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Out And About:
Del Monte Gardens Roller Rink
In an unassuming building, almost invisible against the cityscape,
peals of excited laughter and merriment ring out. It's party
time at Del Monte Gardens Skating Arena. Travel back in time
to hardwood floors (instead of the painful concrete!), clean
and festive surroundings, a family atmosphere, and decent prices.
Highlights:
Paul says: "It's
nice to relax together as a family, and most of the groups we
saw there were families. Kids as young as two, and as old as
high school skated holding their parents' hands. It's a good
feeling."
Julie adds: "This is a family place where you're
might very well be greeted by the owner, who knows many of the
skaters by name. The dress codes, safety and courtesy rules are
enforced which lets parents enjoy the time at the rink rather
than worry about it. There's a full snack bar for hungry skaters,
and an arcade for those needing a rest. The viewing area is nicely
set up, with comfortable raised benches for those non-skaters
who want to watch their children or grandchildren."
Highlights include:
· Special Classes In addition to the usual introductory
junior and adult classes, Del Monte Gardens offers Figure, Freestyle
and Dance instruction. If you're going to skate more than a couple
of times in a month, the classes are a much better bargain than
single use prices, and those skaters enrolled in classes also
get in free during a weekly public session.
· Birthday Parties One of the mainstays here is
the party program. Parties can be arranged during both public
and private skate times. Birthday cakes and ice cream may be
brought in to complement the foods at the snack bar, and there
are plenty of tables to accommodate guests.
· We spent a considerable amount of time in the
Beginner's Area, attached to the main floor yet off to
the side out of the traffic pattern. For Elisha (5), who was
reluctant to try his first time skating abilities on a floor
with people 4x his size, the beginner's area proved to be a safe
haven that still let him feel part of the action.
This is a fun afternoon
outing with the kids. Athletic (David, 7) and slightly klutzy
(Mom, ageless) family members alike will enjoy skating to the
not-too-loud music. It's mostly open skate, with a few short
combinations thrown in for variety. Saturday night sessions tend
to be for the teen and pre-teen crowd, with the Sunday evening
session full of more skilled and dancing skaters. Skating takes
some amount of coordination, but it's a skill that can be learned.
In a rink where overly fast and rough skating is not allowed,
the ups and downs can be just as memorable as that first correct
turn or completed oval. The two-hour sessions are just about
right for parents, though Jenna (8) would gladly have stayed
much longer.
Out & About Helpful
Hints: Bring your
own skates if you have them. This rink allows private skates,
saving you the buck rental fee. Just have them check them first
to okay them.
Kid Safety Considerations: If your children are just learning,
kneepads, long pants and long sleeves are a good idea. Even the
most skilled skater occasionally falls, and a child whose skin
is unprotected may be reluctant to continue. For the safety and
security of the children, everyone in the rink must be wearing
skates except children under four, or parents/grandparents watching
their children skate.
At A Glance
Del Monte Gardens
Skating Arena
2020 Del Monte Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940 (north across the street
from the Naval Postgraduate School)
(831) 375-3202, Thurs 7-9 p.m., Friday 6:30 - 10 p.m., Sat 2-10
p.m., Sunday 2 - 9 p.m. Classes and parties scheduled prior to
public sessions. $6.00 most expensive admission, but different
discounts apply (military, under 5, group, daytime, etc). $1
quad skate rental. Free lot parking.
Appropriate for all ages; skating classes for 18months+. |
(c) 2000 Paul
and Julie Gentry. Note: this article first appeared in Monterey
County Family Magazine
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