Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Skiing & Sledding
**************************************************************************************************************************** ICE SKATING
Times vary so click here for their schedule. 3385 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio 45011 Googin Ice Center at Miami University - www.ice.muohio.edu. Oxford, Ohio (513-529-9800). If you want to head to one of the prettiest college campuses around & then do some ice skating, you'll want to check this place out. Please see their website for public skate times. Then head to High St. and get a bite to eat. Most restaurants have to be kid friendly, I mean it is a college town after all. :)
Northland Ice Center - www.northlandicecenter.com. 10400 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513-563-0008). Well, we did try to get here once but when we arrived there was a hockey game going on so we weren't able to do it. They were nice enough to give us free passes to come back so we'll try it out soon. The rink is older but ice skating is ice skating and it reminded me of a rink I used to skate in Jamestown, NY where I grew up so it brought back some good memories.
Sports Plus - www.sportsplusohio.com. 10765 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241, (513-252-2320). In addition to being a mecca for all things fun (arcade, small indoor amusement rides, large indoor play tunnel/slides, b-ball courts, mini bowling, etc.) this place has ice skating - not one rink, but 3 rinks. Check out their website for skate times. There prices are slightly higher than Northlands but they also have other things going on if some of the family decides that skating is not their thing. If your kids need skating lessons, sign up for their Learn to Skate programs at www.learntoskatecincinnati.com. A Pizza Hut is also on site.
Mason Metu Tip: Learn To Skate - Free skate lessons are offered before the start of their next skate programs. Go to www.learntoskatecincinnati.com for more details. (My girls had a great time at their free lesson. I think I'll put them in lessons at some point but at least I now know that we have another family activity we can all do.) The Beach Waterpark - Holiday Fest has been cancelled for 2011. :( US Bank Ice Rink on Fountain Square - www.myfountainsquare.com/icerink. Visit Fountain Square to enjoy this great outdoor skating facility - it is constructed every holiday season. It's sort of magical to see skaters spinning around the rink but remember to dress warm. They also have Santa Skates during the week so check the website above for more information.
Ice Skating on Fountain Square - sponsored by US Bank. Stop by for Family Skates on Sundays in January and February and kids 12 and under get to skate for FREE.
U.S. Bank Ice Rink Schedule: Opens Nov. 23 through Feb. 19, 2012. $3 admission and $3 skate rental. Hours (from myfourntainsquare.com)
Sun-Wed: noon – 6pm Thu: noon – 8pm Fri-Sat: noon – 10pm Holidays: Valentine’s Day (2/14) 7pm – 9pm, MLK Day & Presidents Day 10am – 6pm
MasonMetu Tip: If you head downtown, head to Palomino's bar area for their awesome happy hour - 1/2 price appetizer specials, and drink specials. There's a seating area sort of outside the bar area that might be good if you have little ones with you (my girls love the pizzas). Palomino's is located in the Macy's building.
If your kids are interested in Hockey the check out the Cincinnati Amateur Hockey Association. More information on the Sports page.
**************************************************************************************************************************** ROLLER SKATING
Castle Skateland - www.castleskateland.com. 980 Loveland Maderia Road, Loveland, Ohio 45140 (513-683-6666). Check out their site for times & prices but it looks like they do a family skate night. Fun Factory Roller Skating - www.FunFactoryRollerSkating.com - 1631 Sherman Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45212. (513) 613-1311. Located in Norwood this looks like a fun place to go. They have family skate, Radio Disney Skate, Recession Buster, Kids Fun Skate, and more. They also have some great birthday party packages. Skate lessons also available. See their events calendar for more information. Orbit Fun Center Inc. - www.rinktime.com. 762 Columbus Ave., Lebanon, OH 45036 (513-282-6292). The rates here seem really reasonable and your skate rental is included. This one is up North in Lebanon but I thought I'd throw it in the mix. I need to check it out. Sawyer Point Skating Pavillion - www.cincinnati-oh.gov/crc/pages/-5713-/. 705 East Pete Rose Way Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513-352-6316). This is an outdoor roller rink located in beautiful Sawyer Point along the Ohio River. "Sawyer Point is open daily 6:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. year-round. Admission is free and convenient low-cost parking is available at the park's main entrance, located at the intersection of 801 East Pete Rose Way and Eggleston Avenue". Make sure you call before going since I'm not sure if the roller rink is seasonally operated.
Skatetown USA - www.skatetownusa.us. 8730 N. Pavillion, West Chester, Ohio 45069 (513-874-9855). Check out their website for times but it looks like admission is around $5.00 for most of the family skate times. They also have a "learn to roller skate" program that I've been debating to try out. Read more on Associated Content. Skating on Main - www.skatingonmain.com - 1391 Main Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45013. Looks like they have lots of fun planned. See their events page for more details. On Wednesdays it's value night from 6:30-9:30pm and admission is only $1.50 - wow. Call (513) 868-6246 or find them on Facebook.
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SKIING (Snowboarding & Snow Tubing Too)
We haven't attempted skiing yet as a family but the closest place to go around here is actually a fairly short drive away in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Perfect North Slopes - www.perfectnorth.com. 19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 (812-537-3754 or 513-381-7517). This seems like a great activity for the family if you're ready to bundle up and enjoy the some brisk fresh air. If you get too cold then a cup of hot chocolate does wonders. If you're snow tubing, my friends said they had a fire pit close by where you can warm up. They recently went and had a great time tubing down the slopes.
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SLEDDING
Ahhh, with snow comes the possiblity of no school and the hopes for many kids of sledding. There are actually a few places in Cincinnati that have actual sledding sites beyond the local hill your kids might find. If you can believe it, I actually found a website devoted to sled riding in Ohio - www.sledriding.com/Ohio. There are "designated" sledding areas which I assume to be safer than the ones that aren't. Here are some designated places in Hamilton County:
MasonMetu Tip: If you do go sledding, it might be a good idea to wear a bike helmet.
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