I did not know ice skating was so popular outside of the northern states. There are many ice rinks in the Baltimore area, but these three are the ones I recommend most.
Mt. Pleasant Ice Rink- This one is cheaper than the better known rinks in the area with very friendly staff. It is also never busy and the employees are really nice. It is closed during the hotter parts of the summer and usually opens back up in October when the weather turns mild again. People who have never been there before might end up passing it because it is hidden between Hillen Road and Northern Parkway with a small entrance to the rink. This is also one of the only rinks in Baltimore that is open all week long. Their hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 2pm, Fridays from 8:30pm to 10:30pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 5pm and again from 8:30pm to 10:30pm, and Sundays from 3pm to 5pm. Admission is $4 and you can rent skates for $2. They have skating lessons for children of all ages and adults for those of us who are not very graceful in ice skates.
Mimi Dipietro Family Skating Center– This ice rink is located in the beautiful Patterson Park downtown where many family activities occur in the city. Admission is $4, but you can buy a season pass for $30 which is good for 10 sessions on the ice which saves money if you skate regularly. Skate rental is also $2. Their hours are Tuesdays from 12pm to 2pm, Fridays from 7pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 3pm to 5 pm and 7pm to 9pm, and Sundays from 3pm to 5pm. I was very surprised to learn that they do not sponsor any youth hockey teams nor do they offer lessons for beginners. They have some great deals on renting out the ice and the lobby for parties.
Reisterstown Sportsplex-This rink is brand new and it is gorgeous inside. Not only is there an ice rink but on the other side of the building is an indoor soccer field. It can get rather crowded. It’s open all year for public skating and hockey teams to practice. They are open five days a week; Mondays from 1pm to 3pm, Fridays from 8pm to 10:30pm, Saturday from 2pm to 4pm and 8pm to 10:30pm and Sundays from 3pm to 5pm. This rink is more expensive than the others. Skating sessions cost $6 on the weekdays and $8 on the weekends with skate rental being $4. On the plus side, they do offer skate sharpening.
There are multiple ways to spend the holidays, but ice skating is one of the cheapest. It might not be easy to pick up but it is always worth a try.