Winter Village at Bryant Park

Ice-skating in Rockefeller Center sounds perfect in theory, but the reality of the situation is that it's often a madhouse with a steep admission fee. Instead, toss on some skate in the shadow of the New York Public Library at The Rink at Bryant Park. While we're not promising that there won't be hordes of skaters here, admission is free, which makes queuing up a little easier to stomach. If you already own skates, feel free to bring them with you. Otherwise, skate rentals will cost you between $18-$33, depending on the date. And here's a pro tip: head online to reserve your spot - a new feature this season that will make the whole experience run more smoothly.