Glide into Winter Bliss: A Guide to New Jersey’s Premier Ice Skating Rinks

According to New Jersey Digest  there are so many wonderful places to ice skate in New Jersey. As winter blankets the Garden State, it's time to embrace the frosty charm of New Jersey's ice skating rinks. Whether you're a seasoned skater or eager to try something new, the state offers a variety of options for winter enthusiasts.

1. The Ice Palace, Brick, NJ: Nestled in Brick, The Ice Palace on 197 Chambersbridge Road is Ocean County's go-to rink. With public skating and affordable rates ($10 for adults, $8 for kids), it's perfect for family outings or solo adventures.

2. Flyers Training Center, Vorhees, NJ: Imagine gliding on the same ice where NHL teams practice. Flyers Training Center in Vorhees opens its doors for public skating with attractive deals like the $50 Skate Pass for 5 sessions and discounts for AAA members, military, and veterans.

3. Skylands Ice World, Stockholm, NJ: Rated among the top 50 rainy day activities, Skylands Ice World offers daily public skating and Friday Night Ice Jam with great music. It's not just a rink; it's an experience.

4. Vintner Wonderland, Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City: For a unique blend of ice skating, fine dining, and wine, head to Vintner Wonderland at Renault Winery. Marvel at the Christmas tree made of 70 wine barrels in this winter village extravaganza.

5. Red Bank Armory Ice Complex, Red Bank, NJ: Once a military training facility, the Red Bank Armory now offers public skating at $10 with $4 skate rentals. The historic architecture enhances the overall charm.

6. Skating on the Square, Princeton, NJ: Enjoy eco-friendly skating in Palmer Square with a synthetic rink. Ticket prices, $10 with cash and $12 with a credit card, include skate rentals.

7. Newport Skates, Jersey City, NJ: Experience outdoor skating at Newport Skates by the Jersey City waterfront. With private lessons, season passes, and $7 skate rentals, it's a must-visit for a chilly adventure.

8. Mercer County Skating Center, Mercer County Park, NJ: Open since 1975, Mercer County Skating Center provides an open-air skating experience within the comfort of an enclosure. Visit their website for ticket information and scheduling.

With these fantastic options, New Jersey's ice rinks promise a winter wonderland for everyone. So, lace up those skates and let the icy adventures begin!

Arguably, the 1990's may have been the greatest cultural decade in America. Legendary rock music stormed onto the scene, hip-hop was in its "golden era," Blockbuster video was the place to be, and the NBA featured some of the greatest basketball talent to ever play the game. During the '90s, NBA teams also sported some classic uniforms.

Many of these looks are making a comeback. In fact, my kids' in-town youth programs even opted to forgo the traditional jersey with the town name on it this year. Instead, each team was assigned the name of a NBA squad. Better yet, their uniforms are all a nod to the classic looks from the '90s. We're talking the likes of Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, and Orlando Magic originals.

In order to compile this ranking of which five teams in the NBA rocked the best and most classic uniforms, some conditions needed to be set.

Yes, the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers were prominent franchises during this decade (All 6 of Michael Jordan's championships happened in the '90s). However, teams that have not changed their uniform design presently are excluded. So, teams like the Bulls, Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Spurs and Trail Blazers are out.

Here is what I was looking for. The teams from the 1990's had the perfect combination of classic uniforms, that were worn by beloved players. Furthermore, these looks still represent tradition and memorable years where the teams saw some success. For example, if you were to ask a NBA fan what do you envision when I say the name Karl Malone, the answer would be "The Mailman" taking the rock to the hoop in his physical one-hand-on-the-head pose, wearing the purple and yellow Jazz insignia.

It's important to note, each player was able to seek their own sneaker endorsement at this time (much like today). However, pro basketball players had to follow some guidelines with what they could wear. Often it was a white or black sneaker only.

The irony here is that although the creative color options were limited, the sneaker game from the '90s was also legendary. Air Jordan Jumpman's from throughout this decade remain some of the most sought-after (and expensive) shoes.

In addition, there was a uniform format of the '90s. Teams strictly wore white at home, and color away.

Not that we have fully set the stage as to what the best decade in the NBA looked like, let's rank the five most legendary 90's uniforms.

*Honorable mention for teams not included in this list include the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

This Jazz logo is back these days. However, the purple away threads with yellow Utah Jazz across the chest remains a very 1990's look. The basketball embedded in the "J" brings the logo to new level. The home look was exactly the same , it just featured a white uniform. Jazz Legends that wore this include Karl Malone and John Stockton.

This was the original Magic look. The team's first season was in 1989, and they wore the white pinstripe home, and black pinstripe aways until 1998. The team made it to their first Finals appearance, sporting this look in 1995. Magic legends who wore this include Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway.

The Suns sported a similar design model to the Jazz with a prominent graphic wrapped around the chest. The Suns made the list for two reasons. First, this look was such an upgrade from the previous uniform design, which really bland. Second, it was synonymous with that infamous team that took the Chicago Bulls to six games in the 1993 Finals. Suns legends that wore this include Charles Barkley and Dan Majerle.

Oh wow. The green with the white Sonics ribbon and yellow numbers is as classic '90s basketball as you can get. The green and yellow may also be the best color combination in NBA history. It just fit Seattle and even rock stars like Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament wore these jerseys loud and proud. The Sonics should have never gone away from them in mid-'90s and Seattle should have never let the Sonics go. Supersonics legends who wore this include Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton.

The teal and purple were just so out of the ordinary. When the Hornets came into the league in 1988 they immediately took the court marching to their own beat. They embraced the clip-art bumble bee. In contrast, both their home and away jersey only said "Charlotte" across the chest as opposed to "Hornets." A more modern, upgraded look is what the team wears now. It slightly pays respect to their beyond entertaining teams of the '90s.  Hornets legends that wore this include Larry "Grandmama" Johnson and Alonzo Mourning.