Although Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, it often gets looked over as a destination because it isn’t immediately next to a beach. Well, we are here to tell you that Tallahassee is full of activities for passing travelers and locals alike. Don’t believe us? We have compiled a list of our top ten favorite family friendly things to do in Tallahassee.

10 Family-Friendly Activities in Tallahassee

1. The Tallahassee Museum. Some people’s eyes may glaze over when the read the word museum, but if you give it a try, you may be pleasantly surprised. Kids can learn a lot wandering around a museum. The museum is also surrounded by National Forest. They have a tree top adventure with obstacles and even some Florida panthers.
2. Lofty Pursuits is a must to get your sweet tooth fix. They have ice cream, malts, shakes, and an old soda fountain. It’s also a huge toy shop so prepare to spend some time in there if you bring the kids along.
3. Cascades Park. This is a large urban park in the heart of Tallahassee complete with walking, biking, and running trails. They even have a play area for children.
4. Proof Brewery. We know, who would take suggestions from people telling you to take your kids to a brewery? However, this brewery in Railroad Square Art Park is family friendly with a turf play area and bocce ball court so parents can enjoy a beer while the kids run around.
5. The Challenger Learning Center. This is a part of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education international network. A lot of activities are closed to private groups, but their IMAX and planetarium are both always open to the public.
6. Gulf Specimen Marine Lab. This is about 30 minutes outside Tallahassee, but it’s definitely worth the drive. They have a bunch of interactive tanks where kids can touch and hold marine life. They also do sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, so you just may get a special guest visitor.
7. Wakulla Springs State Park. This is another one just outside of Tallahassee, but you will not regret a visit. The park is a wildlife sanctuary and Wakulla Springs is one the of largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world.
8. Museum of Florida History. Want to learn more about your home state? This is the place to be!
9. The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement. There are 18 historical buildings that have been restored, a general store, a blacksmith tour and some animals on the property.
10. Skate World Tallahassee, of course! This activity, unlike most of the others, is something you can do on a school night or a rainy weekend. Check out our regular hours and weekly theme nights or our any of our upcoming events.

Whether you are a guest looking for something to do in Tallahassee or a Tallahassee local looking for some new adventures, we hope we’ve given you some good ideas. There is a ton to do in our state’s beautiful capital. Go out and have the time of your life!

You love to skate and you finally made the leap to buying your own roller skates. No more rental fees for you! Owning your own pair of skates is a great way to save money, express yourself, and enjoy the benefits of roller skating, but don’t forget that you’ll need to perform some basic maintenance on your skates to keep them rolling smoothly. 

When should you tune up your skates? 

The frequency with which you should be performing maintenance on your skates depends on several factors, including: 

• How often you skate
• Where and what type of skating you’re doing

If you skate several times a week, you’ll have to tune up your skates more frequently than someone who only skates a couple times a month. Just like a car, the more mileage you put on your ride, the more wear and tear it sustains. 

It’s also important to take into account what type of skating you’re doing. If you skate outdoors on the driveway, sidewalk, or street, you’ll need to tune up your skates much more frequently than someone who only skates inside on the clean, smooth surface of a skating rink. 

The way you use your skates matters, too. If you’re just cruising around the skating rink to your favorite songs, your skates aren’t sustaining as much wear and tear as they would if you were playing an intense sport like roller derby or hockey, speed skating, or landing a jump in artistic skating. 

How to know when your skates need a tune up

While the frequency and type of skating you do can give you an idea of how often you need to perform upkeep maintenance on your roller skates, you should also keep an eye (and ear) out for these signs that your skates need a little bit of TLC. 

• The wheels aren’t rolling smoothly. 
• You hear or feel grinding or unusual vibrations. 
• Your skates seem to be pulling to one side or “handling” differently. 

As a general rule, you should give your skates a tune up every 1-3 months. This includes cleaning the bearings, inspecting the whole skate for loose or damaged parts; tightening loose nuts, stoppers, and trucks; examining the state of your wheels, and cleaning any dirt or grime from your skate boots. 

And don’t forget, after every roller skating session, you should wipe down your skates with a damp cloth, unlace them a bit, and allow them to air dry. DO NOT dry them with a hair dryer or place them next to the fireplace or radiator, as intense heat can cause the skate boots to warp. 

Looking for more information on how to maintain your roller skates? The internet has your back, as usual. Just head to YouTube to check out one of the many great tutorials uploaded by helpful skaters to keep you rolling.

There are so many fun things to do in Tallahassee for the holidays, but don’t forget that it’s also the season of giving. As Thanksgiving approaches and we consider all we have to be thankful for, it’s also important to think about ways to give back in Tallahassee. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your holiday good deeds, check out our list of volunteer opportunities at local charities in Tallahassee. 

Cuddle for a cause at the Leon County Humane Society

Helping animals is one of the most fulfilling things you can do to give back to the community. All they want is some love and kindness, and they give it back a thousandfold. There are lots of ways to get involved in helping animals locally, from joining a TNR (Trap Neuter Return) team to socializing dogs and cats at the Leon County Humane Society. 

They always need fosters and volunteers, so sign up and see how you can help our fluffy friends! (And remember, animals are not toys; don’t give pets as holiday gifts. Adopting an animal is a long term commitment—it’s adding a family member.)

Fight hunger and feed hope. 

Hopefully your family has all the food you need, not just for day-to-day survival, but for holiday celebrations as well. Unfortunately, many people in Tallahassee and throughout our country do not, and those people are largely the elderly and children. While it’s sad to think of people going hungry in a land of plenty, you can help make a difference. 

There are lots of ways to get involved in Second Harvest of the Big Bend, the area’s largest food pantry. From sorting food and assisting clients to raising funds and collecting donations from restaurants and grocery stores, you can find a place in the fight to end hunger. 

Roll up your sleeves and get hands-on. 

Affordable housing can be hard to come by these days, with high rents and home prices shutting many families out of the housing market. That’s where Big Bend Habitat for Humanity comes in! Their mission is to ensure everyone has a safe, decent place to live, and you can help make it happen. Check out their volunteer opportunities and find out how to help as an individual or a group. 

Building a Habitat house is a great group activity, so if you’re looking for a way to give back as a family, school, team, scout troop, or church group, give them a call! You don’t have to have prior construction experience, just a willingness to chip in and follow directions. 

At Skate World, we think giving back to the community is so important. That’s why we partner with area schools on school fundraisers. Want to throw your own fundraiser for a local charity, your child’s sports team, a neighborhood project, or any other cause that you’re passionate about? We’d love to help you make your Tallahassee fundraiser a fun, memorable, and successful event, so give us a call at 850-385-RINK(7465).

If you love to roller skate with us here at Skate World in Tallahassee, you’ve probably already bought your own skates. There are lots of reasons to buy your own skates: Saving money on skate rental fees; getting the exact type of skate that’s right for you, whether that’s a speed skate, jam skate, artistic skate, or inline skate; and last but not least, the fun of getting to express yourself through your skates!

How to Customize Skates

There are as many ways to style your skates as there are skaters, so rule number one is that there are no rules! But if you’re wondering how to get started, we’ve got you covered with some ideas. Check out these tips and learn how to customize your roller skates.

Change the wheels.

Skate wheels come in a wide variety of thicknesses and multiple sizes. The wheels you choose will partially depend on your skating activities (indoor or outdoor, leisure skating or roller derby, jam skating or speed skating, etc.) and partially on your preferences, but you can also find wheels in every color of the rainbow and then some. There are even glow in the dark skate wheels! Which brings us to…

Add skate lights or glow elements. 

Picture the skating rink on a Friday or Saturday night: Lights low, music pumping, mirror ball spinning. Now think about how cool it would look to zoom around the rink on glowing wheels! There are tons of products to help you shine on the skating rink, including glow in the dark and LED lighted wheels, skate lights that mount underneath the plate (similar to underglow lights on a car), and even light-up shoe laces.

Add or swap out other accessories. 

There are so many other accessories you can add to change both the look and function of your skates. For instance, toe stops and jam plugs come in pretty much any color you can think of, including glittery options! The same goes for laces, which are widely available in a huge range of colors, patterns, textures, and lengths. Boot covers don’t just protect the toes of your skates from getting scuffed; they also come in tons of materials, from pastel suede to shiny, studded models. Boot covers are another smart way to protect your skates while adding personal style; you can make your own skate boot covers fairly simply if you have basic sewing skills. You can even tie pom poms, charms, or wings onto your skates for a finishing touch. (Just make sure they’re designed to be worn with skates and will not pose a safety hazard.) 

We’d love to see how you personalize your roller skates! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and share your photos next time you’re at the rink.

October is National Roller Skating Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by introducing your kids to roller skating! Roller skating has been around for so long because it’s not just fun, it’s also social, active, and (we see you, parents!) affordable. You can pass the joy on to a new generation by teaching your kids to skate. Get ready for years of family fun at the skating rink by reviewing these roller skating safety tips for kids, so your brood can safely enjoy the rink this month, and every month! 

Roller Skating Safety Tips for Kids

• Gear up – Beginner skaters are going to take some tumbles, so be prepared with the correct safety gear. You can’t go wrong with a helmet (which is a must for outdoor skating), elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards. Some folks even choose to wear padded shorts, which can literally save your butt if you fall backwards! A bruised tailbone is no way to instill a love of skating in the next generation.
  It’s also important to wear the right clothes to the skating rink—nothing too baggy or too tight. Comfortable, casual clothing is the way to go. And remember to bring socks, because you can’t use our rental skates without them. 
• Teach them how to fall safely – Speaking of bruised tailbones, the best way to avoid injury when learning to skate is by learning how to fall correctly! Falling is just part of the process, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Check out our tips for how to fall on skates to learn how to master this skill set. 
• Teach them skating rink etiquette – Part of skating safety is learning the “rules of the rink” so to speak. Make sure they know to pay attention to which way traffic is flowing on the skating rink, how to enter and exit safely, not to cut across the center of the rink, etc. This skating etiquette infographic is a good refresher for adults and kids alike! 
• Sign them up for skating lessons – One of the best ways to safely teach your kids to skate is by signing them up for roller skating lessons! At Skate World Center, we offer the best roller skating lessons in Tallahassee for beginners, advanced students, and speed skaters. In fact, we’re the home of the Southern Speed Club, and we hold practices for all ages on Wednesday evenings. If your kids have a bit of a speed demon streak to them, they will love learning how to skate fast and win races.  

Ready to celebrate National Roller Skating Month with us? Be sure to follow us on Facebook to stay informed about upcoming events, specials, and more! 

There are many levels of roller skating mastery: beginner, intermediate, and pro. If you’re starting to feel bored in your skating routine, it might be time to switch it up! People may forget that there’s more to roller skating than just spending time at the rink—there’s also outdoor roller skating and ramp skating. If you’re feeling in a rut with your favorite hobby— or you just want to add some extra shine to your rink time—have no fear. We’re coming to the rescue to share some less common roller skating activities and what makes them so unique. 

The Differences Between Indoor Skates and Outdoor Skates

• Indoor wheels are smoother.

  • Indoor wheels cater to the smooth hard floor surface. Outdoor skates are rougher to better handle the uneven ground outside.

• Outdoor wheels are much larger than indoor wheels.

  • Outdoor skates need to be able to handle any bumps or rocks that may come through the skater’s path. 
  • Outdoor skates wheels are about 60-77 mm tall where indoor skates are 55-60 mm.

• If you’re new to roller skating, indoor might be your best bet.

  • The surface area in roller rinks has even consistency. 
  • When skating outdoors, you have to be cautious of and sticks, rocks, or animals passing through your path. You might get knocked off your feet if you haven’t had enough practice.

The Differences Between Outdoor Skating and Ramp Skating

• Ramp skating can be rough on your skates.

  • There’s a lot of wear and tear when it comes to ramp skating. If you have cheap skates, it might be time to upgrade.

• Ramp skating can be intense.

  • When you’re doing regular roller skating, whether indoors or outdoors, the surface is somewhat level. There may be a hill here and there when you’re skating on a path outside, but when you’re skating on a ramp or bowl, roller skating just got a lot more extreme.

Whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or on a ramp, roller skating takes time and practice. In case you want to venture out of indoor roller skating, we have some tips on how to properly fall because it will happen. Just make sure you are putting your safety first!

Having the determination to try something new and seeing yourself get better at it can be so rewarding. Are you up to the challenge?