Did you ice skate as a kid? You know I’m a Charlotte girl – I’ve lived here all my life – so ice-skating wasn’t something we did very often. It was a very special treat. My dad would haul my sister and I over to Eastland Mall maybe once or twice a year where we’d be absolutely giddy as we’d lace up those rental skates. Our visions of perfect figure eights were quickly squashed the minute those blades (and our rear ends) hit the ice, but we didn’t care. Those were some of my favorite memories as a kid – ask any other native and I bet they’ll say the same thing.
I know a lot of you aren’t from the South. I bet lots of you grew up ice-skating on ponds (that seems like an urban legend to me, but whatever you say). Your childhood memories are probably overflowing with days spent on the ice, and you’re probably a little scared that your kids won’t have the same memories because I can guarantee you, you DO NOT want to ice skate on any of our ponds.
Well, you’re in luck. Eastland is gone, but now Charlotte’s got something so much better: Extreme Ice Center. And I can’t think of a better time than the holiday season to get the whole family bundled up and on the ice. Newcomers and natives alike will love this experience.
Extreme Ice Center is a souped-up ice rink: it’s got awesome music (holiday music is on its way!), yummy concessions, an even yummier TAVERN for moms and dads, a fitness facility, a drop-off childcare facility, and so much more. Totally not like the Eastland facility I remember (although it was pretty fun back in the 80s!) Let’s make sure our kids’ holiday memories include a few family ice skating trips!
There are SO many fun things going on at Extreme Ice Center for the holidays. Check out their web site for the event schedule, which will constantly be updated – actually bookmark that one for the Holiday Bucket List because you won’t want to miss a single event.
And how cool is this? They are opening a real OUTDOOR ice skating rink in the middle of the Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Coco-Cola Family Ice Rink is legit – the real deal – not that fake plastic stuff. Who says Southerners can’t ice skate outside?! Kids will absolutely love it, and will surely remember it as one of their fave holiday traditions.
See you on the ice!
