After what felt like a never-ending 2020, 2021 is seeming to fly by! Maybe it’s the excitement of getting COVID vaccines and finally being able to imagine post-COVID life going back to normal, or maybe it’s just spring in the air. Either way, we’re all ready for some fun… And fortunately, Spring Break is almost here! Make the most of your spring break with these ideas from Chester Skateland. 

Spring Break In and Around RVA

If you’re looking for fun things to do with your family during Spring Break, you’re in luck. There are tons of family activities in Chester and the Richmond area, so pick the ones that fit your family’s interests best and curate your own awesome “staycation” right here in Virginia. 

Roller Skate at Chester Skateland

We host a wide variety of weekly skate sessions and other special events here at Chester Skateland, so there’s always something fun going on. We offer skating lessons for all ages and skill levels, and even host exciting special events like our monthly Christian Music Night. 

With awesome music, a spacious new skate floor, and all-around good vibes, you can’t pick a better family outing than a trip to the skating rink. Plus, roller skating is a fantastic workout, so you can get your crew off the couch without tipping them off that they’re actually going to be getting some exercise! 

Explore Local Parks and Nature

Some of the best things to do in RVA are actually free, like exploring local parks. There are so many cool and unique parks in the area, like the Pony Pasture Rapids Park, where visitors can swim and sunbathe on the river rocks, explore miles of trails, canoe and kayak, run and bike, fish, and check out the local flora and fauna.  

Right here in Chester, you can explore the beautiful wetlands of Dutch Gap Conservation Area by hiking, kayaking, or canoeing. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, as this beautiful natural area is home to bald eagles, osprey, herons, and many other species. 

Play Tourist Around the RVA

It’s funny how people often don’t explore their own towns until a visitor gives them a reason to play tourist for a day. But why wait? You can create your own tour based on whatever you and your family are interested in, from visiting the Edgar Allen Poe Museum or the American Civil War Museum to the Virginia State Capitol or the Black History Museum of Virginia. Take a canal cruise, scope out the historic architecture in the area, or visit one of our local museums to check out some art. 

Whatever you and your family end up doing for Spring Break, we hope you have a blast and make some memories to treasure forever.

Date night is a popular way for couples to make time for each other and stay connected despite the demands of their busy lives. It’s so important to carve time out from work, chores around the house, schooling, family obligations, caregiving, and all of the million little things that add up in modern life. In fact, some relationship experts say that date night isn’t a luxury for a healthy long-term relationship… It’s a necessity! 

If you’re looking for fun, unique, and exciting date night ideas in metro Richmond, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for some skating date tips and tricks to make your significant other fall in love all over again. 

Roller Skating Date Night

Dress for success. 

Part of any good date night is dressing appropriately… And letting your partner know what to wear is important too, even if you’re surprising them with an activity. For a skating rink date night, you’ll obviously need to wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move around while skating. Let your date know not to wear anything too tight, restrictive, or long and flowing (save the maxi skirts and dresses for another time so you don’t get tripped up or on). You should also wear thick socks, preferable ones that come up higher on the ankles. If you’re trying to surprise your date, pack a pair of socks for them without their knowledge. 

Just because you’re dressing for comfort and physical activity doesn’t mean you should look like a slob, though. Take time to look your best, even if you’re just rocking jeans and a t-shirt. 

Get in the groove.

Skating is the perfect date night activity because it checks all the boxes: 

• It’s fun and makes you feel like a kid again. The skating rink is basically a “worry-free” zone where you can be in the moment without outside stressors. 
• The atmosphere adds to the mood. Low lights, a disco ball, and the general sense of good vibes all make it easy to relax and cut loose. Best of all, you don’t have to decorate; it’s just part of the experience at Chester Skateland. 
• Good music is a given. Nothing has the ability to take you back down memory lane quite like music. Ask the DJ to play “your song” and take your love for a spin around the rink. 
• As if all of the above weren’t enough incentive to plan a skating date, it’s one of the only activities where holding hands is basically mandatory. Like the song says, we all need somebody to lean on!

Ready to plan your perfect date night? Check out our schedule to see upcoming happenings like our Saturday Night Live Session, Friday Night Jam Session, Christian Music Night, and other holiday parties and events.

Winter birthday parties are hard enough to plan at the best of times, but with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, party planning has gotten even more difficult. Fortunately, if you’re looking for indoor birthday party ideas, we’ve got your solution. Come on down to the skating rink for a roller skating birthday party that rocks!

Indoor Birthday Parties in Chester

Wondering if a roller skating birthday party at Chester Skateland is the right choice for you and your crew? Just keep reading to learn three reasons why you should make a reservation today.

The Weather Outside Is… Weather.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, you just don’t have to worry about the weather impacting your birthday party when you select an indoor party venue. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made most indoor gathering places where you might have hosted a birthday party pre-COVID (restaurants, bars, clubs, sip-and-paint studios, spas, etc.) a no-go this year. Dining and drinking, or any activity where you have a lot of people without masks hanging out in close proximity, puts you and your guests at a much higher risk of getting sick. Outdoor parties are out of the question, unless of course your friends happen to be snowmen! 

Skating is Social and Socially-Distanced.

Unlike other indoor birthday parties, a skating rink party allows you to interact with your friends while still social distancing and wearing masks. We are doing everything we can to keep our staff and guests safe, so face masks are required and must be worn properly at all times inside our facility. Admission is limited to allow for adequate social distancing, so you don’t have to worry about being packed into a crowd. Just mask up, cut loose, and get ready to skate your worries away with your best buds!

Entertainment is Built Right In.

There’s no need to worry about music, party games, or otherwise keeping your guests entertained during your birthday party. When you book a party at Chester Skateland, we take care of it all, allowing you to relax and enjoy yourself! We keep the party hopping with great music and a fun, festive atmosphere. Choose whichever one of our birthday party packages that best fits your needs, from a simple party with just the basics to an ultimate party that adds birthday table settings, pizza, soda, and ice cream, goodie bags, and more! 

Want to make your party extra special? You can even rent out the entire skating rink for your event. Just give us a call at 804-748-0379 to discuss your event plans!

Winter babies often feel like they’ve pulled the short straw when it comes to birthday celebrations. Winter birthday parties are just a bit more challenging to plan than birthday parties in other seasons, for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, we’ve got some cool winter birthday party ideas to help you pull off a bit of birthday magic! 

Winter Birthday Parties

Kids with birthdays that fall during the holidays can tell you that it doesn’t feel good to receive a combined Christmas or Hannukah/birthday gift. Everyone’s busy with holiday shopping, errands, parties, and travel, which means many invitees won’t be able to make it to a party. A lot of people are broke after the holidays, which also means that January and February babies miss out on the over-the-top birthday blowouts kids in warmer months may enjoy. The weather makes outdoor parties and activities all but impossible. And on top of all that, winter is cold and flu season, so winter birthday parties end up with a lot more no-shows than the average party! Even so, winter birthdays can be just as magical with a bit of creativity.

Roller Skating Parties

One of the best winter birthday party ideas is a classic—the good old roller skating birthday party! Our Chester, Virginia skating parties make birthdays (or any special occasion) a breeze, with invitations, skating admission, and snacks included in all packages. You can even opt for upgrades like pizza, table settings, decorations, and party favors to create the perfect event for your birthday kid.  

Roller skating is uniquely perfect for winter birthday parties because it’s indoors, it allows kids to be active and burn off some energy, and it’s a lot easier to social distance at our spacious skating rink than at most other indoor party venues. Add in the fun of gliding around to music with friends, the thrill of the wind in your hair, and the fact that skating is a great workout, and you’ve got an airtight case for a roller skating party!

Bestie Blowouts

Another way to get around the winter birthday blues is to plan a celebration with just one or two close friends. (Obviously hosting any celebration is dependent on the COVID-19 restrictions in your area.) When planning a small birthday party, it’s all about the details. What does your child’s perfect day look like? Here are some ideas:

• Mani/pedis, lunch from a favorite restaurant, at-home movie night 
• Roller skating, arcade games, and a sleepover
• Shopping day 

Crafty Celebrations

Another great option for an indoor winter birthday party is a crafting party! This can be fun with one friend or several, and you can do it at home or at a local studio space. Most towns have a paint-your-own-ceramics studio, “paint and sip” business, or maker space where the artistically-inclined can make something fun and creative to take home, whether it’s a ceramic figurine, canvas painting, or terrarium planter.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and you’ve probably been working on your holiday to-do list, from planning a menu, to shopping, to decorating. But there’s one more thing to prepare before Turkey Day arrives—Thanksgiving activities for the kids! With so much cooking, cleaning, and prep work to pull off a holiday feast, it’s always helpful to have some kids activities ready to go. That way they can entertain themselves and have fun, and you can get some pester-free concentration time to work. Win-win!   

Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Board games, puzzles, yard games and toys, roller skating, and of course movies and TV are good ways to keep kids occupied, but why not add some creativity to the mix? These easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids can be adapted for a variety of ages, and are sure to keep your little turkeys engrossed for a while. 

Place Cards and Centerpieces

There are tons of cute, affordable ideas for Thanksgiving table crafts that kids can make, and the best part is that they get to help “set the stage” for Thanksgiving. Check out these cute Thanksgiving place card and place setting crafts: 

• Thumbprint turkey place cards
• Napkin origami or origami place cards
• Fall leaf turkeys made from real leaves and clothes pins
• Potato print leaves on butcher paper for placemats
• Decorated napkin rings 

If you have older kids or teens, get them to help the younger kids with the crafts, or task them with creating a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Let them “shop” the rest of the house for candles, vases, etc. to create a tablescape, and hunt outside for branches, leaves, flowers, acorns, and other objects that can become decor. 

Fall Wreaths 

Another great Thanksgiving craft is making wreaths to hang on the door or in a window. There are tons of wreath craft tutorials out there for all different ages and skill levels, like this clever turkey wreath from a paper plate, or this pretty papercraft Thanksgiving wreath. 

Gifts for Family and Friends

As we all know, the “official” holiday shopping season starts the day after Thanksgiving, on Black Friday. Let the kids get a head start with some handmade gift projects! This collection of kids’ crafts has tons of good ideas, from bookmarks to suncatchers.

Make Space for Creativity

Of course, in order for these Thanksgiving crafts to help keep the kiddos out from underfoot, you’ll need to give them their own space—preferably NOT in the kitchen or dining room—where they can create. It doesn’t have to be much, just a card table, some chairs, and a tarp or dropcloth to protect the floor. Add a wipeable vinyl tablecloth, and voila! You can set up your DIY kid’s art studio in your driveway, garage, basement, deck, bonus room, patio, or wherever else you can think of! Just make sure it’s safe for the kids and remember to check on them every so often if they’re out of sight. 

Happy crafting—and Happy Thanksgiving!

The pandemic may have put a damper on a lot of things so far in 2020—like weddings, graduations, birthday parties—but that doesn’t mean Halloween is cancelled! There are still ways to have spooky, socially-distanced fun and make some boo-tiful memories with your kids. 

Halloween Activities for Families in Chester

Fun on the Farm

When it comes to classic autumn activities near Chester, you can’t go wrong with a visit to a farm, orchard, or corn maze. Whether you’re looking to pick apples and drink cider, choose the perfect jack-o’-lantern carving pumpkin from the patch, or just have some fun with the corn maze and fall festivities, we’re lucky to have plenty of cool destinations nearby, including: 

• Ashland Berry Farm – This pumpkin patch boasts over 30 acres and 39 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds. It’s decorative gourd season, baby! Carve ‘em, paint ‘em, put ‘em on your porch. 
• Chesterfield Berry Farm – You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy visiting and learning about a real working farm, but it sure doesn’t hurt! If your kids love big trucks and equipment they’ll get a kick out of visiting this working farm. You can also go home with hand-picked pumpkins or farm-fresh produce from the Farm Market. 
• Gallmeyer Farms – Open from 8 am to dark every night through October 31st, Gallmeyer Farms is a fall wonderland you just have to experience for yourself. Admission is FREE with free activities also included, like kids’ pony rides and a hay bale maze. You can also purchase pumpkins, gourds, fall vegetables, honey, and autumn decorations like chrysanthemums and hay bales. 
• Believe it or not, there are too many pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and other autumnal entertainments to list here, so check out this list of fall fun farms. 

Fall Festivals

The fall season isn’t complete without some festival fun, and the Richmond area does not disappoint. There are tons of awesome fall festivals coming up this month, including: 

• Richmond Octoberfest
• 2nd Street Festival
• Multiple spooky walking tours of downtown Richmond
• The Richmond Folk Festival
• The Richmond Mac & Cheese Festival (Come hungry!)
• The Pecan Festival
• Gourds, Goblets, and Ghouls at Hanover Vegetable Farm
• Spooky S’mores and Creepy Campfire at historic Maymont
• Spooktacular Fall Festival at John Tyler Community College
• Sensory Friendly Fall Festivals with crafts, (non-scary) costumes, and treats for everyone (including non-candy treats), all designed with sensory-friendly fun in mind. 

Roller Skating Adventures

Of course, no roundup of fun fall ideas is complete without roller skating! If you know how to change your skate wheels to outdoor wheels and back, you can take advantage of the beautiful weather to go skate in your neighborhood or local park. Don’t forget to wear a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and a wrist guard. 

You can also join us for one of our upcoming skate sessions, from Thursday and Friday Family Nights to Tuesday skate classes to Christian Music Night. Want to get extra cool points from your crew? Book a private event and enjoy having the skating rink all to yourselves!

Parenthood is a full-time job in itself, so how are you supposed to find the time to plan your kid’s birthday party on top of it all? It would be nice to have an extra hour in the day… But on second thought, that would just be another hour of work, wouldn’t it? Well, we can’t take all of the parental stress off your plate, but we can help you with the birthday party planning. Keep reading to learn some time-saving hacks for planning a birthday party. 

Birthday Party Planning Hacks to Save Time

Choose a party package.

At Chester Skateland, we make birthday parties easy, breezy, and FUN! Just choose the birthday party package that fits your needs, and you’re set. Basic parties include free admission for 10 people, plus free skate rental, a snack, and a free admission pass for the birthday kid on their next visit. Upgrade your package for additional features like pizza, tableware, goodie bags, and other fun stuff. 

If you’re more interested in a private party, we’ve got you covered there, too. Just give us a call at 804-748-0379 to book your party and learn more. (Please note that due to COVID-19, there are some changes to our party offerings.) 

Let us handle the heavy lifting.

Even a “simple” at-home party can be a lot of work for parents, with clean up and decorating before the party, arranging for food and entertainment, then cleaning everything up afterward. Instead of making all that work for yourself, leave the party to us. Not only will you save time and stress, but you’ll also be able to actually enjoy your child’s party instead of being on hostess duty the whole time!

Keep it simple.

Despite what you see on Instagram and Pinterest, it really doesn’t take much for kids to enjoy a birthday party. There’s no need for countless games, entertainers, fancy tablescapes, elaborate cakes, or handmade decorations. One fun activity is plenty for a kid’s birthday party, which is why roller skating birthday parties are so popular! The built-in entertainment is plenty of fun to keep kids occupied for the whole party and then some. 

Send digital invites.

Speaking of keeping things simple, let go of your inner octogenarian etiquette maven and just send digital invitations. Most people will lose a paper invitation anyway, but it’s a lot harder to lose an email, e-vite, text, or Facebook event invitation. It will also help you keep track of RSVPs.

Ready to make the perfect birthday bash happen for your kid? We can’t wait to party with you! Check our party availability online and save the date for roller skating fun with your special kid. 

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted a lot of things, but the disruption is especially hard for kids, who don’t fully understand why they may be missing out on playdates, recess, P.E. class, team sports, and trips to the pool, park, or playground. That makes it more important than ever to teach them these fun exercises for kids, so they can stay active and burn off the excess energy they’d normally get out of their systems from playing with friends. 

Fun Exercises for Kids

Family fun and fitness are our business here at Chester Skateland, because in addition to being fun, roller skating is fantastic exercise for people of all ages! Check out our schedule to see the upcoming sessions for the week, and remember to wear a mask. Masks are required by law at all times in our facility (except when socially distancing on the skating rink floor).  

Roller skating provides an aerobic workout that is good for the heart, strengthens the back, core, and leg muscles, and can even help increase balance and agility. Of course, life is busy and you can’t always get to the skating rink, so check out these exercises for kids to use on the days when a visit to Chester Skateland isn’t in the cards. 

Living Room Exercises

Even rainy days don’t have to keep your family from exercising. These 10 exercises for kids are easy to do indoors and can be done every day. Check out the video at the link if you’re not sure how to do each exercise. 

• Jumping jacks
• High knee jacks
• High step marching
• Ski hops
• Running man
• Windmills
• Forward squats
• Swing backs
• Scissor kicks
• Side squats

Backyard Exercises

If the weather allows, it’s always more fun to exercise outside! Researchers have even found that time spent in nature is beneficial to adults and kids when it comes to mood, stress levels, and mental health. The possibilities for backyard exercise are endless, but if your family needs some inspiration, these backyard exercise ideas can provide endless fun. 

• Make an obstacle course. Some people use pool noodles with wooden pencils stuck in the ends as stakes to create hoops for kids to crawl under, or hurdles to jump over. You can also use laundry baskets, sidewalk chalk, or even log slices to add some adventure. 
• Hang a basketball hoop, set up a volleyball or badminton net, or build your own soccer goal. 
• If you have a swing set or play set that your kids have outgrown, see if you can update it to be more challenging and age-appropriate. Replace toddler swings with regular sling seats, swap the ladder out for a climbing rope or net, add monkey bars or a trapeze rig so older kids can work on their upper body strength while having fun.

Birthdays are special, especially now that we’ve spent months not being able to gather with friends and family for in-person celebrations. Whether you’re still self-quarantining or have started to cautiously go out in public again, these are some thoughtful, budget-friendly birthday gift ideas to help you make the day special for the ones you care about most. 

Creative Birthday Gifts on a Budget

Flowers

Who doesn’t love flowers? This timeless gift is a classic for a reason, and is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. While ornate floral arrangements are nice, you don’t have to go all out and spend a fortune to have a florist deliver a custom arrangement. Just head to your local grocery store and you can find surprisingly beautiful flowers for $10 or $15. A simple bouquet of roses, tulips, or mixed flowers makes a lovely gift. 

If you want to get crafty, you can even buy a couple of different types of flowers and combine them into one large bouquet or arrangement. If you know their favorite flowers or colors, you can use that to help you customize the perfect bouquet for them. Need some inspiration? You can also get symbolic by choosing flowers with different meanings; for instance, red roses for love or sunflowers for friendship. 

If you don’t think the birthday guy or gal will be into a bouquet or arrangement of cut flowers, don’t worry— live plants also make wonderful gifts, whether you choose a cute succulent in a whimsical planter or a beautiful houseplant like pothos that they’ll be able to enjoy for months or even years to come. 

Personalized Gifts

As we mentioned above, you should use your knowledge of the person you’re shopping for to personalize their birthday gift. The great thing about this approach is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it memorable and special. A framed photo of the two of you, a mug or shirt with their favorite catchphrase on it, or an engraved item like a money clip, flask, or business card holder can all show that you care (and that you took the time to personalize the gift) without busting your bank account. Some stores even offer free engraving if you purchase the gift item there. 

Thrifted and Vintage

If you love to go thrifting, vintage shopping, or yard sale hunting for yourself, keep an eye out for things that might make good birthday presents for friends and family, too! If you find an item that is in good condition and fits their interests, don’t be afraid to buy it just because it’s not brand new. A vintage or signed copy of their favorite book is sure to be a hit, as well as old vinyl by their favorite artists (if they have a record player). From barware, furniture, and housewares to clothing, sports equipment, and art, if you keep your eyes out, you may just find a hidden treasure that will knock their socks off. 

Fun Gadgets

Last, but not least, we have one of the simplest budget birthday gift ideas: Gadgets! A small, useful gift that actually improves the recipient’s life in some way can end up being a favorite, despite the modest price tag. Some of the best ideas include: 

• Quirky tea infuser that looks like a sloth, rubber duckie, or “manatea” 
• Multi-tool keychain or bottle opener keychain
• Nessie soup ladle
• Electric bottle opener
• Shower wine glass holder
• Cute/colorful phone charger, battery pack, phone stand, or wireless speaker 

We hope these affordable birthday gift ideas spark some inspiration for you! Keep in mind that we are open and booking birthday parties! Skating is a great way to have fun together while social distancing, so give us a call at 804-748-0379 to make a reservation.

After spending weeks under the stay at home order already—and no end in sight until at least June—many parents are wishing they could have a little social distance from their kids. While the lockdown has been hard on everyone, cabin fever is hitting particularly hard for families with kids, who just need to get some energy out, one way or another. Fortunately, just because P.E. class is canceled, doesn’t mean your kids can’t still be active and get some healthy exercise. Check out these indoor and at-home exercise activities to keep your kids moving, and hang in there. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Chester Skateland when the coast is clear. 

Exercise Activities for Kids During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Get Back to Basics

Hopscotch, hula hooping, riding bikes and scooters, roller skating, skateboarding, skipping, jumping rope, climbing a tree—there are so many ways your kids can get active right in your own living room, driveway, or backyard. Set aside some time every day for an “unplugged” activity session, even if it’s just a family dance party in the living room!

Follow the Leader

This activity is great because you’ll get a workout too. Be sure to include some calisthenics along with silly movements. For instance, stand like a flamingo, then do some jumping jacks. Other movements you can throw in include running in place, squats, lunges, hopping like a bunny, chair sits against a wall, toe touches, or pushups. 

Dance It Out

If your kids love the cool dances in pop and hip hop music videos, set up a “dance studio” (aka pushing the furniture against the walls) and have them follow along with one of the many choreography videos available on YouTube. Like roller skating, dancing is one of the most fun ways to get a workout in! 

Chill Out with YouTube Yoga

Speaking of YouTube, it’s also a great place to go for kid-friendly yoga! Check out Yoga with Adriene, We Heart Yoga, and Jessamyn Stanley for starters. There are also lots of great inclusive yoga videos to explore, like wheelchair yoga and body positive yoga. 

Keep on Rollin’

Roller skating is a wonderful full-body workout, whether you do it at a skating rink or in your driveway! Just because we’re temporarily closed due to COVID-19 doesn’t mean that you can’t still get your skate on—you’ll just need to change your skate wheels to outdoor wheels. Outdoor skate wheels are softer, with more give to absorb the bumps and rough spots you’ll encounter on sidewalks and paths. Remember to be safe and stay aware of your surroundings when skating outdoors, and be sure you’re practicing social distancing and wearing a face covering. 

We hope these ideas keep you entertained while we wait out the coronavirus. Stay well; once this is over, we will be so thrilled to see you back at the rink!