More than two decades old, Downtown Ice at the Circle of Palms in San Jose has seen thousands of South Bay ice skaters through the years. Downtown Ice has come to be a holiday centerpiece for locals around Silicon Valley and not just because its opening ceremony is sometimes heralded by local Olympic skater Kristi Yamaguchi; the 32 palm trees encircling the rink, nestled among high rises, put on a colorful light show for skaters every night.
Circle of Palms, 127 S Market St, San Jose. Nov 18th-Jan 16th. 5pm-10pm Mon to Thurs; 5pm-midnight Fri; 1pm-midnight Sat; noon to 9pm Sun. Post-Christmas hours vary. $15-$17.