Although winter is dwindling, there are still some solid weeks of frigidity left in the city. If you’re still scratching your head for things to do in a lockdown winter, don’t forget to dust off your skates! Outdoor rinks are a great venue for safe and fun COVID-19 activities that allow you to move your body.
Here is a list of all the very best rinks to visit before the ice melts so that you don’t land yourself at a dud for your last skate of the season.
Down at the Beaches, shouldered by the boardwalk and the lake, is a picturesque little patch of ice. Surrounded by greenery and gardens, this is the ideal setting for a physically-distanced date or an afternoon with your roommates.
The scenic views of Lake Ontario are enough to sell the rink, but the long walk from campus may be a drawback. Look at it as a kind of escapism and a reason to stay out of the house for longer: the walk takes a while, which means more fresh air for you!
Danforth offers more than just a dinky little rink: no, it is a winter wonderland! Riverdale Park East offers a playground of rinks upon which to frolick. Boasting a hockey pad, a regular rink, and a skating trail, you won’t get bored even if you keep coming back to this park forever.
This one is just iconic: if you haven’t been here yet, what are you waiting for? A familiar site to anyone who’s been on a first date in wintery Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square is practically a rite of passage nowadays. Although it’s often crowded, there’s nothing like cutting up some ice right in the heart of downtown Toronto, surrounded by skyscrapers.
Don’t forget to take a photo with the iconic 3D TORONTO sign before you go! After all, someone has got to let your high school friends know that you’re in the city now.
This classic park is relatively close to UTSG, making it a sure-fire choice for your skating impulses. A prime location for picnics in the spring, impromptu spikeball games in the summer, and dog-walking year round, you’ll probably find people you know there to skate with — don’t even worry about bringing a friend!
The skating rink looks like a typical hockey one, but the park is so beautiful that it doesn’t really matter. Also, because you’re so close to Queen Street, stop for a Matty’s Patty’s or a hot chocolate at White Squirrel après-skate! Both have cool, COVID-19-friendly ordering windows so that you don’t even have to worry about going inside to get your grub.
