cleaned just about every hour. There is a smaller indoor rink to help children and first time skaters get comfortable on the ice. The staff here are young and willing to assist you. Very cheap and affordable to rent skates. Must call to rsvp and it is limited capacity. I recommend this location to family and friends. read more

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For being the only permanent ODR west of the Sierras, they did a great job making it look cute and feel homey. I love the lights and tree outside, as well as the fire pits and ample available seats to relax or catch your breath. The only reason why this is not a 5-star review is because the price is a bit high - $21 per adult for skate rentals. Otherwise, flawless experience. **Due to covid, you must make a reservation online ahead of time. They have limited the number of guests (which I feel is actually a perfect idea also in part to the rink size)** read more

The rink is nice (especially on adults only nights) and such cute ambience! The lessons I took were great for beginners and not too challenging. I thought the pace was appropriate for noncompetitive folk like myself and the instructors were friendly. read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

They don't have the support bears during the weekdays anymore. Without those, it's a lot more work and stress on parents.

Oldie but goodie! I have a soft spot in my heart for this place because my husband and I came here on one of our early dates in our relationship. Pros: It's not like a boring ol' hockey rink. It's decorated cute with lodge-like features and string lights and fireplaces on the sidelines. It's cozy! It's still one of the cheapest things you could do to have a good time in the winter-- still like $12ish and doesn't seem to have changed much price-wise over the last 6 years. A lot of beginners out there so it's not super aggressive skating, also because the rink is sub-sized so it's not a ton of space. Cons: Inconsistent ice quality. We were here a couple of times this past winter and once was fine, they zamboni'd midway as I'd expect after the ice was torn up by would-be Paly figure skating kids. The second time we were here this season no re-icing happened, even with regular traffic and my husband had actually went and asked. The second half of the session was hard to skate on as a result. The main rink is outdoors -- if it rains hard enough, sessions don't happen. The second rink is indoors but doesn't seem to be used during sessions unless the patron has a small child (in which there are these little ice chairs that you can push kids in). On no school days, you may be stuck with monstrous queues. We tried coming here on President's day and had to turn around and go home from the insane line. read more

Solid place to skate in South Bay! One of the few that separate skate rentals ($5) and admission fees ($12, as of Dec 2018), which is great for me as I own my own pair from some East Coast skating. They do a few public skating sessions and we opted for the Saturday night 8-10pm. They Zamboni about an hour in as this place is pretty popular so the ice gets chopped up pretty quickly. For California weather and this being an outdoor rink, I think they do a great job of keeping a solid ice and skating experience. The fireplaces and benches make it nice for birthday parties and group events. They have vending machines if you need a pick-me-up! Looking forward to returning to skate, maybe at an adult only session for date night :) read more

Very cool place for ice skating especially during pandemic, as it has a outdoor area (not big but good size). Very cozy setting too. I would recommend it. read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Attended here for a birthday party. Staff was extremely helpful and cheerful here. I didn't know what to expect but dreading the worst i haven't I've skated in forever. We had two sessions and had reserved the outside rink. The ice wasn't that slippery even if you walked on it with your shoes you wouldn't have fell but slick enough to zoom around the ice. They had these bears that can hold on to for stability which was very useful. The winter decor was cute and aligned with the winter theme. Great for pictures and they had an outside fireplace to sit and keep warm. The facilities inside was kept clean so no complaints. Parking wasn't too bad prob because we were there before the rush but I could see it getting really crowded here. There is another semi indoor rink where I saw another group do broomball which brought back memories. Overall kids loved it. I was impressed and would def come back again. read more

This all-year around outdoor ice skating lodge is a hidden gem! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I booked my daughter's birthday party here and it was complete success! Everyone had a great time. I booked a few months in advance because time slots book so quickly. I visited the lodge both during the day and night - such a prettier and festive experience at night time. While there are plenty of tables and seating around the rink, I opted to book a few tables right in front of the fire place. Beautiful christmas trees and lights surrounding the rink. No deposit was required. You are able to bring your own food and drinks - no alcohol. They have hot chocolate machines, but that is pretty much it. Starbucks is around the corner. I ordered in advance and picked up large coffee boxes and hot water for hot cocoa. I also brought finger foods and ordered a few pizzas the day of from Papa Johns which is nearby. Everyone had a wonderful time. Party times are booked for 2-hour time slots which was plenty of time. The lodge itself is cozy, super clean and well taken care of. At the end of the night they have fake snow coming down which was a great way to end the night. read more

Winter Lodge - Skating Rinks Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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