USA Travel Guide

We neglected to mention last year’s debut season here on USA Travel Guide, and ever since I promised myself we wouldn’t miss it in 2009. Now it’s just a day away and up and ready to go.

Seaside Ice at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach, California is a neat seasonal event combining two wildly different attractions: ice skating and the beach. The always beautiful Southern California coastline sets the stage for a humorously out-of-place ice skating rink. The opposites sure do attract, however, with as many as 35,000 skaters projected to show up for all the warm sun and cool fun.

It’s classic in so many way – skating lessons, DJs, occasional live music, local concession vendors, skate parties – but everything has that unique skew that only event like Seaside Ice can deliver. For example, the rink certainly looks cold enough, but why are all the skaters in bathing suits? And how much better is that instead of some skyscraping city, or worse yet some mall interior, you get to soak in views of an ocean sunset.

This year, Seaside Ice is mixing up the public skate schedule with all kinds of themed days and special events. There’s the requisite 80’s night, the “Koolanesian” Sundays, fundraising skate parties, outdoor movie showings, sunrise skates, “music video” night, and of course an appearance by St. Nick (with skates on). Check the calendar of events to plan the perfect visit.

If you love to ice skate, or haven’t yet had the chance to develop the love, have an uncommonly good time at Seaside Ice.

Seaside Ice is located at Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach, California. Dates run from November 10, 2009 to January 18, 2010. Public skate hours may vary depending on the event schedule. Adult tickets cost $14 and include skates. Learn more.

The beach and ice skating might be an unlikely combination, but there’s nothing unusual about combing Seaside Ice with the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach. This Redondo Beach hotel is located in walking distance to the Seaside Lagoon and is even offering a package with up to four tickets, pizza and wine. Check out the Seaside Ice package.

Have fun!