Manhattan
The Polar Rink at the American Museum of Natural History overlooks the Rose Center for Earth and Space and features a 17-foot-tall polar bear decorated with twinkling lights that kids can pirouette around. Hot cocoa and snacks are served in the North Galleria adjacent to the rink. 79th Street at Columbus Avenue, 212-769-5100, amnh.org.

With ice hockey, a skating school, public skating, and one of the most picturesque settings in the city, Wollman Rink in Central Park has long been a favorite of New York City families. Enter at 59th Street and 6th Avenue, 212-439-6900, wollmanskatingrink.com.

Lasker Rink, a twin rink facility tucked away in the north end of Central Park, offers a youth hockey league, ice skating school, and public ice skating. Enter at 110th St and Lenox Avenue, 917-492-3856, wollmanskatingrink.com/main_lasker.htm.

There’s free admission to skating at The Pond at Bryant Park and individual and group lessons are available, too. Make sure to check out the holiday shops while you’re there. Between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues, 866-221-5157, bryantpark.org/amenities/thepond.php.

Everyone should hit The Rink at Rockefeller Center (pictured) at least once! Skating lessons and public skating are offered—not to mention a picture perfect view of the Christmas tree. 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, 212-332-7654, patinagroup.com/east/iceRink/.

Everyone from beginners to advanced skaters glide about the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, which has youth hockey, figure skating, general skating and more. Pier 61, 23rd Street and the Hudson River, 212-336-6100, chelseapiers.com/sr01.htm.

The lesser-known Riverbank State Park offers reasonably-priced public skating hours throughout the winter. 212-694-3600, 679 Riverside Drive, nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=75.

Brooklyn:

Open seven days a week, the Aviator Sports Center boasts year-round twin NHL-sized rinks. 3159 Flatbush Avenue; aviatorsports.com/public-skating.

Located in Coney Island, the Abe Stark Rink is open only on the weekends. Coney Island Boardwalk and West 19th Street; nycgovparks.org/facilities/iceskating/1.

Queens

Unlike other rinks, the World Ice Arena in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is open on Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rink offers public skating sessions, youth and adult ice hockey, and more! Perimeter Road, Queens; worldice.com.

Another new addition to the skating community is the City Ice Pavilion in Long Island City, an NHL-style dome with an ice skating school, ice hockey training, and free public skating. 47-32 32^nd Place, Long Island City, 718-706-6667, cityicepavilion.com.

Staten Island

Learn to skate, host a party, or play a rousing game of open ice hockey at the Staten Island Pavilion! 3080 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island; thepavilion.org.

Photo: The Rink at Rockefeller Center.