Skaters go around the rink at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in 2017. (Enterprise photo — Griffin Kelly)

I’m so excited for the snow. It’s not that in the past I’ve not enjoyed it, but sometimes the snowy weather really needs to stay in its own lane. I need to finish the yard work and remember where I left the garden tools.

Don’t worry. I’m constantly reprimanded by family members that leaving trowels “for later” is not the best practice. When the early snow comes, I’m scrambling to put everything away. This year, I actually buttoned up the garden, insulated a few things, and managed to find my winter clothes. Yay me!

Though the weather isn’t consistent yet, there are still opportunities to get your ice skates out and do a few laps on ice. Once the snow is here to stay, then we can take to the outside rinks and ponds.

Most of the indoor rinks cater to hockey, figure skating, curling and other scheduled events. We’ve found that even if the schedule is posted online, it is still best to call first just to make sure a make-up game hasn’t altered the free skate time.

Here are a few options for getting into ice skating shape.

The Saranac Lake Civic Center offers free public skating most Sundays from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Remember to call 518-891-3800 or check out their new website at saranaclakeciviccenter.org for updates or changes.

Tupper Lake’s Civic Center offers free skating from noon to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, Mondays from 3 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. It is recommended to call 518-359-2531. There is also a link on the TL Civic Center Facebook page listing times.

The Lake Placid Olympic Center indoor rinks are only at certain times for public skating. That ice time is often reserved for professional events like Stars on Ice as well as Can/Am hockey groups and local teams. There are two places to find information. Whiteface.com has skate rental prices and ice times as well as lakeplacidskating.com.

Though a bit out of the Blue Line, public skating can be found in Plattsburgh at the Ameri-Can North Sports Center, 518-561-7672. The public skating schedule is posted at the beginning of each week with cost and information on skate rental and punch card purchases.

Plattsburgh State Field House has public skating on select days so call 518-564-3060 for dates. The cost is $3/public and $2/Plattsburgh students with an additional fee for skate rentals. A free indoor public skating option is the Scott’s Memorial Rink in Chazy, every Sunday from 4:45 to 6 p.m.

Enjoy your time on the ice!

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Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Time guidebook series. For more family-fun go to AdirondackFamilyTime.com.