One of the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor rinks in North America, Keystone Resort’s Dercum Square Ice Rink frozen alpine lake is kept in tip-top skating condition for day and night skaters — just one of the resort’s kids activities, which extend to cookie happy hours, a snowfort, disco tubing, fireworks, scavenger hunts and many others.

The 9,000-square-foot Black Family Ice Rink in Beaver Creek fits right in with the resort’s reputation for luxury. A Zamboni creates perfect ice conditions every three hours, lounges around the rink’s perimeter let parents supervise their skaters in comfort beneath heat lamps, hot cocoa and posh accommodations are just steps away, and lights around the rink in the evening give it a warm glow.

Just west of Denver in Evergreen, 40-acre Evergreen Lake is a skating haven. This frozen destination includes a boardwalk for parents to watch their kids play on the ice, picnic areas and an easy hiking loop. There are also 11 pond hockey rinks. The warming hut has snacks, warm beverages and a cozy fireplace.

Take a spin under the lights of Lionshead Village. There's plenty of places to sit and watch while having a warm (or adult) beverage around the rink while the skiers and boarders in your group hit the nearby slopes.

The YMCA of the Rockies just outside of Estes Park offers outdoor ice skating surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park’s dramatic snow-covered peaks. The YMCA’s inviting fireplaces welcome pink-cheeked skaters to relax with a mug of hot chocolate. For more winter fun, the facility also leads snowshoe hikes through the park.

Winter brings festive events throughout the season in Aspen, including twirls around the Silver Circle Ice Rink, which is just a short jaunt from the ski mountain. CP Burger, right next to the rink, makes for a delicious skate break.

Copper's West Lake is a vast expanse where you can pick up some speed surrounded by the ski village. A firepit near the rink is perfect for observers or for a quick warmup.