The problem with long summer vacations is that there are so few activities out there that don't cost a lot of money to pursue. Even skateboard parks, which should really be viewed as belonging to all residents of a certain city, often times charge exorbitant entry fees. And in trying economic times like these it is oftentimes healthy activities for young people that get cut out by parents looking to keep food on the table.

That is why it is so important that skate clothing maker Etnies still doesn't charge an entry fee to its Lake Forest, CA skateboard park. Etnies Skate Park is located at the corner of Lake Forest Road and the 261 Toll Road. Entry is free every day and is open from 11 am until 9 pm. All day Wednesday and Sunday mornings are set aside only for BMX riders so be aware of those particular restrictions if you only like skateboarding. BMX riding and skating on one park is absolutely impossible and only causes gnarly injuries and the occasional fistfight as riders battle for space.

Not that Etnies Skate Park is lacking in space or special features. Etnies Skate Park features a section that apes the appearance of a regular street corner, has a combination bowl and even a swimming pool with textured tiling. There is over 40,000 square feet of skateboarding space and while weekends are always rather busy, the Etnies Skate Park is pretty open even on weekdays during the summer.

The street corner section (also called The Plaza) of Etnies Park also boasts some very unique attributes like a never ending twelve step rail and a couple of elevated manhole covers so expert skaters can pull off some snaps. The Plaza also features a perilous circular rail that leads down to a lower flat rail leading to the main course. There are fun boxes, picnic benches, flat boxes and ledges all set to challenge any skateboarding fanatic. The course is also laid out in a linear manner so once you finish on one end it is very easy to get back on the course for another go.

Skate parks are found in a high concentration throughout the state of California. Some are huge and have all the bells and whistles while others are small and have only the bare basics. If you are in Costa Mesa and are looking for a basic skate park, go to Costa Mesa Skate Park, also called the Volcom Skate Park. This park can be found at 900 Arlington in Costa Mesa, California.

Volcom Skate Park - The Basics
The Volcom Skate Park is small and basic. However, it has a few elements for both vert skaters and street skaters. Some of the skating features offered by this park include two bowls: a little kidney bowl and a nice sized bowl. The street course features offered by the Volcom Skate Park include rails, stairs and straight-a-ways. This park is open between nine in the morning and nine at night.

Volcom Skate Park - Rules and Regulations
The City of Costa Mesa owns and manages the Volcom Skate Park. This means that they make the rules for the park. While not overly restrictive, there are a few basic rules that you will need to follow if you want to skateboard or inline skate here. The first rule is that you are responsible for your own safety. This means you need to remain in control of your board and wear the right protective gear, which is the next rule. You are required to wear a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. If you are caught without these pieces of protective gear, you will be given a ticket.

You are not allowed to bring anything into the park to use as an obstacle, like ramps, trash cans or cones. You also are not allowed to eat or drink in the skating area. While in the park, you will also be held accountable for your own behavior. The park managers ask that you don't use profanity, tag or leave trash in the park. Finally, you can only skate in the designated area. This means no skating in the parking lot or on the sidewalks.

Dressing for Your Volcom Skate Park
If you want to have a great time while skating in Volcom Skate Park, you will want to dress for comfort. This means wearing clothing that will protect your arms and legs from road rash if you crash, and it also means wearing a hat or dew rag to protect your head from the sun. Finally, apply sunscreen and bring sunglasses to prevent getting toasted by the sun.