Vermonters are used to cold weather, but the bitter temps and icy driveways and sidewalks we've experienced in recent weeks have driven even the heartiest of families indoors. That means lots of couch jumping for kids — and hair pulling for adults.

If you're looking to burn up some of your kids' energy, consider indoor ice skating. It's sufficiently wintery, without the risk of frostbite.  

A number of indoor rinks in Vermont offer public skating as well as skate rentals. An added bonus: They're pretty cheap. None of the locations below costs more than $5 admission per person. So get out of the house, put on the snowpants, gloves, helmets and blades and get gliding! Your kids — and couch — will thank you!  



Leddy Park Arena in Burlington's New North End offers Itty Bitty Skating for preschoolers and their parents on Monday and Thursday mornings through March.

Cairns Arena in South Burlington has public skating most days of the week through March.

The Essex Skating Facility in Essex Junction offers public rink time on Sunday afternoons.

The B.O.R. Ice Arena in Barre offers numerous public skating opportunities on weekend afternoons and several weekday evenings.

The Highgate Sports Arena offers crates to help preschoolers get their footing during the Skater Tots program on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons in January.

The Fenton W. Chester Ice Arena in Lyndon Center has Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday open skate times through March.

Skating sessions at the Memorial Sports Center in Middlebury are free for children four and under. 

Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center in Montpelier has a handful of dates for public skating in January and February.

Castleton College's Spartan Arena in Rutland offers afternoon skating time throughout January and February.

Stowe Arena hosts afternoon open skates into March. 

Toddlers and parents have fun on the ice at Union Arena in Woodstock during skate sessions on Wednesday and Friday mornings.