Learning to Rollerskate at Skate and Play

I can’t tell who is about to have more fun: myself, bathed in the nostalgia of quad roller skates and disco ball lighting, or my kids, age 12 and 7, about to start lessons for the first time.

We are at Skate and Play - formerly 4Wheelies, an indoor rollerskating rink, arcade, and (newly) restaurant/lounge in west Ottawa. The location is a good one (1101 Baxter Road), with lots of free parking; it’s right off the highway at Pinecrest.

If that wasn’t cool enough, The Exit Lounge, a sleek retro space splashed with teals and golds, sits adjacent to the rink, providing patrons with après-skate meals or just drinks at the bar. The day menu is family-friendly and has decent pricing; the night menu steps things up a bit from pizza and burgers and includes elevated dishes like salmon, lamb chops, and tomahawk steak. Good for a date night too, it seems!

During the shutdown of 2020, I was lucky enough to come by some quad roller skates for my family. We moved the furniture in our tiny living room and spent hours going back and forth between rooms. We also found underground parking garages with smooth concrete floors to frequent. 

I’ll say definitively: Skate & Play’s space is way better.

With lots of space to observe (either standing or seated on benches), parents can spread out and watch their kids at either end of the rink. Notably absent during lessons is the rocking music and flashing lights of their open skate times, which is probably for the best. The kids work hard in their hour, taking breaks when needed and being gently encouraged by the instructors. There is lots of one-on-one time for each kid. And the last ten minutes of class are dubbed ‘recess,’ where the kids can free-skate to music and practice the skills they learned in class.

If you’re not sure you want to commit to buying roller skates ahead of time (which run anywhere from $80-$300+), that’s ok - Skate & Play houses hundreds of pairs of skates of all sizes. Even my giant footed husband (size 13) fits into rental skates. Everyone under 12 must have a helmet at least, and most people bring elbow, knee, and wrist pads, too. During lessons there were a few minor falls; which are unavoidable when you’re learning new skills. I was glad I had purchased a set of pads on Amazon for each kid.

Overall, the six weeks of classes was a big win. My kids learned and practiced new skills and left the rink feeling empowered and excited for more. Both kids had an equally good time, despite the big difference in their ages. Activities like roller skating seem to even the playing field on age. We struggle to find activities that suit both a pre-teen and a kid, and this one hits it out of the park.

TL/DR:

Skate & Play, with its gorgeous hardwood rink, kind instructors, and varied amenities, is a great option for an afternoon of fun or a pack of lessons. If you’ve never skated before or you’re wobbly, lessons are the place to start.

Age range: all ages, including adults

Experience level: None needed, all experience levels welcome

Cost: $150 for 6 weeks - next round starts in September

Location: West Ottawa (address) - in the old Ottawa Citizen building behind Ikea. 

Class types: Beginner or Intermediate level for kids and adults

For parents: Free parking, lots of seats to hang out and watch your kid. No water fountain - bring a big water bottle.

High points: Free parking, lots of seating, multiple things to do if you or your kids get bored/tired easily.

Low points: no water fountains, no helmet or other equipment rental, no rollerblades allowed. Definite potential for injury but with the right equipment the risk decreases.

Contacts:

Skate & Play https://skate-play.com/

Exit Lounge  https://ottawaexitlounge.com/

Jen is a Mum of 4 and an Ottawa business owner living in the National Capital. She received a complimentary 6 week class pass, but all views are her own.

The return of Puppets Up in Almonte means family fun has a few strings attached

Almonte’s famous Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival is back again, bringing family-friendly entertainment to the small town’s charming streets August 10 and 11.

Day passes (available online until August 9) are only $20 for kids 12 and under or $30 for anyone 13+ and give you access to as many of the 13 shows taking place across six venues as you can fit into your schedule.

Families also won’t want to miss the daily puppet parade, roaming street entertainment, the children’s craft tent or Le Jardin des Petites Âmes, an immersive experience for kids 6 and younger.

With talented performers coming from across North America, there are performances perfect for any family, whether you’re drawn to the bright colours and playful energy of Rock the Arts Puppets’ “Be Pozzy!” or Humpty Dumpty Puppet Theatre, or you prefer the spellbinding majesty of Tanglewood Marionettes’ “The Dragon King” or Puzzle Theatre’s two shows.

(A complete list of shows, including recommended ages and notes on accessibility and sensory considerations, can be found on the Puppets Up! website).

Ticket prices go up at the door so your best bet is to buy online and start planning your visit today!

Soaring over Ottawa

While you are probably familiar with the letters YOW, the capital has a second somewhat secret airport. We are lucky enough to have an aviation museum which, on top of displaying planes across many eras, also offers opportunities for you to ride them. The fleet of small aircraft offers scenic views of Ottawa and, while intimidating to many, a more engaging flying experience. I have already flown in the biplane and helicopter, so this weekend, I decided to finish the triad trial by flier and went on the museum's Cessna Parliament Tour.

I arrived on a sunny Saturday at the Museum of Aviation with a friend of mine. It was perfect weather for a flight. We walked through the museum, seeing the plethora of vintage aircraft and a cadets graduation ceremony along the way, before arriving at the tarmac. There, we met our pilot and boarded the back of the small airplane. Within 30 seconds, we were rolling on the runway and taking off.

Immediately, we were fully turned towards our windows. On my side, I could see abandoned islands on the Gatineau side of the river, while my friend pointed out horses from the RCMP stables. As we ascended, we looked over Rockcliffe Park and pointed out places like the yacht club, 24 Sussex and Rideau hall, all visible at the same time. I also enjoyed the colorful houses in Gatineau. After a few minutes, we were flying over downtown.

The altitude of the flight is perfect, since you can see many landmarks simultaneously while still seeing individual details. I could see Parliament Hill, the University and even Lansdowne Park at the same time! Our pilot circled around downtown, giving us time to fully savor the experience. I loved whenever the plane would tilt during the turns and I could see what was directly below me.

As we headed back, I saw my school and house, something that most people who live in Ottawa should be able to see on the extensive route of the flight. Seeing a place so familiar from a totally different angle was definitely a highlight. Finally, we had a smooth landing back at the museum, now having completed this tour on all aircraft available.

If you too want to see Ottawa and Gatineau from the best view possible, check out the Museum of Aviation. The Cessna tour costs $45 or $55 per person, depending on if it's 2 or 3 passengers. On top of the year-round Cessna tour, you can also ride in a helicopter or vintage biplane from May through October. For more information, click here.

David (15) and his friend received a free flight but all views are his own.

Alpaca Fun at Little Foot Alpaca Farm

When you think of the most social animals, what comes to mind? Dolphins with their playful pods? Monkeys that create some of the most advanced animal societies with their troops?

Surely human’s best friend, the dog. It turns out there is another animal that should be added to this list- alpacas. These creatures only thrive in groups of more than three and are also incredibly calm. This makes them the perfect animal to spend a weekend outing with, as I did recently at Little Foot Alpaca Farm.

We arrived at Little Foot Alpaca Farm, and met Caroline. We started off the tour by checking out some of the finished alpaca fur products, as well as seeing the large wall of awards they earned. We then visited the docile female alpacas. Caroline gave us some pellets to feed the creatures, which they ate from our hands.

This group of alpacas is used for breeding, with pregnancies lasting for up to a year! We were able to pet the alpacas’ soft fur as we learned more interesting information from Caroline. As it turns out, alpacas are the equivalent of dogs in Peru, their origin country!

After closing the female alpacas’ pen, we went over and visited the more rowdy male alpacas. As we walked in, we heard them “chattering” by making all sorts of chaotic noises. Among them was Little Foot’s champion alpaca, an individual without blemishes and incredibly soft fur. We spread out to feed the males so that they didn’t fight too much over food. It’s very clear that alpacas are among the most extroverted animals in the animal kingdom. After spending a lot of time with the males, we went back inside.

At the end of our tour, we took a look at the Little Foot gift shop, containing the fruits of the alpaca’s existence- fur products. Among all the clothing items I mentioned earlier, there were also alpaca figurines made out of their fur. I ended up buying a soft pair of gloves, before saying goodbye to Little Foot farm.

If you too want to meet some alpacas and maybe purchase some of the softest clothing/decorations possible along the way, visit Little Foot Alpaca Farm. Some of Little Foot’s other experiences include a one-hour Alpaca Trek for people ages 14+ on a designated trail,

Alpaca therapy for those with special needs and even a luxury Airbnb. The farm also offers itself as a venue for engagement photo shoots and weddings. For more information, click here.

The cost for the farm visit tour is $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Children under 3 are free. The farm is located in Spencerville, Ontario.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received complimentary tickets for the ferris wheel and the port of Montreal tower, but all views are his own.

Win tickets to see Erth's Dinosaur Zoom Live

If you have kiddos who love dinosaurs then Australia’s ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo™ is coming to the Meridian Theatre March 21 at 6:30pm!

Get ready to be wowed by a menagerie of insects and dinosaurs that once roamed free around the world.

Be up close and personal with an amazing array of prehistoric creatures, from baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet.

ERTH’s dinosaurs are unmistakably ‘alive,’ and mostly friendly, in this fun, educational, and original performance, connecting young audiences to the real science of paleontology.

Audiences learn how to feed and interact with ERTH’s dinosaurs in a once in a lifetime interactive experience. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to these prehistoric creatures. VIP ticket holders also get a chance to get up on stage with the dinosaurs!

Want to win a pass for 4 to the show on March 21st?

Comment below with the name of your favourite dinosaur! (Or just write T-Rex if that’s easier :)

Contest closes March 8th at 10pm