It's that time of year again where the seasonal spirit just makes you crave a glass of egg nog by a warm fire, and it may even motivate you to pull out that ugly Christmas sweater.

Though locals aren't allowed the luxury of shoveling snow off of our driveways to reassure us that winter is here, there are a few things we can do to pretend the chilly season has arrived. One of the best ways to imagine the winter season is ice skating. From the beaches of Coronado to the downtown cityscape and the hidden snowflake in La Jolla, discover the best spots for ice skating in San Diego.

Skating by the Sea at Hotel Del Coronado
The oceanfront Windsor Lawn at the Del is transformed into a picturesque winter spectacle every holiday season. There is nothing more quintessentially San Diego than to ice skate on the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Head to this seaside outdoor ice rink from November 22nd to January 3rd for daily sessions from 2-5pm and 6-9pm, with a matinee session from 11am-1pm on weekends and holidays. For more info, visit the Hotel Del Coronado.

Fantasy on Ice at Horton Plaza
Horton Plaza, in all its Christmas finery, is celebrating the winter solstice with an outdoor ice rink, put on by Sycuan Casino. Sycuan's Fantasy on Ice, benefitting Children's Hospital, runs from November 20th to January 4th, and all sessions will be open to the public Monday through Sunday. Daytime sessions generally attract families, but night time sessions begin to heat up with a more adult-inspired demographic and Fantasy on Ice tempts those who dare to give this precarious sport a try, and paired with a little music, makes for a great downtown date. Groups are encouraged, and if you have ten or more people, admission is only ten dollars each, opposed to the normal 12 dollar rate. For more info, visit sdice.com.

Ice Town at UTC La Jolla
Then again, if you're worried about making a spectacle of your self in the middle of the Gaslamp or Coronado scenes, you can always opt for the indoor ice rink at La Jolla Village. Though Ice Town is slightly more secluded than the rink at Horton Plaza, beginners will have to contend with the more experienced skaters that frequent this treasure, tucked away inside UTC. Public sessions run Monday through Sunday, and Ice Town offers night sessions on Fridays, ending at 10pm, and 10:30pm on Saturdays. General admission is 13 dollars and rental skates are included. For more info, visit icetown.com.

Iceoplex in Escondido
For those hanging out in North County, head to the Iceoplex in Escondido, public sessions run all week, with night sessions of Fridays and Saturdays. And if you don't feel like ice skating, you can always seek a spectacle in admiring the pros. On December 14th, Iceoplex presents Christmas Around the World, with special guest stars like 2008 World Competitor Beatrice Liang and U.S. Pair Team Lindsay Davis and Alex Merrit. For more info, visit iceoplexescondido.com.