One of the pleasures of living in New England is the opportunity to ice skate outdoors in winter. On those special days when snow is falling, holiday music is playing, and lights are twinkling, there is something magical about the experience. In the Boston area, we’re lucky to have several spots that offer it.

This Friday, the picture-perfect Frog Pond ice rink opens for the season. Public skating starts at 10 a.m. and special activities are planned for the day. You can enter a raffle for season passes, and private and group lessons, or sign up for a free, 15-minute private lesson (space limited).  From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., MIX 104.1 will be on-site spinning tunes. The ice rink snack shop sells hot chocolate and hand warmers, and you can rent skates or get your skates sharpened. On November 29, the Skating Club of Boston will perform a “Skating Spectacular” show at 5 p.m. before the 71st annual tree lighting in Boston Common kicks off.

The City of Boston’s only other outdoor ice venue, Kelly Rink in Jamaica Plain, opens on November 23. (The city runs plenty of year-round indoor rinks, too.) Here, kids learning to skate can use milk crates for balance, a nice perk for parents.

On November 26, the Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline opens. Kids can also use crates here. In addition to the rink, the 64-acre property draws sledders to its numerous hills when there is enough snow.

The Charles Hotel in Cambridge’s Harvard Square builds a 2,900-square-foot rink on its patio each season (crates available here, too). It’s open to both the public and hotel guests. Check the website for its opening date.

Community Ice Skating @ Kendall Square, a seasonal ice skating rink in the heart of Cambridge’s Kendall Square, plans to open December 3. The rink offers skate rentals, lessons, private rink rentals, and a café serves hot drinks and snacks.

As always, call ahead or check websites for conditions and hours. Rinks this popular sometimes get booked for special events, hockey games, and lessons.

Do your kids skate? How old were they when they learned? Share your tips with us!