Summer is here! Bring on the warm weather and loads of fun activities. If you haven’t already, you need to make your family’s 2022 summer bucket list. Lockport, New York offers tons of fun activities, so it’ll be a challenge to fit everything in during the few months of summer. To help you prioritize, we put together a list of 5 things we think should be on your family’s summer bucket list!

Explore The Unknown With A Lockport Cave And Underground Boat Ride

Take a walking tour and learn about caves and the Lockport cave! Your kids will love this fun experience.

Learn Something New At The Erie Canal Discovery Center

Spend a few hours learning something new at The Erie Canal Discovery Center. Perfect for your kids that love history and learning.

Spend A Day At The Blackman Homestead Farm

Spend a day on the farm, The Blackman Homestead Farm that is! Your kids will love the animals, activities, and fun treats they offer!

Go Back In Time At The Transit Drive-In

Show your kids what it was like to go to the movies way back in the day at Transit Drive-In. They’ll love this different experience of watching a movie whether it’s the first time, or the millionth!

Skate The Day Away With Us At Rainbow Skateland

Of course we couldn’t leave out skating with us at Rainbow Skateland! Your family can skate the day away together and have some fun.

While you’re at Rainbow Skateland, be sure to let us know you’re taking our summer bucket list suggestions!

Did you know that roller skating was invented even before America declared independence? Roller skating has such a unique history. We’ve laid out some of the highlights of the history of roller skating:

1743 – Picture going to a theater performance in London, England and an actor strides onto the stage on wheels. Although the inventor of the skates is unknown, this is the first recorded use of skates.

1760 – Several years later, John Joseph Merlin created inline skates. He wore them while attending a masquerade party!

1819 – The first to patent the roller skate design was Mr.Petitbled. While they look similar to the inline skates we use today, their maneuverability and comfortability were non-existent. In these skates, you could only skate in a straight line. Thankfully many decades were spent to improve the design.

1857 – Longdon opened the first public skating rinks. Skates had come a long way from their initial appearance on stage almost a 100 years earlier.

1863 – James Leonard Plimton, an American man, designed the quad skate. This skate is much like the skate we know today. More public skating rinks were opened as more people enjoyed this newfound hobby.

1876 – The toe stop was patented. This made it possible for skaters to stop on a dime.

1902 – The Chicago Coliseum opened its first skating rink. Over 7,000 people attended opening night!

1983 – President Ronald Reagan declared October to be National Roller Skating Month.

1993 – Active Brake Technology was invented to increase safety for skaters.

Since roller skating made its first debut, major strides have been made to make them safe, comfortable, and maneuverable. We love thinking back on the history and seeing skaters out on the rink with us at Rainbow Skateland!

Another year means another birthday party! How exciting to celebrate another year of your child’s life. We know planning the perfect party can be a bit stressful, so we put together a party planning perfection timeline just for you!

1 To 2 Months Before The Party

• Pick A Party Theme: Let your child’s imagination run wild and pick out the best party theme for their birthday!
• Budget It Out: Parties can be expensive if you don’t keep track of all the costs that add up.
• Choose The Date: Find a date that works best for your family and friends.
• Book A Venue: Scout out the best venue for the celebration.

3 To 4 Weeks Before The Party

• Send Out Invitations: Include all important info: when, where, dress code, and any extra details guests might need.
• Order Food And Drinks: Hungry guests are never good!
• Purchase The Decorations: It’s time to pick out some fun decor that goes with your theme.
• Brainstorm Games And Activities: Pick up any extra supplies you might need to play!

1 Week Before The Party

• Order The Birthday Cake: You can’t forget this step!
• Get A Final Head Count: Make sure you have the final number of guests confirmed to prepare for food, drinks, goody bags, etc.
• Prep The Food: Be sure any food you’re taking care of is prepped and ready.
• Finalize Plans: Now’s the time to make any party decisions you’ve been putting off.

The Day Before The Party

• Last Minute Shopping: Time for any last minute errands!
• Pick Up The Birthday Cake: You definitely can’t forget this step.

The Day Of The Party

• Arrive Ahead Of Time: Be early just in case, to ensure everything is situated.
• Decorate Your Party Area: Once you’re in your party area, it’s time to decorate it with all your decor.
• Last but not least, have fun!

We hope this guide helps you plan the perfect party! Make sure to check out our birthday parties at Rainbow Skateland. We’d love to have you celebrate such an important day with us!

The age-old question among roller skaters is which is better – skating or blading? They both have their pros and cons, and both cater to different needs so different skaters will have different opinions on the topic. In this blog, we’ll answer which is easier and better.

Is roller skating or rollerblading easier?

If you did either of these when you were young, it’s going to be easier to pick back up the one you did. If you’re looking for speed, it’s easier to go faster on rollerblades. The design and size of the wheel make it that way which is why mostly everyone chooses blading when they skate outdoors. 

On the other hand, inline skates let you gradually get faster with ease. They allow you more grace to set the pace you’d like to do with their design and wheel size. If you’re a true beginner, unfortunately you can easily fall over on either option.

So which is better – skating or blading?

If you’re looking to go a longer distance, rollerblades are better because you go faster. That’s not to say you couldn’t go a long distance on skates, but it would be harder to keep up. Roller skates might be easier for young children, because they feel more stable initially. Yet, blades can be easier to learn how to skate well. Tricks are typically done with inline skates, but can be done on blades.

So the truth is, it’s all personal preference! You just have to decide what works best for you and what you have the most fun doing. If you’re a new skater, we encourage you to try both to see what you like the best and what’s easiest for you! Everyone will be different, so it’s important to keep that in mind while skating or blading! We can’t wait to see which you choose to do with us at Rainbow Skateland!

Jam skating is a style of freestyle skating! It’s one part dance and one part gymnastics. It has been heavily influenced by the many other styles of skating that came before it.

Jam Skating History

Rhythm skating has been around since World War II. From there, distinctive styles quickly started emerging. In the late 1950s and 1960s, there was the rise of the bee-bop style. Then by the 1970s, “Soul Nights” were being held at skating rinks across the United States, and with those nights came the soul skating style. The 1970s also brought the rise of the roller disco.

All of these styles helped to influence jam skating. Jam skating is also known as shuffle skating, hexing, rexxing, toe-dancing, spot-skating, trucking, shadow skating, boogie bouncing, and crazy leg. It has roots in roller disco, but it is far from the traditional roller disco. The form of jam skating has been heavily influenced by breakdancing, as well as artistic skating and modern dance. Though it can be traced back to the 1970s, it gained extreme popularity in the early 1990s and is still very popular today. If you’ve spent any time at a roller skating rink, you’ve probably seen a few talented skaters jam skating along to the music!

Jam Skating in Pop Culture

Jam skating has been featured in films such as Roll Bounce (2005) and ATL (2006). It has also been featured in several music videos, including “1, 2 Step” by Ciara and Missy Elliott, “My Shoes” by Murphy Lee, “I Heart You” by Toni Braxton, and “Blow” by Beyoncé.

Whether you’re ready to jam skate or just cruise along, come skate with us at Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, New York!

Whether you’re an old pro or new to the skating scene, there’s always something new to learn! Step up your skating game – learn the lingo, master these tricks, and show them off on your next trip to Rainbow Skateland. 

Dipping

Dipping is when you bend your knees and put yourself in a squatting position while skating.

Scissors

Scissors is a move where you go across the rink on your two feet by pushing your feet outwards from a 90 degree angle, and then pulling them together again.

Rexing

Rexing is a type of backwards skating. It utilizes a sequence of step patterns, such as figure 8, duck walk, or grapevine.

Spread Eagle

Spread Eagle is a move where you skate forward with your knees bent, spread your legs, and rock back onto your heels while balancing on the back two wheels.

Spin

A spin is a skating move where you bend your knees while keeping your feet shoulder-width apart, and then rotate your arms to one side close to your body, pulling your closer skate backwards, and pulling your further skate forwards.

Salchow

To properly do a Salchow, start by skating backwards, complete a one-leg twist, do a quick jump, and land on your opposite foot.

Once you learn and nail these tricks, we have no doubt that you are sure to impress everyone at the rink. Stop by and see us at Rainbow Skateland to practice your newest roller skating moves! Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about roller skating and Rainbow Skateland!

Sometimes it can be a bit challenging to find activities to do on spring break that are great for your whole family, especially when it comes to having kids that are different ages and with different interests. Try these suggestions to make your 2022 spring break great.

Take a hike!

Spring break is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather! A hike is a great option for your kids to get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.

Explore a park!

A park day is a perfect free activity to plan. You can bring a picnic basket, blanket, balls, and other outdoor sports activities to keep the whole family occupied and spending quality time together. Don’t forget to also utilize the playground for the kiddos.

Camp out!

Camping doesn’t have to be some big elaborate plan. While you can certainly plan and book a camping ground spot, you can camp in your own backyard. This is sure to be something you and your children will never forget.

Make a splash!

Spring break isn’t quite summer, but going to a water park will sure make it feel like it! If you’re in a colder climate, look for an indoor water park or pool. Your kids will enjoy it just as much.

Hit the rink!

Of course, we’d love to have you at Rainbow Skateland! Roller skating is a great activity for families. It is indoor, so you don’t have to worry about the weather, and it’s also a great workout.

We hope these suggestions help you and your family have a great spring break! We can’t wait to see you at Rainbow Skateland.

You may not even think to stretch before you start roller skating, but you should! Skating is an aerobic exercise, so stretching before you skate can make a huge difference for your body. Stretching is an important part of exercise and improves your flexibility. We found these lower body stretches that can help stretch out your legs, hips, and thighs before you step on the roller skating rink!

Quad Stretch

This stretch will help your hip flexors, quads, and hamstrings. To do this stretch:

1. Kneel on the floor with both knees bent and shins on the floor.
2. Put your right leg forward to where your right knee is bent 90 degrees in front of you. Your right foot should be flat on the floor directly under your feet, and your left leg should still be bent underneath you parallel to the right.
3. Put both hands on top of your right knee and press your back hip forward. Lean into the stretch and keep your torso upright.
4. Hold for 30 seconds and release.
5. Switch legs and repeat.

Foldover Stretch

This will stretch your back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, and even your neck. To do this stretch:

1. Stand tall with your feet hip width apart, knees slightly bent, and arms by your sides.
2. Breathe out while you bend forward at the hips and lower your head to the floor while keeping your head, neck, and shoulders relaxed.
3. Wrap your arms around the back of your legs.
4. Hold between 45 seconds to 2 minutes.
5. Bend your knees and slowly roll up.

Reclining Pigeon

This stretch will help your lower back, hips, glutes, and hamstrings. To do this stretch:

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Cross your right foot over your left leg and hook your arms around your left hamstring.
3. Lift your left food a few inches while keeping your back and shoulders on the floor.
4. Gently pull your right leg towards you until you feel the stretch.
5. Hold for 45 seconds to 2 minutes.
6. Slowly release and lower leg to reset.
7. Switch legs to stretch both sides.

Try these stretches next time you visit Rainbow Skateland! Trust us, your body will thank you for it later.

Lockport and the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area parents have trusted Rainbow Skateland for years to hold their kids’ birthday parties! As parents, we know firsthand it can be super overwhelming to plan a birthday party. Truly all your kid really wants in a birthday party is quality time with their friends, a fun activity and some good food. We pride ourselves on delivering an awesome birthday party experience. Our parties include everything you need for a fun and convenient birthday party!

Roller skating birthday parties are super popular, because it is a party that people of all ages can enjoy. Kids as young as 2 can start learning how to skate and many adults can still skate, so don’t be surprised if you see Grandma and Grandpa out on the rink!

Our birthday party packages are popular with parents, because they include everything you need and more for your party. The Super Glow Party Package is our best selling package – between the pizza, goody bags, and fun glow pack , there’s plenty of surprises to make it a memorable party for your child!

At Rainbow Skateland, we offer so many fun activities in addition to skating, so there is sure to be something for everyone in your party. In addition to our skating rink, we also have an arcade, laser tag area, mini-golf course, and an inflatable indoor playground (for kids under 54 inches).

We’d love to help you make your child’s birthday party a success! Explore our birthday party package options, book your party online, or contact us for more information.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Still don’t know what to do to make your loved one feel appreciated and cared for? No worries, we have you covered!

Here are 3 steps to the perfect Valentine’s Day:

Step 1: A Good Meal

Let’s be honest, the way to almost anyone’s heart is their stomach. This looks different for everyone of course, but the first step to a perfect Valentine’s Day is food. You can do this several different ways from going out to a restaurant, picking up takeout from a restaurant and eating at home, or making a home cooked meal. Just remember, it’s whatever you and your partner enjoy most! For this step, it’s all about planning accordingly and be sure to make a reservation if you’re going out or pick up groceries in advance if you’re cooking at home.

Step 2: Token Of Appreciation

While some may think Valentine’s Day is all about gifts, it’s truly about showing your partner how much you love and appreciate them. If they see that through gifts, then get them a gift. If they’re more of a quality time person, get an experience you can do in the future together. Or make them something homemade to show how much you love them!

Step 3: An Experience

Now you just have the most important thing left, the experience. Sure, you can go out to eat whenever and gifts are meaningful, but an experience is something that is unique to the moment. It’s all about creating love, connection, and memories that you share together! Rainbow Skateland is a great idea for Valentine’s Day! Feel like kids again and just have some fun skating! Share some laughs and let the good times roll with us.

Whatever you decide to do this Valentine’s Day, remember these 3 steps! If you’re in Lockport, New York and looking for something to do on Valentine’s Day, come visit us at Rainbow Skateland!