The outdoor skating season is rapidly drawing to a close however there is still some time left for you to lace up your skates and enjoy the great outdoors. In the last couple of years five spectacular new outdoor rinks have opened in the Greater Toronto Area. These include: Colonel Samuel Smith Park skating rink at 3131 Lake Shore Bloulevard West on the Etobicoke waterfront. This trail is shaped like a figure eight. The red-brick Power House Recreation Centre with its landmark smokestack provides the backdrop for this skating destination. Sherbourne Common rink on Lake Shore Blvd East at Sherbourne is ultra cool with inspiring views of frozen Lake Ontario. The oval rink at the Shops at Don Mills has a Town Centre ambiance. This is a great place to eat, shop and play. The Evergreen Brick Works skating trail is edgy and artsy-rustic and has a quaint feel that is hard to match. The Town of Markham now boasts the GTA's largest outdoor rink situated at the Markham Civic Centre at 101 Town Centre Boulevard, north-west corner of Highway 7 and Warden Ave. Be sure to check out all these new and fantastic outdoor rinks. They really are worth the visit.

COUPLE SKATING AT SHOPS AT DON MILLS

No blog on the best outdoor skating rinks in Toronto would be totally complete without mentioning The Natrel® Rink at Harbourfront and the Nathan Phillips Square skating rink at Toronto City Hall. Two must see experiences for outdoor skating enthusiasts.

The Natrel® Rink at Harbourfront has an indoor change room with lockers and washrooms; and hot food & drinks are available at the rinkside restaurant, Lakeside EATS. Best of all skating is FREE!