Vegas may be surrounded by desert, but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in winter pastimes like ice skating. So if getting into the holiday spirit means strapping on a pair of blades to your feet, you’ll want to head out to MonteLago Village to enjoy their annual ice skating rink.
During the summer, their stage in the lake is home to a wonderful concert series. But this time of the year, it’s turned into a real skating rink, with great views of both the lake it sits on and the surrounding resorts.
The rink is created on top of the village’s floating stage by using a vegetable-based glycol mix that is chilled to below freezing in a plastic tube. Water is then sprayed on top of this and kept frozen with a 12,000-pound freezer system.
The 40-by-80-foot floating ice rink can have up to 60 skaters on it at any one time. This is the fifth year it will be open.
The ice skating rink at MonteLago Village is located on Lake Las Vegas itself, which is a 30 minute or so drive east from the Strip. A day pass will cost $15 for adults and $12 for children.
The rink is open from now until February 19, 2009, but the holidays are the perfect time to really enjoy a visit to MonteLago Village to enjoy a day of skating, In addition to the rink, the entire village is decorated with holiday lights and a 40-ft tall Christmas tree serves as the centerpiece. Kids of all ages can also enjoy having their picture taken with Santa on Saturday afternoons through December 20, 2008.
So head out early, grab an early dinner (MonteLago Village offers everything from pizza by the slice to an Italian bistro and a steakhouse), some hot cocoa and then strap on your skates and enjoy an evening on the ice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If You Go…
MonteLago Village Ice Skating Rink
Address: 30 Strada di Villagio; Henderson, NV
Phone: 702-564-4785
Web: montelagovillage.com
Hours: 3pm to 9pm Mondays through Fridays; Noon to 9pm Saturdays and Sundays
Price: All-day skating passes are $15 for adults and $12 for children. Skate rentals are extra.
