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 Redondo Beach, Calif.-- Southern
Californians were greeted to a special treat during the winter holiday
2008--a 120-by-60-foot ice skating rink atop a man-made beach at Seaside
Lagoon. The rink opened in November 2008, thanks to Seaside Ice,
LLC, a joint venture between producers Tom & Maura Kearney and Azumi &
Scott Williams, who is an ice skating U.S. Open Champion and World
Professional Champion. Watch
these professional skaters in the newest Southern California beach
ice rink.
Partnering in this new endeavor
with the savvy and talented entrepreneur couples are Redondo Beach
Chamber of Commerce, plus a host of corporate and tourism businesses.
The rink was designed to appeal to a broad mix of locals and tourists
who can stay overnight at nearby hotels, dine at a variety of
restaurants, watch evening movies shown at the rink's outdoor screen,
and of course, skate. Open during the daylight hours, skaters can get a
suntan, watch the sunset, and enjoy the moonlit rink next to the
Pacific Ocean! The atmosphere totally changes at night, according to
Maura Kearney. She says that the cool disco lights, great sound system,
DJ and beach setting all create one of those intimate experiences
similar to an old-fashioned rink some recall from their youth. It's very
romantic!
 Creating a winter wonderland that
invites beginner, novice and advanced skaters to
get out for some fresh air and holiday cheer, this seasonal outdoor rink
operates from mid-November to early
January. You can sign up for a skate lesson or clinic to learn how to
skate, then use your voucher to come back another day and actually try
out your skills on the ice. Available for corporate events and parties,
the rink offers many possibilities with its outdoor movie screen and
projection capabilities.
Set in a fenced area with a large
public parking lot and Ruby's restaurant next door, visitors are
flocking to the rink and enjoying the lagoon, which typically sits empty
during the winter months. Seaside Ice founders Kearney and Williams love
the fact that they've helped fill a void. By offering an opportunity for
the public to become acquainted with this fun activity not commonly
available in Southern California, they see the rink serving several
functions. Families and dates can venture out for affordable
entertainment, the city gains publicity (the rink has already appeared
on national news programs), and a prime piece of property becomes a
year-round attraction, bringing additional revenue to the city in the
shoulder season.
Located near the renovated Portofino Hotel in King Harbor, this
new venture was made possible by innovative ice rink installations that
have become increasingly popular in California....>
READ MORE.
Where to stay: The obvious and
priciest choice in hotel accommodations is right next to the rink
at
Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club,
260 Portofino Way. Another nearby, affordable favorite
Best Western
Sunrise At Redondo Beach Marina
at 400 North Harbor Drive. Then the popular
chain hotel with on site dining, meeting space and other great amenities
is
Crowne Plaza
Hotel, 300 N. Harbor Dr.
All three of these
REDONDO BEACH
HOTELS are within walking distance
to the skating rink.
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