Winters here are fierce, and it's better to admit that fact and find a way to enjoy the season than to stay home depressed. Ice skating, with its low requirements in start-up costs and athletic prowess, may be the perfect way to beat the winter doldrums. It's charming and cheap—in fact, at Lake of the Isles it's absolutely free. Wannabe Minnesota Wild players can practice their skills between the hockey nets. Figure skaters can twirl to their hearts' content. And would-be lovers have a great excuse to hold hands trying to stay steady on skates. Best of all, all winter long the Minneapolis Park Board maintains a warming hut chock full of free skates to borrow. Just show up, find the right size, and get out and glide.