Ice Skating In Tampa Bay Review

Ice skating in Tampa Bay review.  I went ice skating this past weekend for a 10 year old's birthday party and had an absolute blast.  Firstly, I will say I was not too excited about it because March is the time of year in Florida when the weather is perfect.  Why would someone want to go indoors where it's cold, when it's beautiful outside?  I can now answer that, because it was super fun.

We took the three kids to their cousin's birthday party at Advent Health Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.  It was better then I expected.  I had heard this place was huge and offered a lot, and it did.  It is located at  3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd in Wesley Chapel, FL.  Easy to get to and there was a bunch of parking.  Advent Health Center Ice is the largest ice sports facility in the Southeast.  It's over 150,000 square feet, it is a five-rink complex which includes three North American standard National Hockey League (NHL) ice rinks, one Olympic/International standard ice rink, and one mini-rink.

Center Ice is home to the USF club hockey teams, two USPHL hockey teams, 16 youth travel hockey teams, 10 high school teams, 22 youth rec level teams and over 100 adult rec hockey teams. They say about 5,000 athletes alone pass through their doors on an average week and that doesn't even count the tournaments.  Truly, a great place for ice skating in Tampa Bay.

Inside, the first thing you notice is the temperature.  It's chilly in there, obviously due to tall the ice.  There were lots of hockey players in and out of the arena practicing and different classes were already in session.  There is plenty of extras too.  You will find a pro shop, full-service restaurant, concession stand, skate center (rentals & repair), fitness center, indoor sprint track, event and party rooms, and offices.

For birthday parties, they give you your own room next to one of their smaller rinks.   You can bring in your own decorations, food, drinks and more.  The kids had a blast.  The ice skating rink is dark but lit up in neon colors while the kids skate and the music is loud.  Parents can join their kids on the ice or hang out to watch and take pictures.  I chose to skate.  Growing up in Minnesota, I had done a lot of skating and decided to return to the ice after 20+ years.

Was doing great all day, even skated backwards, turns and having fun, but all that confidence went out the window, when I fell.  Thank you to my fiancé Paul for recording it in slow motion at the right moment.

Highly recommend throwing a party at Center Ice.  It's a great time ice skating in Tampa Bay.

Happy birthday! It's your special day, which means it's time to celebrate! One of the reasons that makes Tampa so great is we have so many fun recreation options to spend your day. Not to mention all of the amazing restaurants you can treat yourself to. No matter how you plan to celebrate, make the day all about you! Here are some of our recommendations on how you can celebrate your birthday in Tampa.

There are multiple ways you can spend your birthday in Tampa. If you like the outdoors maybe you want to hit up a beach or a theme park. If you like to treat yourself, there's plenty of relaxation and shopping options for you. And foodies have endless options for a delicious birthday meal. Looking for some freebies on your birthday? Check out what you can get for free in the Tampa Bay area here. But you may need to sign up for some royalty programs!

Whether you're looking for adult-only celebrations or something with the whole family, there are so many ways to celebrate in Tampa. What does our perfect day look like? We would go treat ourselves to a nice breakfast, then head to the beach for the afternoon, catch the sunset at a rooftop bar during happy hour, and make sure we end the evening with some delicious dessert.

There are so many ways to celebrate your birthday in Tampa Bay, we wanted to make sure we didn't leave anything out. If you're a sports fan, it's always a good time to catch a Rays, Lightning, or Bucs game. Just keep in mind there is the possibility your team could lose on your birthday. Or maybe you're feeling lucky and want to head over to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for some live roulette or craps!

This may seem kinda obvious, but spending the day at one of our gorgeous beaches is the perfect way to spend a birthday. Whether you go all out and spend the whole day there, or just catch the sunset, you can't go wrong with spending part of your day by the water.

Treat yourself to a relaxing spa day at multiple locations in Tampa. Feel bougie at the newest hotel: The Edition. Spa Evangeline at the Epicurean Hotel is also a great option.

There are so many ways to celebrate your youth in Tampa! Head to Busch Gardens for the thrill of one of America's best roller coasters, Iron Gwazi. Or head to one of Tampa's many arcade bars, like Reboot in Dunedin. You can also practice your golf game at TopGolf in Brandon or at the TopGolf Suite at Yeoman's in Downtown Tampa. Your options are endless!

We mentioned earlier that our perfect day would include watching the sunset at one of Tampa's rooftop bars. Check out our list here. There's also other alternatives like axe throwing, arcade and karaoke bars.

There are so many DIY activities in Tampa. Head to Hyde Park to make your own scented candle at The Candle Pour or go across the bridge for a glass-blowing workshop at Zen Glass Studio. You can also head to one of the multiple Tampa Bay Painting With A Twist locations!