While Chicago is a hot bed for cultural and urban attractions, sometimes you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Champagne, Illinois is a charming city south of the Windy City. Here you will find a great little skate park called Spalding Skate Park. This park is a public skate park and free to use.

Spalding Skate Park - the Basics
Spalding Skate Park is a concrete skate park that offers about 18,000 square feet of skating terrain. It can be found at 900 Harris in Champagne, Illinois, and is open to both skateboarders and in-line skaters. Here you will find both vert park features and street course features. In the vert park, you will find three great bowls with easy bowl-to-bowl transitions and several quarter pipes. The street course offers a snake run, rails, stairs and obstacles.

Spalding Skate Park is open all week long from dawn until dusk. It is a part of a larger park called Spalding Park. This park offers open, grassy areas, ball parks and other recreational attractions.

Staying Safe in Spalding Skate Park
Skating is a lot of fun and is a good way to stay in shape, however, it can be hard on your body. To keep yourself from getting injured, you need to wear the proper clothing and the proper safety gear. During the hot months of the year, you will want to wear clothing that is breathable and that will wick moisture away from your skin. During the colder months of the year, you will want to dress in layers and wear the proper outerwear. Regardless of the time of the year, you will want to wear a well fitted helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. You will also want to wear a pair of skating shoes that will give you good traction on your board.

In addition to dressing properly for skateboarding, you will also want to take steps to stay safe on your board. First make sure the skating zone is free of hazards like broken glass and trash. Clear these things away before you start rolling. Next, check out who else is using the park. Get a feel for how they are skating and their skill level before you try to share the skating space. For example, if you notice a skater is wobbly on their board, you will want to keep a larger gap between you and them while skating as they obviously are a newbie and most likely will have troubles keeping their board under control.

Ohio is filled with hidden skateboarding treasures. This state has a few big cities and a lot of suburbs to explore. If you are looking for skate parks, you will have the best luck by looking in the suburban regions of the state. One skate park that you will not want to pass by is the Stomping Grounds. This skate park is found in Austintown, Ohio, which is just outside of Youngstown, Ohio.

The Basics
Stomping Grounds is a great indoor park that offers nearly everything that you need to develop your skateboarding skills. It can be found at 1379 S. Raccoon Road in Austintown, Ohio. Here you will find quarter pipes and half pipes, ramps, stairs, rails, boxes and other great street and vert park features. This is a concrete and wood park, so you will want to wear long pants to protect your legs from slivers and road rash if you fall.

Schedule and Fees
Stomping Grounds has two schedules: a winter schedule and a summer schedule. The summer schedule is in effect from June 15 through Labor Day. During this time, the park is open Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., Friday 6 p.m. until midnight and Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. with a second session from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Winter sessions run Sundays from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Generally you will pay about $10 per session. The only exceptions are Monday and Saturdays. Monday is Cheap Monday and your session is only $5. If you want to skate all day on Saturday, your session fee will be about $20.

Rules and Tips
In order to skate at the Stomping Grounds, you will first need to fill out a liability waiver. A lot of skate parks currently requiring this. Next, if you are under 18 years of age, you will need to wear a helmet at all times while skating at this park. However, if you are over 18, wearing a helmet is up to you.

Rutland, Ohio is one of the best cities to visit if you are a diehard fan of skateboarding. Not only does Rutland have one of the best private skate parks in the world, but it is also the home of the Museum of Skateboard History. If you are ready for a great vacation, then plan to visit Rutland.

Rutland, Ohio - Star Attractions
For skateboarders, the two star attractions in Rutland, Ohio are Skatopia and the Museum of Skateboard History. Fortunately, they are both located at 34961 Hutton Road, Rutland, Ohio so you can experience both attractions at once. The Museum of Skateboard History has a fabulous collection of vintage skateboards, and if you count them, you will find about 12,000 examples of historic boards. After browsing through the museum, you will want to put on your safety gear and hit the skate park section of the complex. Here you will find both indoor and outdoor segment, so you can basically skate here regardless of the weather. Make sure you check out what is going on at the park during your vacation, as this is the site of numerous skateboarding events, like the Backwoods Blowout.

Athens County Attractions
If you are interested in doing a little site seeing while visiting Rutland, Ohio you will need to expand your search to Athens County. Athens County, Ohio has a lot of great historical and cultural attractions. First, however, grab a slice of pizza at Pizza Dan's, located at 244 Main Street, Rutland, Ohio. Once you have a great meal in your stomach, pull on your hoodie and hit the road.

To get the history of the area, visit Athens Country Historical Museum found at 65 North Court Street. If you are interested in military history, you will want to visit the Athens County Military Museum, which can be found at 145 West Columbus Street in Nelson, Ohio. Finally, as you travel through Athens County, keep your eyes open for historical sites like the Adena Indian Mounds and historical, covered bridges. There are a lot of great attractions scattered throughout this county so stop by the local chambers of commerce and visitors' centers of the cities you drive through for information on what to see and do in that city.

Montreal is a major tourist destination in Canada. This city can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec and is known for its unique collection of cultures, amazing cuisine and an active entertainment industry. However, this city is also a great place to visit if you are a skateboarder. To find a skateboarding-themed adventure you don't have to look very far.

The Biggest Indoor Skatepark/Skateparc in Canada

The one stop you can't miss while visiting Montreal is the Orkus Skatepark. This skatepark, or skateparc as French Canadians call it, can be found at 4300 Cote de Liesse, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This skatepark is the largest indoor skatepark in Canada and offers skaters and spectators 30,000 square feet of fun. Inside the complex you will find several interesting skating arenas, a snack bar and a parents' lounge.

The Neighborhood of Saint Leonard

If you are looking for an outdoor skateboarding adventure then go to the neighborhood now known as Saint Leonard. Here you will find two free skateparks. The first park is designed for beginner skateboarders. It is called the Parc Garibaldi and it can be found at 7125 rue Lienart. This park is modest and only has three wooden skating structures, but it is a good place to build your basic boarding skills.
If you are an intermediate skateboarder, then you will want to pull on your hoodie or jacket and go to the Parc Wilfrid-Bastien. This skatepark can be found at 8181 Blvd Lacordaire. It offers eight different skateboarding structures and is open to the public from the beginning of June until the end of August.

South Parc

Another famous skatepark in Montreal is South-Parc Skatepark. This park can be found at 8100 Tashereau, Bossard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This park has 23,000 square feet of terrain to tear up, numerous wooden skate structures, vert ramps, wedge-to-wedge features, a slant wall, obstacles and hand rails. This park also has a special area for young kids, called the Pee Wee park, so you don't have to worry about running over little kids while you practice your tricks, and little kids don't have to worry about getting pushed around by older skaters.

Colorado is home to many great vacation opportunities including world class whitewater rafting, shopping and backcountry adventures. However, this state is also a great vacation destination for skateboarders as well. If you want to stay away from the crowds found in Denver, then consider the quaint town of Longmont, Colorado. This town has six skateparks, a great little skateboard shop and it is the home to several annual skateboarding events.

Longmont, Colorado - Skateparks
The first thing that skateboarders want to know about a city is where its skateparks are. Longmont, Colorado has six free skateparks. These skateparks are usually found within larger recreation areas and family parks. This means you will not only have easy access to great skating, but you can also try out some of the other activities found at the park complex.

If you are a novice skateboarder, or if you are skating with young kids, then you will want to stick to the Clark/Centennial Skatepark, located at 1100 Lashley, and the Stephen Day Skatepark, located at 1340 Deerwood. Both of these parks have a great selection of skateboarding features, and Centennial Park also has a roller hockey rink you can play around in.

If you are an intermediate or advanced skateboarder then you will have four skateparks to choose from. For intermediate skaters who are just moving up from the beginner rating, you will want to try out the Longmont Rec Center Skatepark found at 501 Quail Road. If you are an experienced skateboarder looking for both intermediate and advanced skatepark features, then you can try out the Blue Skies Skatepark, located at 1520 Mountain Drive, and Sandstone Ranch Skatepark, located at 2525 E. Highway 119.

Other Skateboarding Attractions
In addition to an amazing collection of skateparks, Longmont, Colorado also is the home to Sol Skateboards. This funky little skate shop can be found at 627 Main Street, and it is a great stop for skateboarding clothes and equipment. If you are interested in skateboarding events then you will want to visit this city during the summer. This is when the Mountain Madness Skateboarding Competition and the U.S. Nationals of Slalom Skateboard Racing are held.

According to both Kerry Getz and Rob Derek, Barcelona, Spain is one of the best vacation spots for skaters. This historical city not only is beautiful and full of regular tourist spots, but it is also a fantastic destination for skateboarding. Whether you are a street skateboarder of a trick skateboarder, pack your skater fashion and plan to visit this city on your next vacation.

Barcelona Skateboarding Events
Barcelona is the home to many skateboarding events. No matter what time of year it is, this hot destination for skateboarders will have something going on. One of the top events in Barcelona is the DC King of Barcelona. This is an amateur skateboarding event that takes advantage of the city's many great skateboarding venues. If you will be in Barcelona in September, check out this event.

Barcelona Skateboarding Parks
Barcelona is really a street skateboarder's destination. This city allows you to skateboard on sidewalks and in plazas. The only real restrictions are that you have to keep your shirt on, you can't ride your board on public furniture (benches and things) and you can't harass or harm other people. Pretty reasonable considering you are allowed to skate around in an amazing environment full of ledges, ridges, rails and other street obstacles, not to mention wicked cool architecture, scenery and history.

If you feel a need for bowls, pipes and other trick boarding features the city of Barcelona does have a skatepark you can go to. You will be required to buy a monthly pass for the park, but the cost is minimal. You can find this park at Carrer de Pamplona 88. However, if you are interested in an authentic Barcelona skateboarding adventure, stick to street boarding in the neighborhood of El Raval, especially around the Placa de Universitat.

Word of warning: El Raval is a bit seedy, so watch your boards and your belongings while enjoying the city now referred to as the "Skate Capital of the World."

Skating Outside of Barcelona

While Barcelona is a great place to skateboard, if you are traveling to Spain to go skateboarding, don't limit your experiences just to Barcelona. There are a lot of great beach cities located only a few miles outside of Barcelona, which offer an amazing selection of skating spots, including bull fighting arenas.

The Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark is known as one of the best in London, England. This park is inexpensive to use, located close to the tube and has numerous skating features to experiment on. BMXers, inline skaters and skateboarders are all welcomed at this park, however, bikers are restricted to the street course during most of the week. If you live in London or are planning a visit and you are looking for a great skatepark to try out this weekend then dress in your favorite skater shorts and try out Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark.

Getting to Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark

You can find Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark at Bay 65-66, Acklam Road in London, England W10 5YU. It is located close to the Ladbroke Grove Tube stop so it is easy to get to. If you plan on taking the bus, then you can take buses numbered 7, 23 or 52 to Ladbroke Grove, and then walk the rest of the way to the skatepark. At the park you will find a street course, a vert, medi ramps and a variety of quarter and half pipes.

Rules for Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark

There are only a few rules for using the Bay Sixty-6 Skatepark. Rule number one is that you will need to wear a helmet at all times if you are a biker or an inline skater. Skateboarders, on the other hand, will only be required to wear a helmet when they ride the vert. Another rule is that you have to sign up for a free park membership.

Price and Sessions

There are two skating sessions during the week and three skating sessions on the weekends. On Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays you can skate from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. or from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays you can skate from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. or from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. On the weekends the morning session is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m, the afternoon session is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the evening session is scheduled from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. The price for skating here is six pounds for a four or five hour session and three pounds for the morning sessions on the weekends.

Montana is not the first place you think of when you think of skateboarding vacation destinations, however, Missoula, Montana is quickly developing into a great skater community. This city is the home of the University of Montana, two skateparks, numerous skateboarding events and countless opportunities to skate in the great outdoors. If you are looking for a hidden jewel of a skateboarder vacation destination, come to the Garden City.

Missoula Skateboarding Parks

There are currently two skateboarding parks in Missoula, Montana. The first is the YMCA Skatepark of Missoula. It can be found at 3000 Russell St., which is in the southeastern corner of the city. The YMCA Skatepark of Missoula is the city's oldest park. The second, and best park in Missoula, is the Mobash Skatepark, located on the corner of Orange Street and Glens Lane, which is just across the Orange Street Bridge on the west side of the street. This is a large outdoor concrete park with about 15,000 square feet of skating terrain, two bowl features and a street course. This park is the home to numerous skateboarding events each year.

Missoula Skating Events

Missoula is a community that enjoys outdoor fun, and since the opening of the Mobash Skatepark, the city has continuously added new skateboarding events each year. Free skateboarding and extreme sport demonstrations are common events that you can sit in on. Other events include the Go Skateboarding Day! and Skate Jam. Check out the Independent or the Missoulian for the latest event dates and venues.

Buying Boards in the Garden City

While in Missoula don't forget to do a little shopping. Whether you are looking for a light jacket to skate in or custom boards, you find what you are looking for along the Higgins boardwalk in downtown Missoula or in one of the many shopping districts in the city. Some of the places you can buy boards and gear include:

▪ Edge of the World, 618 S. Higgins
▪ Bob Ward and Sons, 3015 Paxson St.
▪ Gart Sports, 2640 N. Reserve St.
▪ Play It Again Sports, 2230 N. Reserve St.

Denver, Colorado is the home to many great skateparks. One of the most versatile skateparks in Denver is the Denver Skatepark. This park is open seven days a week from 5:00 in the morning until 11:00 at night. If you are looking for quick access to both street terrain and bowls, this is the park for you

Getting to the Denver Skatepark

The Denver Skatepark can be found at 2205 19th Street, Denver, Colorado. To get to this park you will need to make your way to Downtown Denver and then turn onto either 15th Street or 20th Street heading toward Lo Do. Next turn onto Little Raven and take this street to the park. If you are trying to map out your way to the park from your house, apartment or hotel, make sure the directions don't include Lipan Street. This street, while still on maps and online map tools, doesn't exist any more. Stick to 20th, 15th and Little Raven.

Denver Skatepark Size

One of the best design features of the Denver Skatepark is its overall size. The street terrain section of the park alone is larger than most skateparks in this part of the country, and it is the largest free skatepark in the United States. The overall size of this park is around 50,000 square feet and its features were designed by the city's skaters.

Denver Skatepark Street Terrain

The street terrain section of the Denver Skatepark contains everything you could want from a street terrain run. It contains stairs, trannies, curbs, banks, rails and ledges. These obstacles and platforms are located off to the side of the skatepark so they don't get in the way of the other skate features. This park is continuously being updated and added to. One of the latest additions to this park is the snake run, which circles the bowl section of the park and includes lots of hills and valleys to run.

Denver Skatepark Bowls

For a quick warm-up before you start tricking out on the bowls, try riding the moguls. These gentle bowls will allow you to warm up your legs and get the feel for the park's terrain before you try out the more challenging features.

If you are into vertical skating, then you are going to love the bowl section of the Denver Skatepark. This park has several different bowls with various depths and features that you can choose from. The first bowl option is the Handicapped bowl. This bowl offers a roll-in feature that makes it easier for novices to get into and out of it. It offers bowl depths between about three feet and five feet. If you are looking for a challenging vertical bowl then you will want to try out the deepest bowl in the park. It offers a bowl depth of about nine and a half feet.

Safety Warnings

Here are a few warnings that skaters new to the Denver Skatepark need to understand. First of all the roll-in feature of the Handicapped Bowl makes it easy to get into for novices, however, it is still a challenging bowl to ride. If you have never skated in a bowl before, then try a shallower bowl before attempting the Handicapped Bowl. Another feature that you will want to be aware of is the tight transitions that many of the bowls in this park contain. Even the shallow bowls seem to be tighter than you would expect. The final safety warning is that you need to wear safety equipment including a helmet and proper padding. This is a skate at your own risk park, so do what it takes to protect your "assets" from damage and live to skate another day!