Cold, rainy winter days can be a challenge for parents. Kids invariably begin to bounce off the walls about day two. Parents begin to climb the walls shortly thereafter.
It’s time to get the wiggles out.
Around Bellingham and Whatcom County, we have a number of solutions for disbursing all that pent-up energy without being out in the elements. Here are four fabulous ideas for getting those wiggles out.
1) Summit Trampoline Park
Test your jumping skills on the open court and olympic trampolines, shoot hoops and try to slam dunk on the basketball lanes or launch yourself onto a giant air bag! Or if you’re into team sports, join in a fun game of trampoline dodgeball in the dodgeball court.
With facilities that are typically 20,000-40,000 square feet of indoor jumping space, they can accommodate all ages and group sizes and offer activities that range from regular jumping to dodgeball, basketball dunking, fitness classes to competitive jumping, and parties for birthdays, group events, or just about any other type of event!
http://www.summitbellingham.com
2) Lynden Skateway
When I was in grade school, roller skating was the thing to do. By the time I reached high school, the local roller rinks had fallen out of favor and closed. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I moved to Bellingham to learn that nearby Lynden still had a roller rink. Roller skating is a fun social activity that certainly doesn’t seem like the excellent exercise that is really is.
Never roller skated? The Skateway offers lessons on Saturday mornings. “Helper carts” can also be rented for kiddos who don’t feel steady on their feet.
Of course, the Skateway also has a snack bar to keep skaters fueled up.
The details:
Check the Skateway website for details on times and admission. Special prices are offered throughout Christmas Break.
3) Ice skating at the Bellingham Sportsplex
Ok, so ice skating isn’t a warm, or entirely dry, activity, but it will definitely get the wiggles out. With Public Skate, Community Skate and Homeschool Skate times – all open to the public – there are several opportunities throughout the week to get on the ice.
Since not everyone is a natural on skates, the Sportsplex offers Learn to Skate programs on a regular basis. “Helper” rentals are also available, which made a big difference to my little guys the first time they got out on the ice. (Helmet rentals are also available.)
Kids who want more time on the ice can sign up for group or private lessons or join the Bellingham Mites kids’ hockey team.
The details:
Check the Sportsplex website for open skate times. Admission ranges from $2.50 to $6 depending on day/time; skate rental is an additional $2.50.
4) Bowling
With three bowling alleys around the county, there are plenty of options to get the family out to the lanes without driving too far from home. 20th Century 
Bowl is located in downtown Bellingham; Park Bowl is located in north Bellingham; and Mt. Baker Lanes is located in Ferndale.
While some people may equate bowling alleys with adult leagues a la the Big Lebowski, our local alleys are family friendly and even offer birthday parties.
Thanks to the “bumpers” that cover the gutters, bowling becomes accessible to even the littlest bowlers, which can be the start to a life-long enjoyment of the sport. To get kids interested, Mt. Baker Lanes offers free bowling for kids during the summer months.
The details:
Check the bowling alley’s websites for their hours of operation and pricing.
