Rink at the Brink - starting this year there's outdoor ice skating just steps from Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls: When the moisture from the Falls settles on trees nearby it creates a fascinating, beautiful icey winter wonderland. Just as beautiful - look to the base of the falls where you'll see the water crashing down on mammoth blocks of ice. Niagara in the winter is a wonderland. This year, for the first time, there will be a 26 x 120 refrigerated outdoor ice rink (2/3rd's the size of a regulation NHL rink) open to the public just a stone's through from the iconic world wonder. The rink will have a canvas roof to protect from moisture, and side panel in the east side that allows a view of the Falls.

Where: The Rink at the Brink is expected to open Nov. 23. It will be located just across the road from the newly renovated Table Rock Centre. It will be open from10 am to 10pm daily, until Feb. 28, 2010. Skate, helmet, locker rentals and skating lessons will be available. Adults entry (with skate rental) $9.99, children $7.99. Without skate rental $8.00 & $5.75.

In the News: The Rink at the Brink is affiliated with the 27th Annual Winter Festival of Lights, which runs Nov. 7 to January 4, 2010. About one million people with visit the falls area to take in the spectacle. And, keep in mind that many of the wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area are open to visitors year-round.

Canada’s Coolest:

Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email Lucy@CanadaCool.com. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!

The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives

Here are some of my favorites...

The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.

The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.

And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...

More from Canada’s Coolest

'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:

• Golf Course Features
• Haunted Hotels
• Hotel Special Services

Send your suggestions to lucy@CanadaCool.com

Recent 'Canada's Coolest' topics: