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Polar Ice Galleria Houston
Rating Details »
Categories: Amusement Parks, Skating Rinks [Edit]
Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown5015 Westheimer Rd
Ste 1260
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 621-1500
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
5 reviews for Polar Ice Galleria Houston
So, this rink would not rate four stars* if it were not in the Galleria (so you don't have to stare at mildewed walls while skating). It's probably the prettiest rink I've been on in Texas, especially after they cleaned up the one end of it. The people watching is, without a doubt, fabulous. However, with good people watching come a lot of careless small children and people who think that figure skating (a.k.a. picking their skates up close to other peoples' faces) is appropriate at a crowded public skating session.
I would, like a couple of others who have reviewed, recommend going at times when the mall itself is not busy if you're looking to get some serious skating in. Though, to be honest, I would just go to a different rink entirely if you're looking to do some serious skating.
A few other things I would say about this rink:
The rental skates are some of the worst I've ever seen. Yes, they're rental skates, but on the one occasion where I was unfortunate enough to be there without my own, I could barely move on the ice. Since I started playing ice hockey when I was 3, that's saying something. The skates were beaten up, had chassis that were nearly broken, and seemed to have not been sharpened in about 6 months.
Also, the ice is rough, soft, and not flooded often enough.
All that being said, I'm still nagging my friends to go with me some night, because watching people and hanging out in the Galleria definitely have their appeals. And they outweigh the poor ice conditions for a social thing.
*I'm rating this based on rinks in Texas, not up North.
There's some pros and cons about this ice skating rink. But regardless of what I say, this rink is beloved by Houstonians because it's an institution inside an institution - and even more so during the Christmas holidays.
Outside of Texas, ice skating rinks inside a mall is a strange idea. In Texas, however, it is not as strange.
Here's the PROS:
- It's INSIDE the Galleria, one of the top malls in Texas, if not the country - and there's definitely a luxurious feel especially when they put up a gigantic Christmas tree that shows off just how big Texas-big can be.
- It's an ice skating rink, which is still not that common throughout the South.
- Sport celebrities have practiced here
- It is a well-manned rink, with staff going around making sure everything is okay - and they'll make sure you, a stranger, are okay too, should you fall or something.
- Affordable fun, especially while someone else goes shopping. $13 during the holidays (or $8 for groups of 10 or more)
Now... the CONS:
- There are outrageous lines during the holiday season.
- And once you think you got through the line experience by getting a ticket, you have to get into ANOTHER outrageous line to get your skates.
- And once you get your skates, the skates will reek awfully - even before you put them on you. You could smell them even at an arm's length.
- Beware of the little kids - they'll slow your skating experience. And during the Holidays, there's a lot of them out there!
So no, this is not the best ice skating rink out there. It's not the cheapest, not the most efficient, and doesn't provide nice clean skates. However, it does give you an experience as well as memories of skating inside one of the grandest mall that is lighten up by one of the grandest Christmas tree in the entire city of Houston.
I've spent too many hours of my life at an ice rink. My sister is a figure skater and has been training for over ten years now. I used to go with my mom after school with a good book and a blanket everyday. And after I got my license, I spent even more time at the rink since it automatically because big sister's job to drive around little sister.
That being said, when I first came to the Galleria's Polar Ice Rink, I was really excited at the size. For a mall rink, you really can't complain. It is enormous! Plus, this was the ice rink that Tara Lipinski practiced on, so you get that sports celebrity vibe going on here.
They keep up the ice well and Zamboni it up about once every two hours or so. However, this probably isn't enough because of the high traffic. If you actually want some good ice time, weekdays and early mornings are your best bet, though you have to pay extra for that.
Don't forget, during the holiday season there is an ENORMOUS Christmas tree in the center of the rink (over 65 feet tall!!!!!) and it is quite a sight. Bring your camera and pretend to be a tourist for the day! Don't worry, I won't tell.
This is such a cool thing (haha yes I know, ice...hardy har har). But I love to stop by here while walking through the mall and watch people practice. I've seen some very talented skaters practicing here, and wonder if I'll be seeing them in the Olympics or something. It's also fun to sit at Bennigans and eat and watch people skate. But also, in that case, you have to eat Bennigans. Not such a fantastic thought.
I think they have some open skate days, so I might bring down my skates and go slip n slide, for a figure skater I am not.
If there's one reason to fight the traffic and the crowds of the Galleria, it is the Polar Ice Skating Rink.
Any time of the year, you can see skaters and beginners out on the ice creating a great people watching experience. This ice skating rink has been around for years and never fails to capture my interest when I'm down in the Galleria. I even have my own memories of clinging to the wall as I made my wobbly way around while people zoomed past me on their icy blades.
There are a variety of classes here so you can see people at many levels of skating - some are particularly impressive while some stumble and look for the comfort that only the escape of the benches can bring.
It really is a beautiful place to see and is an awe inspiring venue year round. Definitely a must if you have visitors in from out of town.
In Houston, this as close as we get to winter sports. Perhaps that is part of the fascination with Polar Ice - a gorgeous spot to escape from the chaos that is the Galleria while being right in the middle of it.