Skating at Castle Ice

In this province of rink deprivation, we are lucky to have a skating rink only 20 minutes from Sammamish where the kiddos can do a public skate and see an actual Zamboni in motion. Castle Ice is offering holiday skating for the next few days from 11-3 and I have to say, if your children have never been on ice skates, do it! Sure you feel like a shaky tightrope walker but for some reason, kids love this. Especially once they get going and let go of your arm. (This is assuming that you can skate and you aren't the one hanging onto their arm).

Castle Ice has two beautiful rinks just off 900 in the Renton vicinity (turn left at the Jay Berry Cafe), miles after Squak Mountain. They rent skates as well as offering walker-type contraptions for the little ones, 5 and under. A snack bar is open to fill all your junk food needs.

My daughter and I must've circled the rink 87 times and I had to drag her off at the end to go home. It's kind of like watching The Lion King over and over and over. Kids don't get bored. Music plays while you skate, making the whole thing more party-like and there are some really good figure skaters who do twirls and spins in the center for your enjoyment as you try to stay upright while your child flails and pulls on you.

Here are my tips for Castle Ice:  Helmets are a great idea. Lots of kids wear them and that ice is rock-like. Go early at 11 to avoid the after lunch rush. Speaking of lunch, take snacks and go out to the car to eat if you don't like fries and coke for lunch. Dress warmly, mitts included—it's ice, therefore it's cool temperatures. Go with friends who also can't skate or at least aren't show offy in a double axel sort of way. Take a camera—any upright movement along the ice is praiseworthy and a photo opportunity.

As a Canadian who was raised on an ice surface, I highly recommend you try this activity with your children this week and if they get discouraged at first, remind them that they are gliding across frozen water on a thin blade of steel and it should feel tippy and strange. Arms out, legs bent, it's skating!