subject: Dancing On Ice With City Breaks To Stockholm [print this page] Holidaymakers seeking a seasonal weekend away will find that city breaks to Stockholm offer plenty of winter magic and a wide variety of activities. Perhaps the most apt for the time of year is a visit to one of the city's ice rinks for some winter fun.
Ice skating has long entertained the inhabitants of Scandinavia during the colder months. The history of ice skating can be traced back about a thousand years. In Sweden and the Netherlands people used to lace animal bones on to their shoes and go gliding across lakes and rivers for both entertainment and practical purposes. Today, the waterways of Stockholm do not freeze over very often, but when they do, skating on natural ice is an exhilarating experience.
Those staying in Stockholm's city centre should head to Kungstrdgrden for a spot of skating while on holiday. Renting skates is inexpensive and the rink is open seven days a week throughout the winter. Those who would prefer not to take to the ice can instead take a pew at the nearby caf and enjoy watching the world pass them by. An alternative to Kungstrdgrden is Vasaparken, a large and popular ice rink. This rink is made of mechanically frozen ice and is maintained several times a week so is a good bet if you are visiting Stockholm when the temperature is a few degrees higher.
Visitors who want to crank the danger up a notch can opt to skate on some of the natural ice around Stockholm. This activity is only for the brave, beware! There are several Ice Guide companies based in the city centre that arrange trips. If you want to lessen the risk of injuries and missing fingertips, it is highly recommended that you only take up this type of skating with an experienced ice guide. The guides will also be able to provide you with equipment and clothing. Trekanten by Liljeholmen station or Norrviken in Sollentuna have ploughed skating tracks and are two of the best frozen lakes to skate on.
Finally, holidaymakers who want to get out of town can choose to visit the Hellasgrden recreation area, just twenty minutes away from downtown Stockholm. In the summer there is mini golf, beach volleyball and tennis to be enjoyed, but in the winter there is both ice skating and cross-country skiing - perfect for lovers of the great outdoors away on their city breaks to Stockholm.
