Skip to content

A New Place to Ice Skate by the Water

Hyatt Regency Lake Washington’s dockside rink offers lake views and eco-friendly synthetic ice.

By Sarah Stackhouse November 17, 2025

Close-up of people ice skating outdoors, showing their legs and ice skates on a shiny, sunlit ice surface.
Photo courtesy of Hyatt Regency Lake Washington

Skating season has officially arrived. There’s a particular joy in gliding—or trying to—on cold days. I always go for the outdoor rinks, especially the ones strung with twinkling lights. It can be so romantic. And this year, there’s a new place to lace up.

A 71-foot by 38-foot covered Glice rink is up and running at Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, set on the hotel’s dock-level deck with a full view of the lake. It’s the region’s first waterfront skating experience, and the synthetic surface needs no water, electricity, or carbon emissions, making it a low-impact alternative to traditional ice. An adjacent holiday pop-up offers skate rentals along with hot cocoa and other drinks, and nearby fire pits make it easy to warm up with s’mores between laps.

“The synthetic ice-skating rink not only provides a memorable holiday activity the entire family will love, but it also keeps sustainability top of mind allowing us to offer an eco-friendly ice-skating option in any type of weather throughout the season,” said Scott Lane, general manager of Hyatt Regency Lake Washington.

The rink runs Thursdays through Sundays, with extended hours during Thanksgiving week and daily skating from Dec. 21 through New Year’s Day. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for kids ages 5-12, with $5 skate rentals. You can book a session here.

If you’re looking for more places to skate this season, the free rink returns to Occidental Square in Pioneer Square Dec. 13-21, open daily from noon to 6 p.m. with complimentary skate rentals. On the Eastside, the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink is back for its 28th year with more than 9,000 square feet of real ice; admission is $16-$22, and free lessons are offered on select days. Kraken Community Iceplex offers public skate sessions seven days a week, themed glow in the dark skates Nov. 21-23, and Buoy Santa photos in December.

Follow Us

A Lighthouse Stay on Bellingham Bay

A Lighthouse Stay on Bellingham Bay

Hotel Bellwether’s refreshed waterfront stay, dapper lobby dog, and scenic route north turn the short drive from Seattle into a real getaway.

The first sign that Bellingham was going to feel farther away than it is came in Edison, over a rich, flaky pastry. Earlier this spring, I was invited to stay at Hotel Bellwether, and my friend and I headed north from Seattle, a roughly 90-mile drive that usually takes about an hour and a half…

Five Lesser-Known Washington State Parks for Spring and Summer

Five Lesser-Known Washington State Parks for Spring and Summer

From Hood Canal beaches to Blue Mountain wildflowers, these quieter parks give warmer weekends some breathing room.

As the outdoor season gets going, many of us, myself included, tend to gravitate toward Washington’s national parks and a handful of the state’s most popular trails. There’s no arguing that they’re pretty spectacular. However, we also know that summer crowds are an issue and detract from the very reason we went in the first…

The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year

The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year

Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.

There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…

Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look

Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look

The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.

At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…