Holiday fun for the kids: skating the best rinks in Canada

Updated Tue. Nov. 11 2008 6:51 PM ET

Carla Lucchetta, Special to CTV.ca

The Christmas holidays mean kids are at home looking to be entertained and amused. With all the shopping, baking and general hustle and bustle of the season, you might not have time to investigate options for fun and child-friendly activities. Here are a few kid-friendly ideas that are also easy on the budget.

Skating

It's fun, great exercise, usually free and one of Canada's most cherished pastimes. Most cities have at least one popular and beautifully situated outdoor rink, as well as many indoor. Check leisure skate times before you head out. You don't want to disappoint the kiddies when you find the rink is booked for hockey or figure skating practice, or skating lessons. Speaking of lessons, most rinks provide those too.

What you'll need:

• Well sharpened skates (most rinks provide rentals and sharpening service).
• A helmet.
• Warm clothing, including wool socks, hat, scarf and mitts.
• Knee and elbow pads for the younger children.
• To save money bring along a thermos of hot chocolate and some energy boosting snacks.

It might be worth the extra drive at least once to skate at some of these outdoor rinks with unforgettable backdrops:

Rideau Canal, Ottawa - At 7.5 km, this is the longest skating rink in the world offering one long, continuous skate, therefore requiring a little more stamina than is needed for skating in circles. You can skate right through Ottawa, stopping along the way to warm up with hot chocolate and treats.

Bonsecours Basin Skating Rink, Quays at the Old Port, Montreal - This is half a kilometre of river skating on the historic Montreal waterway.

Place d'Youville in Old Quebec and Gaetan Boucher Skating Oval in Sainte-Foy - There's nothing that says winter better than picturesque Quebec City.

Grenadier Pond, High Park, Toronto - When it freezes it's a gorgeous spot in the heart of the park.

Natrel Skating Rink, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto - The rink faces Lake Ontario so you almost feel like you're skating on the lake.

Assiniboine River, Brandon, Manitoba and the Red River, Winnipeg - Two great Canadian rivers offer skating under a big prairie sky.

Meewasin Skating Rink, Kiwanis Park, Saskatoon - Not for the faint of heart, this rink on the South Saskatchewan River closes if the temperature dips below -30C!

Waskana Lake, Regina - Lake skating in the centre of Regina.

Bow River, Banff, Alberta - Weather permitting, skate surrounded by looming mountains.

Lake Louise, Alberta - Nothing beats skating on the frozen lake in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies.

Whistler, B.C. - One of Canada's largest ski resorts, and site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, offers mountain lake skating. Bring your skates for a change, and avoid the ski and snowboard line-ups, and costs.

Grouse Mountain Ice Skating Pond, Vancouver North Shore Mountains - This 8000 square foot pond provides wonderful vistas of the Pacific Ocean and the city of Vancouver.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC - As part of the twelve days of Christmas light extravaganza, skate among the decked out evergreens, holly, poinsettias, and berry wreaths in one of Canada's most beautiful tourist spots.

Sledding

Global warming means our snow accumulation is less than in the past, but if we're lucky enough to have a white Christmas this year, be prepared to haul out the toboggan. They range in price from $10 for a foam one-person kiddie toboggan to $80 for multi-person traditional wood versions. Sit cross legged on round sleds and with legs extended on the long ones. The best toboggans have steering and brakes. For ideal conditions, the general rule is the more snow the better.

Be sure the kids are bundled up. Dressing in layers works best since they will likely be sprayed all over with wet snow. The first layer should ideally be a thermal undershirt and leggings. Hats, hoods, mittens, wool socks and a good pair of snow pants and boots are important for keeping cold snow from getting inside the layers.

Since hills are fairly easy to come by, this is a fun and cost-free way to occupy the kids.

Tree decorating

Invite the neighbourhood kids for a DIY tree trimming party. Some easy ideas include:

Popcorn strings - Pull a needle and thread (for a sturdier string used waxed dental floss) through popcorn. For variety and colour add cranberries. Place around the Christmas tree from top to bottom.

Bead strings - The same as above with a variety of coloured beads.

Mini gift ornaments - Got some boxes and wrapping paper, ribbon and bows left over from last Christmas? Wrap them up and place on tree boughs.

Christmas ball ornaments - Break out the kid's paints and glitter to add to plain ornaments.

Snowflakes - Remember making paper snowflakes in school? Make some small, medium and large ones for the tree. Spray paint them or colour them in with markers or crayons.

Felt ornaments - Use a cookie cutter in the shape of a tree, star, or a bell to cut out felt ornaments. Cut a hole in the tips for string to hang.

Craft Shows

Spend an afternoon at a Christmas Craft show. It'll keep the kids occupied, give you inspiration for your own crafty gifts, and you might even find the perfect bauble for someone on your list. There's plenty of time to catch these shows in your city.

Vancouver, One of a Kind, November 20 - 23, BC Place Stadium

Winnipeg, Signatures Christmas Show, November 20-23, Winnipeg Convention Centre

Calgary, Festival of Crafts, November 27-30, Roundup Centre, Stampede Park

Toronto, One of a Kind, November 27- December 7, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place

Halifax, Dalplex Christmas Craft Show, November 28-30, Dalhousie University

Edmonton, Butterdome Craft Sale, December 4-7, University of Alberta "Butterdome"

Ottawa, Originals Craft Show, December 11 -21, Lansdowne Park

Carolling

No holiday season is complete without Christmas songs. Why not host a carolling party? Invite friends and their children to your home, or find a convenient place to meet. Make sure a few of them can at least carry a tune to boost the sound of the whole! You can print words to your favourite songs from any internet lyric site. Stay home and sing or bundle up and walk from house to house in the neighbourhood.

Holiday Story time

Bundle up the kids and take them to the local library to borrow some classic holiday stories sure to ignite the spirit of the season.

The Night Before Christmas, Clement C Moore - Also known as A Visit from St. Nicholas, this 1822 Christmas poem became an instant classic and is available in many beautifully illustrated editions. This poem has given us the version of Santa Claus that still exists, complete with the way he looked, his sleigh, the reindeer names and his practice of coming down the chimney to bestow gifts to children.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Zeus - Originally published in 1957, this much loved children's story has been adapted for screen, first in 1966 as an animated feature narrated by Boris Karloff, and then again in 2000 starring Jim Carey.

A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charles M. Shultz - Based on the popular comic strip, this tale of how the motley gang cajoles Charlie Brown out of his holiday doldrums and ultimately teaches him the true meaning of Christmas, debuted on television in 1966. To this day it's one of the highest rated TV Christmas specials, and a best loved book.

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens - First published in 1843, this is the traditional story of Scrooge, a miserly, miserable old man who doesn't believe in Christmas, until the ghost of Christmas' past, present and future visit him and change his perspective and life.

A Child's Christmas in Wales, Dylan Thomas - Written in 1955, the famous poet recreates his ideal boyhood Christmas.

The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry - Published in 1906, this is the story of a young, married couple who can ill afford Christmas. Each sacrifices the item they most treasure to raise enough money to buy the other a gift. Though the story has been widely adapted and referenced in modern television and film, the original story remains a magical experience.

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott - Written and published in two parts in 1868 and 1869, this standard tells the story of the four March sisters as they prepare for their first Christmas as paupers after their father loses his wealth. Adapted for stage, screen and even Japanese anime, the original book is still a family favourite.

The Nutcracker (and The Mouse King), E. T. Hoffman - The story behind the popular seasonal ballet debuted in 1816. In the story a young girl's favourite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes to life and takes her away to a magical kingdom where live dolls defeat the seven-headed Mouse King.