The Best Outdoor Skating Rinks in Canada
Canada is known around the world for its natural beauty and amazing vistas. Local residents are fully aware of this fact and like to conduct many activities outdoors, including winter sports such as ice skating. In this article we will present a list of the most incredible outdoor skating rinks that you should definitely visit when you are in the vicinity.
Why Canada is the Perfect Location to Go Skating?
The main reason why Canadians love winter sports so much is the weather, of course. The climate in most of the country is cold, and the periods suitable for outdoor skating last longer than in most other countries. Another big reason is the tradition – citizens are used to this kind of activity and look for any opportunity to spend a couple hours navigating the treacherous icy surfaces and practicing their skating skills. Combined with the number of young people who want to learn how to skate in order to play hockey, recreational skaters are driving up the demand so practically every big city has several nice looking rinks under the open sky.
Top 8 Outdoor Rinks to Visit in Canada
It would be foolish to stay indoors all the time when you have an amazing choice of outdoor locations where you can exercise your body and liberate your mind. Spending a few hours in the cold is a great way to get your juices flowing and stay in good physical shape. After a day outdoors in the winter you might just want to relax with your lap top or tablet and enjoy one of Canada’s many casino sites.
Thus, nothing is preventing you from playing live casino in Canada while also enjoying open air skating rinks that are famous across the nation.
1. Parc Lafontaine (Montreal)
Located in the Plateau neighborhood of Montreal, this skating rink stands out for its unusual shape. Instead of going in circles endlessly, you can follow the paths that gently curve around various objects, which is certainly more interesting. Entry to Parc Lafontaine is free, and you can rent skating equipment at the location if you didn’t bring your own.
2. Bonsecours Basin (Montreal)
If you are wandering around Old Town in Montreal, you should pay a visit to this picturesque rink that attracts guests of all ages. You can routinely meet young couples here, skating alongside families with background music setting up a great mood. This rink charges $6 per person for entry, but considering the unique experience you can count on, this is not too steep.
3. Nathan Phillips Square (Toronto)
Central Toronto is full of amazing sights, and if you feel like skating in an urban environment there is a place for that too. A frozen reflecting pool surrounded by skyscrapers is just the setting you need to completely relax, and you don’t even have to pay to enter the Nathan Phillips Square rink. This establishment stays open until 10 PM, so you can catch a nighttime skate that feels really memorable.
4. Grouse Mountain (Vancouver)
With this rink, it’s much more about the location than the infrastructure. Situated atop of the Grouse Mountain, this skating space is out in the open country so you can combine several outdoor activities. You can enjoy walking along nature trails, take a sleigh ride, and top it all by putting on your ice skates and whirling around the field for a while.
5. The Forks (Winnipeg)
This is a real heaven for skaters, since at the Forks you can choose between two different rinks and a couple of trails. Taken together, this amounts to nearly 10 km of skating space, more than enough even for the most seasoned winter sports aficionados. If you get too cold while you are out there, there is a number of warming huts you can withdraw to and normalise your body temperature.
6. Cameco Meewasin (Saskatoon)
Visitors to Saskatoon shouldn’t miss a chance to check out a skating rink that is frequently mentioned as one of the best in all of Canada. It sits right next to the bank of South Saskatchewan River and has free admission, and you can even grab a drink and enjoy it while you are on the ice. Just be aware that you can’t play hockey at this rink, since this is a family-friendly location.
7. Rideau Canal (Ottawa)
Running the entire length of downtown Ottawa, this incredible skating location allows you to go in a straight line for nearly 8 km. The scenery is so beautiful that Rideau Canal was declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. The atmosphere is very jovial, and there are small shops along the canal so you can get refreshments to keep you steady on your feet.
8. Emera Oval (Halifax)
This is another outdoor skating rink that offers a great view in the background. The Emera Oval rink is huge, covering the surface equivalent to three full-size hockey fields. You don’t have to pay to access it, and you even get free equipment rental at this venue, which is pretty rare anywhere in Canada. In other words, this Halifax rink is perfect for tourists and people who don’t skate frequently.