It's December, and that means that the Robson Square Ice Rink is now open for the 2016 winter season. Located right in downtown Vancouver, the outdoor rink is open for skating all the way until February 14th 2017. Admission is free, and skates are available for rent for $4. With festive lights, cheery holiday music and the company of friends, it's an awesome Vancouver experience you don't want to miss out on.
No downtown outing is complete without food though, and while there is a concession stand selling hot drinks and snacks, here are some great places within walking distance that you should check out.
Five Guys (635 Robson St.)
Located three minutes away, this well-known chain restaurant has arguably one of the best burgers in Vancouver. This is their only location in Vancouver and the closest to UBC.
At 700 calories, it'll take you about 1.4 hours of skating to burn off a Five Guys hamburger.
Chipotle (818 Howe St.)
Even closer to the rink is Chipotle, which serves up some fantastic Mexican food. Their Howe location is just a minute away. It opened up in 2012 and was Chipotle's first location in Vancouver.
A typical burrito is around 900 calories, which will take you about 1.8 hours of skating to burn off.
O Sushi (742 Granville St.)
If sushi is your go-to thing, this restaurant is a three minutes' walk away. They offer black rice and claim to have the best spicy sushi in town. Keep in mind that they close at 9pm.
The Candy Aisle (625 Robson St.)
Located right next door to Five Guys, this candy store offers a tantalizing selection of sweets. It also closes at 9pm, so stop by beforehand if you're planning on some late-night skating.
JOEY Burrard (20 Burrard St.)
For a fancier experience, check out JOEY Burrard for some mouthwatering steaks and burgers. They're open until 1am most days and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
Their Steak and Sushi dish comes at 920 calories, which would about 1.84 hours of skating to burn off.
Happy skating!