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.

In the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky is the Louisville Extreme Park. This is the town's ultimate skatepark. It offers about 40,000 square feet of skating terrain and the city is in the planning process for a 20,000 square foot addition to the park. The addition that is planned for this park will be a 20,000 square foot skating pavilion that will have room for indoor skating features and concessions. To find this park all you have to do is look for the Louisville Slugger Field on Witherspoon. The Louisville Extreme Park is right next door on the corner of Witherspoon and Clay.

Louisville Extreme Park - The Basics
The Louisville Extreme Park has one of the best collections of skateboarding features in the state. It has a very rare 24 foot diameter full pipe, a six foot bowl, a couple of four foot bowls, a couple of eight foot bowls and a couple of eleven foot bowls. It also offers several fun boxes and a great street course. To top everything off is a twelve foot wooden ramp that has a great thirteen foot extension.

Each section of the Louisville Extreme Park is marked with a blue square, a green circle or a black diamond. A green circle means that the feature is appropriate for beginners, a blue square designates features that are suitable for intermediate skaters and a black diamond designates the most advanced skating features in the park.

Louisville Extreme Park - Important Information
The most important rule that you need to understand before skateboarding at the Louisville Extreme Park is that you have to wear a helmet. This is not just a park rule, it is a Louisville ordinance. If you are caught skating without a helmet then you can get kicked out of the park and be given a ticket.

In addition to wearing a helmet you also want to be dressed appropriately for the weather. On sunny days you will want to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, sunblock and clothing that will keep the moisture away from your body. On cooler days you will want to wear layers so that you can adjust your clothing depending on the weather.

Other rules that you need to understand before skating at the Louisville Extreme Park include skate at your own risk, no smoking, no drinking, no eating and no outside obstacles inside the fenced skating area. Spectators also need to stay outside of the fenced skating area. Finally, only skateboarders, in-line skaters and bicyclers are allowed to use the park. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

If you are a disciple of concrete then the Grand Haven Skatepark is for you. This park, which can be found at One Y Drive in Grand Haven, Michigan is a fantastic skatepark that is located near the entrance of the recreation attraction known as Mulligan's Hollow. Here you will have plenty of room, about 15,000 square feet, to perfect your skating skills, learn new tricks and just have fun.

Grand Haven Skatepark - The Basics
What makes the Grand Haven Skatepark great is that it has something for every type of skater. If you are a vert skater then there is a great full sized bowl and a quarter pipe to work with. On the other hand, if you are a street skater then you will appreciate the street course obstacles that are found in this park. For example, there is a hubba box, rails, c-rails, two sets of five stair sets, one seven stair set with a rail and various boxes and configurations.

Dressing for a Grand, Grand Haven Skatepark Experience
The Grand Haven Skatepark is an outdoor skatepark. This means that you are at the mercy of Mother Nature when you skate here. In order to stay comfortable while skating you will want to dress for the local weather conditions. In Grand Haven, Michigan you can expect the weather to be hot in the summer, cold in the winter and mild during the fall and spring. When picking out clothing to wear to this skatepark you will want to think about dressing in layers. Layers allow you to make adjustments to your clothing as your body temperature changes because of physical exertion or weather changes.

In addition to selecting clothing to protect your body from the weather, you will also want to select clothing options to protect your body from your skating. When the weather is cooler you can wear jeans and long sleeved shirts to help protect your legs and arms from road rash. When the weather is warmer you will want to focus on keeping your skin dry. This means selecting clothing made from cotton and other breathable materials is a good option, as is selecting materials designed to wick moisture away from your skin.

Many communities build skateparks in order to satisfy their residents' desire to skate. Most of the parks that are built are either built in existing community parks or they are built on virgin sites. In Virginia Beach, Virginia there is an amazing skatepark that was actually built using compressed clean soil and refuse. Yes, it was built on a landfill. The park complex is called Mount Trashmore and it is a great example of how communities can turn lemons into lemonade.

Mount Trashmore - The Park
Mount Trashmore is a multi-purpose park. It includes two amazing mountains that were made out of compressed trash and clean soil. This park also contains two lakes that are stocked with fish, and yes you can fish in these lakes. It also includes playgrounds, picnic areas and one of the best skateparks in the state.

Mount Trashmore Skatepark
The Mount Trashmore Skatepark can be found at 310 Edwin Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is primarily a street course skatepark with obstacles, stairs and rails. However, it also has a great seven foot bowl and a 13.5 foot by 40 foot vert ramp, which makes it competition size.

Skating at Mount Trashmore Skatepark is free. You can start skating here at 7:30 in the morning and you can skate until the park closes in the evening. In order to skate here you will need to sign in, get a skatepark wrist band and wear a helmet. Since this park is outdoors and made from wood and composite materials, it is important that you dress appropriately. You will want to wear clothing that protects your skin from sunburn and from abrasions and you will also want to wear padding.

The rules for skating at this park are similar to those found at other skateparks. You need to wear a helmet, you need to skate responsibly and you need to be respectful of other skaters and of the skatepark. If you break these simple rules you will be asked to leave.

Have a great time skating at Mount Trashmore and enjoy the scenery as you catch air!

Finding great places to skateboard is a top priority for skateboarders. However, it is not always easy to find a skate park that is open when the weather is less than cooperative. Fortunately, if you live in or plan on visiting Bristol, Connecticut, you have an indoor option that will give you a place to skate even when there is snow and ice on the ground. It is called the Connecticut Bike and Skate.

Connecticut Bike and Skate - The Basics
The Connecticut Bike and Skate is an indoor skate park that can be found at 86 South Street in Bristol, Connecticut. Being an indoor skate park, it isn't the biggest or most versatile skate park on the planet, but it has enough variety to keep you entertained. It offers mini ramps, a basic street course and a few vert features. This is not a free park, so there are fees and membership requirements that will need to be met before you can use this park to hone your skating or biking skills.

Dressing for an Indoor Skate Park
When you dress for skateboarding, you are normally concerned with protecting your body from abrasions and weather hazards. However, since Connecticut Bike and Skate is an indoor skate park, your clothing needs to focus less on the elements and more on keeping your body from overheating and being soaked by your own sweat.

To dress for an indoor park, you will want to start with a great pair of skateboarding shoes. The soles of these shoes need to have good traction, as well as be slightly flexible. You will also want to pull on a thick pair of cotton socks. Runner's socks work well, because they will keep your feet dry and prevent chafing. If you are opposed to socks then you can prevent moisture problems by sprinkling talcum powder on your feet before putting on your shoes.

Next, you will want to select clothing options that cover your vulnerable areas like knees, elbows and back. Finally you will want to look for clothing options that are designed to wick away moisture from your skin and allow your body to breath. Natural fibers like cotton are always a good option for skateboarders.

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.

In Alabama there is an indoor-outdoor skate park that is calling your name. It is the Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park. Here you will find a great collection of indoor and outdoor skating structures that allow you the chance to learn new tricks and prefect old ones. This park can be found at 1200 Alton Drive in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park - The Basics
Ramp-N-Speed Skate Park offers the best of both indoor and outdoor skate parks. The interior park offers boxes, a 15-foot vertical wall, a 6-foot mini ramp, a hip to a 6-foot mini ramp and a 4-foot spine. Outside you will find a twelve foot vert ramp, several launching ramps, rails, boxes, a triple hip and quarter pipes of various sizes. While this park is packed with great skating features, it is not a bowl park.

Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park - Rules and Hours
During the school year, Ramp-N-Speed Skate Park is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. During the rest of the year, the park is open Tuesday through Thursday from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

This park only has a few simple rules. To start with, you will need to sign a liability waiver before you can skate here. Next you are required to wear a helmet while skating. Pads are option, but recommended. If you don't have your own helmet and pads, you can rent them here. To prevent rashes from the pads, wear a long-sleeved shirt under your elbow pads and long pants under your knees pads. Also, don't forget to put on a pair of shoes that have skid-resistant soles.

In addition to skateboarders, bikers and rollerbladers are also allowed in the park. Since there is a mix of sports going on here, you will want to keep your eyes open and be aware of who and what is around you. Also make sure you don't try to cut anyone off while skating. This can be dangerous and bring the fun mood of the skate park down.

If you are in New England and looking for a great place to go skateboarding, the Rye Airfield is the place to go. This skate park is a New Hampshire Mecca for skaters, which offers about 50,000 square feet of skating terrain. It is generally open Tuesday through Sundays, however, if you want, you can rent out the entire complex on Mondays.

Rye Airfield - The Basics
The Rye Airfield can be found at 170 Lafayette Road in Rye, New Hampshire. During the school year this skate park is open Tuesday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 8:45 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. During winter and spring break, Rye Airfield expands its hours so that it is open Monday through Friday from noon until 8:45 p.m., in addition to its normal weekend hours. During the summer months the park is open Monday through Saturday from noon until 8:45 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5:45 p.m.

This is not a free park, so you will have to find a few bucks to get in. Session passes cost between $10 and $14, day passes cost between $25 and $33, and 30-day passes cost between $49 and $75. The price that you are charged will depend on whether you are a member or a non-member of the Rye Airfield.

Rye Airfield - The Features
The Rye Airfield is one of the largest skate parks in New England, so pull on a pair of jeans and grab your board for one of the best skate experiences of your life. There are four different sections to this park. The first section is the Proving Ground. This area includes ledges, gaps, a pyramid, deck-to-deck jumps, a hubbarail and a variety of trannies.

The second section of the park is called the Flow Unit. Here you will find a great ten-foot quarter pipe, an eight-foot bowl and more modest seven-foot bowl. Make sure you have the skills to navigate these features before you set your board in motion.

The third section of the park is the Micro. Here you will find micro ramps, mini box jumps, rails, pyramids and a double many.

The final area in this park is the Gap Ledges. Here you will find three great ledges with deck-to-deck jumps. This is a great area to learn new tricks.

Castle Rock is a city between Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado. This quaint little urban center has an amazing backdrop to skate against, as well as one of the better skate parks in the state. This skate park is called the Castle Rock Skate Park, and if you enjoy bowls or street courses, you are going to love it.

Castle Rock Skate Park - the Basics
The Castle Rock Skate Park can be found at 4420 Front Street in Castle Rock, Colorado. This park is less than an hour from both Denver and Colorado Springs, so it is the perfect place to go if you are visiting either of these cities. This is a skate-at-your-own-risk park, which means that you are responsible for your own safety. You will want to wear a helmet, padding and the appropriate clothing for the weather. Also, this park has easy transitions and roll-ins into the bowls, which means a lot of people who don't really have the skills to handle bowls will be trying their luck. Keep this is mind as you roll in and be aware of who is skating around you.

Castle Rock Skate Park - The Bowls
The Castle Rock Skate Park has a great collection of bowls. The largest bowl has an estimated depth of 9.5 feet. There is also a tri-bowl with depths of three, four and five feet, a fish bowls, a mogul bowl and a handicap bowl. Most of the bowls in this skate park have roll-ins, and some bowls are connected to one another with spines.

Castle Rock Skate Park - Street Terrain
While the bowls at this park are great they are not the main attraction. The street course at this park is super cool and super big. In fact, the square footage dedicated to the street course is larger than most skate parks in Colorado. The street course is made up of banks, rails, stairs, trannies, curbs, planters, ledges and a great new snake run. Again keep in mind that there are skaters of all skill level using the park and some may not have the skills to maintain control of their boards and bodies. To protect yourself and them from injuries keep your eyes open for other skaters as you navigate your way around the street course.

California is the center of the skateboarding universe. This state has an amazing collection of both free and fee skate parks. If you are looking for a great place for bowl skating, venture to Pala, California. Here you will find the Pala Skate Park.

Pala Skate Park - The Basics
The Pala Skate Park can be found at 11154 Highway 76 in Pala, California. This park is primarily a bowl park, and the bowls are fabulous. This is where you will want to bring your board if you are interested in catching some serious air.

Pala Skate Park - Hours of Operation
Like many skate parks, Pala Skate Park has a seasonal schedule for its hours of operation. The winter schedule is in effect from September until May. During the winter season you can skate at Pala Monday through Friday from two in the afternoon until dark, which is about 6 p.m. and on the weekends from ten in the morning until dark. The summer season runs from June to August. During this season you will be able to skate during the week from nine in the morning until seven in the evening and on the weekends from ten until six.

Pala Skate Park - Cost
Pala Skate Park is a fee park. You can buy a daily, weekend or annual park pass for a reasonable price. Daily rates run about $5 for the general public and $3 a day for local residents with a 92059 zip code. The weekend pass will cost about $5 if you are 12 or younger, $10 for skaters 13 and older and $3 for tribal members with an ID. Annual passes can also be purchased for around $100.

Skating at the Pala Skate Park
The Pala Skate Park is located in an area of California that has a temperate climate. This means that the weather gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Since the park is open year round you will need to dress for the weather. This means wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants when the weather is chilly and wearing breathable clothing when the weather is hot.

New York is a state this has just about everything you could ever want from urban attractions to wildlife adventures. If you are a skater and touring the Catskill Region of New York then stop by the infamous Skate Time 209 for a great time. This skating site not only offers a 10,000-square foot skate park, but it offers a retro roller rink, an arcade and a snack bar. If you are ready for a skating caper, pull on your hoodie and head to Skate Time 209.

Skate Time 209 - the Basics
You can find Skate Time 209 at 5164 Route 209, Mettacahonts Road in Accord, New York. This is in the Catskill Region of New York. It is a little off the beaten trail but well worth the effort to get there. The fee for using the skate park will be about $9 for a single session or about $20 for a day pass.

The schedule for Skate Time 209 is broken up by season. The winter schedule will generally offer two sessions, an afternoon session, which runs from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., and an evening session, which runs from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. The summer season will generally offer three sessions. It is a good idea to call ahead to see if a session is open to the public or if it has been rented for a party, which is particularly important during the summer season.

In order to skate at Skate Time 209 you will be required to wear a helmet. You can rent helmets at the rental counter. Also this is a BYOB (bring your own board) skate park. However, if you want to use the roller rink, you can rent roller skates (the old fashion kind) at the rental counter.

Skate Time 209 - Features
Skate Time 209 has both vert features and street course features. Its top attractions include a half pipe with a berm and drops of six feet and eight feet. The street course features include things like rails, lots of great boxes, stairs and hubbas.

Virginia is a great state to be in if you enjoy skateboarding. Throughout the state you will find skate parks that offer the usual fair of ramps, bowls and boxes. However, if you are looking for a unique skating experience on a Sunday night, make your way to Fairfax, Virginia for two hours of skateboarding fun.

Skate Night - Fairfax, Virginia
Skate Night is a unique skate park found at 4601 West Ox Road in Fairfax, Virginia. It is only open two hours a week, on Sundays from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 a.m. This skate park offers a quaint collection of obstacles and skateboarding features such as a quarter pipe, a grind box, a manual box, a launch ramp, a handrail and various other types of obstacles. This skate park also offers a grind box, which has a rising height that goes from knee height down to about curb height. While not the best skate park in the country, it does offer you a place to skate in Fairfax.

Skateboard Safety at Skate Night
Like most skateboarding parks in the United States, Skate Night is a skate-at-your-own-risk park. This means that your safety is in your own hands. To make sure you stay safe, you need to wear a helmet with a chin strap, elbow pads and knee pads. You will also want to wear a decent pair of skateboarding shoes so that you have proper grip on your board.

While skating at Skate Night, you should make sure that you stay in control of your board. Lots of people use this park at the same time, and you never know what or who is going to cross your path. Finally, wear clothes that will keep you dry and warm or dry and cool, depending on the time of the year. Dressing in layers is a good idea, as you can strip off layers as your body temperature rises, or you can add layers as your body temperature drops. If you will be trying rail tricks at this park, you may also want to wear a cup for protection in case you end up straddling the rail or your board.

If you enjoy riding on ramps then Rampriders in St. Louis is a skate park you have to go to. Located at 2324 Salena, this skate park offers a great selection of ramps. This park is open seven days a week, has a short list of rules to follow and is generally a fun place to go to find weeknight or weekend entertainment for the whole family.

Rampriders - Rules
Rampriders is open to skateboarders, inline skaters and bikers. Most of the sessions are open to all of these athletes, however, there are special sessions scheduled on Sundays for mini-man bikes as well. In order to skate or bike at Rampriders, you will first need to complete and submit a liability waiver. If you are under 18, you will need your parent or guardian to fill out and sign this form for you.

Like other skate parks, Rampriders also requires that you wear a helmet at all times while using the park. If you don't have a helmet or if you forget to bring one, you can rent a helmet from the Pro Shop. Helmet rentals are $5 per session.

The final rule is that you have to be respectful while using the park's facilities. This means no fighting, no drinking, no eating, no stealing and no tagging. It also means that you have to do what the staff at Rampriders tells you to do. If you break the rules, you will be asked to leave.

Rampriders - Hours of Operation
Rampriders is open seven days a week. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the park is open from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. On Fridays, it is open from 5 p.m. until midnight, on Saturday the park is open from 11 a.m. until midnight, and on Sunday the park is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. On Sunday the day is broken up into two sessions. The first session is scheduled from 10 a.m. until noon. This session is generally designated for young skaters between the ages of 8 and 10. The second session is from noon until 8 p.m. and it is open to all skaters and bikers.

If you are ready for a great time, step into your favorite pair of skating shoes and head for St. Louis!

There are several skate parks in the state of Alabama, however, one of the coolest is the Veterans Skate Park found in Alabaster, Alabama. This skate park is well maintained and safe. The best part about it is that it is just for skateboarders, so you don't have to navigate your way through bikes, scooters and in-line skaters, who have different skating patterns and priorities than skateboarders do.

Veterans Skate Park - The Basics
Veterans Skate Park is found at 7305 Highway 119 in Alabaster, Alabama. In order to use this park, you will first need to complete and file a liability waiver with the park's department. If you are 19 years of age or older, you can sign the waiver yourself. If you are under 19, you will need a parent or guardian to sign it for you. Another requirement to skate at this park is the use of a helmet while skating. The helmet must fit your head properly, be worn at all times and also have a chinstrap.

Veterans Skate Park - Features
Veterans Skate Park has both bowl features and street course features. The bowls are set up without lead in and look a lot like swimming pool bowls. The street course features are grouped together and include a set of concrete stairs, rails and ramps.

Veterans Skate Park - Hours and Fees
The Veterans Skate Park is a city-run park that charges a minimal fee of $1 per day for weekdays and $2 per day for weekends. The park is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from four until eight in the evening, Saturday from noon until eight and Sunday from one until eight. The park is closed on Wednesdays and on city holidays.

Dressing for Skating at the Veterans Skate Park
To get the most from your experience at the Veterans Skate Park, there are steps that you can take. First you need to dress for skating in an outdoor, concrete skate park. This means wearing good skating shoes that have a grippy sole, elbow and knee pads and a shirt to protect your skin from the sun and from road rash if you fall. You can wear shorts or long pants, depending on the weather and your preferences. Finally, you are required to protect your head and its contents with a helmet that has a chin strap.

One of the best parts about living in the South is that you have relatively good skateboarding weather all year long. As a result, there are numerous skate parks that you can use in the South. A great family skate park found in Louisiana is the Bayou Wheels Skate Park. Here you will find a skating atmosphere that is kid-friendly and family friendly.

Bayou Wheels Skate Park - The Basics
The Bayou Wheels Skate Park can be found at 300 Parkview Drive in New Iberia, Louisiana. It is open during the summer months, seven days a week from noon until seven at night, as long as the weather permits. From mid-August to October 1, the park is only open on the weekends from noon until six at night. Then, from October 2 until April the park is only open on weekends from noon until five at night. However, during the school year, the park does open up for school holidays, so you will have other opportunities to use the park.

The admission fee to use the Bayou Wheels Skate Park is about $1. Skateboarders, in-line skaters and scooters are all allowed to use the park. While this park is fairly liberal when it comes to who can use the park, you will be required to wear a helmet and padding if you are fifteen years old or younger, and you will be required to wear at least a helmet if you are sixteen years old or older.

Bayou Wheels Skate Park - The Features
For a small skate park, the Bayou Wheels Skate Park has a great selection of features to work with. It has the basics like rails, a pyramid, pipes and flat ramps. However, they also have a great eight-foot half pipe and multiple quarter pipes to trick out on.

If you are looking for something fun to do in Louisiana with your kids or with your friends, pull on a rash guard, grab your board and head to the Bayou Wheels Skate Park. The park is set up for spectators also, so if you don't skate or if you need a break, you can watch others skate from picnic tables and bleachers set up in an observation area.