Ahh – there you go, gliding over fresh ice, wrapped up in scarf and hat, laughing with friends, sipping hot cocoa… It’s outdoor ice skating time – that’s outdoor ice rinks, of course, in the mild Pacific Northwest. But with two new rinks just opened in downtown Tacoma and Puyallup, along with favorites further north in Seattle and Bellevue, how to choose?

Here, we give you the scoop (or maybe the slush) on location, atmosphere, price, food and ice quality to help you choose where you’ll be skating this December.
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For many people, this weekend is really Halloween (even though the holiday falls on Monday). They’ll be out visiting pumpkin patches, wandering through mazes, checking out haunted houses, and getting their costumes on. If you’re still looking for a plan, here are local options for fun:

PUMPKIN PATCHES, CORN MAZES

(See our interactive pumpkin patch map for directions.)

Double R Farms’ Pumpkin patch, corn maze, tractor-pulled hay ride, restrooms, school tours, 3-6 tonight and Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 5820 44th St. E., Puyallup. 253-227-5385.

Loves Farm’s Pumpkins, corn maze, 2010 Meridian E., Edgewood. $4.50. 253-942-3667.

Jim’s U-Fish at Old McDebbie’s Farm’s Pumpkin patch, fresh eggs, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, pony rides petting zoo and farm animals, 10 a.m.-6 tonight-Sunday, 4924 268th St. E., Spanaway. 253-875-0356.
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