The Wharf Ice Rink — Local services in Washington

There are a handful of ice rinks in Washington, D.C.- this one, Canal Park, Georgetown Waterfront and National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden. We've been to all three and here's how this one ranks:

1. Views: Compared to the others, this one offers beautiful views of the waterfront and the Washington Monument peeking out from the buildings. The Sculpture Garden's rink has a stunning view of the National Archives, but this one is even more stunning, especially with the holiday decorations.

2. Price: This one is $15-$18 per person for admission and skate rentals. $6 for a "helper" for kids. (Sculpture Garden is $14-$15, Georgetown is $16-$17 and Canal Park is $15-$16 per person.)

3. Amenities: There are public restrooms onsite and plenty of dining options nearby, including a s'more trailer with a fire pit. For hot chocolate, several options exist, but we enjoyed the thick hot chocolate from Praline Bakery...

The hours are terrible. They’re only open five days a week with limited timeframes. And then half the time I go during their operating hours, the rink is closed due to a private event. And when I do manage to get onto the ice, the surface is terrible! One time I went at opening. The ice resurfacing guy didn’t show up for an hour and a half. It had snowed that morning and there were clumps of ice stuck to the surface, which people kept tripping over. Basically, this rink is where influencers go when they want a pretty photo/video. But it’s not really practical beyond that. It’s definitely not worth a $300 season pass when you can...

Such an amazing rink. The views of the water & decor make for a beautiful scene. Rink staff is friendly & kind, I rented a skate aid and the staff walked it down to the ice for me! I have been to outdoor rinks before, and this ice is so smooth, a Zamboni came out to resurface the ice regularly. Plus there was always a skate guard on the ice to keep the ice fun and safe for everyone. Very family friendly, will...