Posts with tag 'Sports'

You don't have to live in the mountains to enjoy rock climbing, and you don't need warm weather either! While the state of Ohio offers some amazing outdoor rock climbing destinations for spring, summer, and fall, the colder months force us to look indoors. 

Luckily, there are also some incredible indoor rock gyms all over the Buckeye state! If you're searching for the best indoor rock climbing in Ohio, look no further.

Nosotros Rock Climbing Gym

2020 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115

With two Northeast Ohio locations in Cleveland and Lakewood, Nosotros Rock Climbing Gym offers some of the best climbing facilities in this part of the state. The Cleveland location features 2,000 square feet of climbable space and a Kilterboard with around 8,000 training routes. Beginner, intermediate, and private climbing classes are available, plus a weight room and yoga classes. Affordable day passes and first-timer tours of Nosotros Rock Climbing Gym are available, helping to make it more accessible to those who might be new to climbing.

Cleveland Rocks Climbing

2831 Franklin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44113

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Offering lead climbing, top rope, and bouldering, Cleveland Rocks is a world-class indoor climbing facility that spans 18,000 square feet. The gym is located inside Cleveland's renovated Ohio City Masonic Temple, a historical structure providing a unique climbing venue. Cleveland Rocks offers three separate climbing areas, with roped walls up to 54 feet, and also hosts a wide range of climbing classes and programs for youths and adults. It's one of the best spots for beginner and advanced climbers in Northeast Ohio.

Rock Mill

677 Carroll Street, Akron, OH 44304

Akron's Rock Mill is a great place to climb, but it's also much more. Yoga classes are taught almost every day of the week, and traditional fitness facilities are also open to members and visitors alike. That includes a weight training area and cardio equipment. Rock Mill also offers a well-stocked coffee bar that serves locally sourced coffee, beer, and food. For those just here to climb, you'll find a 6,000-square-foot bouldering hall with 80-plus bouldering problems that are reset every week to consistently provide new challenges. 

Chambers Purely Boulders

1165 Chambers Road, Columbus, OH 43212

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A cheery indoor bouldering gym near the OSU Campus in Greenview, Chambers Purely Boulders is one of the best places in Columbus for aspiring climbers. With a wide range of weekly programs that teach bouldering and climbing fundamentals, Chambers Purely Boulders makes it easy to get on the wall, even if you've never climbed before. The gym hosts a variety of classes and clinics as well, including weekly yoga classes that are free for members.

Vertical Adventures

6513 Kingsmill Court, Columbus, OH 43229

Open since 1994, Vertical Adventures has been providing an amazing indoor rock climbing experience in Columbus since long before rock gyms became hip or trendy. A staple of the Columbus climbing community, this facility offers over 16,000 feet of terrain that caters to a wide range of climbing styles, including lead, top-roping, and bouldering. Beginner and climbing fundamentals classes are available for anyone who wants to gain some rock climbing experience. 

Bloc Garten

512 Maier Place, Columbus, OH 43215

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With a welcoming environment and supportive community, Bloc Garten is one of the best bouldering gyms in Central Ohio. With new bouldering problems reset every week on Tuesdays, the gym's dynamic bouldering walls constantly provide new challenges to climbers of all skill levels. Free gear rental is available for your first visit, and the gym offers a 90-minute fundamentals class that helps new climbers find their footing. Regular climbing clinics also provide new insight and instruction for experienced climbers to up their game, both physically and mentally. 

Climb Cincy

1708 Blue Rock Street, Cincinnati, OH 45223

Opened in 2020, Climb Cincy is one of the newest indoor rock gyms in the Cincinnati area. The facility is nestled in the beautiful Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati, and the folks who run it make a point of catering to climbers of all experience levels to create an environment where all are welcome. Climb Cincy is a bouldering facility, which means participants climb over padded floors with no ropes or harnesses involved. Walls range from 11 to 14 feet tall, and many routes are beginner-friendly, while others will challenge even the most seasoned climbers. 

Mosaic Climbing

9501 Union Cemetery Road, Loveland, OH 45140

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No matter what your preferred style of climbing may be and how much experience you may have, Mosaic Climbing offers something for you. Located in the small city of Loveland within the Cincinnati metro area, Mosaic Climbing offers one of the most impressive, wide-ranging climbing facilities in Ohio. In addition to bouldering terrain, Mosaic offers top-rope, auto-belay, and lead climbing, plus a variety of climbing-related training equipment and a complete fitness facility with yoga rooms. Private and group instruction is available for youths and adults.

RockQuest Climbing Center

3475 East Kemper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241

Located in a renovated industrial space in Sharonville, just north of Cincinnati, RockQuest Climbing Center is one of Ohio's longest-running indoor climbing gyms and a staple of the local climbing community in the Cincy area. RockQuest offers around 15,000 square feet of climbing surface, with roped climbing as well as bouldering. Belay classes are available, teaching essential top rope climbing skills, including knots and techniques. 

View From the Top

Where's you're favorite place to climb around Ohio?

Whether you're a beginner or an expert—or anywhere in between—it's fun to visit one of the many Ohio ice rinks that offer public ice time. Indoor and outdoor rinks are available, and with some, you can also have a snack or cup of hot chocolate to help you warm up and refuel.

Check out the following nine places to lace up your ice skates in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Northeast Ohio.

The Ohio State University Ice Rink

390 Woody Hayes Dr., Columbus, OH 43210

Skate on the same rink as the hockey Buckeyes at The Ohio State University Ice Rink, located east of St. John Arena and north of Ohio Stadium. The facility has a warming room with vending machines, benches, lockers, and a pro shop where you can buy hockey equipment and skating apparel. Its surface area is 200 feet long and 85 feet long, and it hosts open skating most days. Cost for the general public is $12, discounted to $5 on weekday afternoons, and includes free skate rental with the cost of admission.

OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks - OhioHealth Ice Haus

200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215, plus 4 additional locations

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OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks are conveniently located throughout the area, and you don't need a reservation to hit the ice. Prices start at $8 and up, and depending on the date and time you select, skate rentals are either free or cost $4. Noon skates are popular with families who have young children since the ice is less crowded then. Ice skating and ice hockey lessons are also offered, along with camps and clinics for athletes, and you can also schedule birthday parties at Chiller locations.

Blendon Woods Metro Park

4265 East Dublin Granville Rd., Columbus, OH 43230

Blendon Woods is part of the Columbus Metro Parks system, and if you'd like to skate on an outdoor rink, it's a great place to go. The pond is about .4 acres in size and is about 18 to 24 inches deep. The park has restrooms but doesn't rent skates, so you'll need to bring your own. While you're there, look out for birds and other wildlife since the park is also home to the 118-acre Walden Waterfowl Refuge and 11-acre Thoreau Lake. You can also look for birds from the park's two elevated observation towers equipped with spotting scopes.

UC Health Ice Rink

38 Fountain Sq Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202

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UC Health Ice Rink has a unique combination of bumper cars on one side of the rink and skating on the other, with the two sides divided by a barrier. For $15, you can enjoy both sides. If you'd rather attend a skating-only session, you'll pay $10. When you need a break, head to the warming tent, where you'll have a view of the rink. Stop by concessions first and grab a hot or cold drink and snack to enjoy while relaxing in the warming tent.

Sports Plus Cincinnati

10765 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45241

You'll have your choice of multiple ice rinks at Sports Plus Cincinnati, which packs countless activities into its over 250,000 square feet of space. It has several ice rinks and is home to Cincinnati's largest adult hockey league as well as its largest youth hockey association and the Figure Skating Club of Cincinnati. Bring the entire family to lace up their skates and come back another day to have fun with other activities like basketball or volleyball.

Ice Skating at Fifty West

7605 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227

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Fifty West has transformed into a winter wonderland destination with its outdoor ice skating rink. It's open daily, and for $10 per person, which includes skate rental, you can skate for an hour. Large, heated tents and small fire pits are available to help you warm up, along with hot chocolate and cider, with the option to add alcohol to either one. You can also head into Fifty West for a burger and brew to refuel after your skating session.

Ice Rink at Summit Park

4335 Glendale Milford Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242

Take a spin on the ice at Ice Rink at Summit Park, located underneath the park's glass canopy. Skate sessions cost $7, which includes skate rentals. Theme nights and activities add to the fun with a popular Chuck-A-Duck game and on-ice games. And if you're inexperienced on the ice, the rink provides free skating aids to help. To extend your fun when it's snowed, bring a sled and zoom down the sledding hill behind Observation Tower. And when you're done, grab a hot chocolate or a meal from one of the four on-site restaurants.

Mentor Ice Arena

8600 Munson Rd., Mentor, OH 44060

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Mentor Ice Arena is Lake County's only indoor ice skating complex, offering open skating year-round. It has two regulation-size ice rinks, and you'll find a wide range of lessons available to suit a broad range of abilities. Learn-to-skate lessons are offered, along with youth and adult hockey and figure skating. Rates are $9 for adults, $7 for youths under age 18 or seniors age 65 and over, with an additional $4 for skate rentals.

Alice Noble Ice Arena

851 Oldman Rd., Wooster, OH 44691

The Alice Noble Ice Arena offers a 200-feet by 85-feet rink to enjoy, along with bleacher seating or an enclosed warm room when you'd like to take a break. Open skate times—along with accompanying music—are held throughout the week. And if you have a beginning skater in your group, look into the Learn to Skate USA program that they can take part in at the arena. It's the introductory skating program that U.S. Figure Skating, USA Hockey, and U.S. Speedskating recommend.

Where the Ice is Nice

Which Ohio ice rinks are you looking forward to visiting? 

Pickleball is such a fun game for people of all ages. It gives you a great way to get out and be active with friends. Swinging the racket is much easier than in tennis, yet there's more movement involved than in ping pong. Whether you've been playing pickleball for years or are completely new to the game, there are several awesome indoor courts in Ohio. Here are some of the top ones we recommend visiting this winter.

North Ridge Racquet & Paddle

5475 Mills Creek Lane N, North Ridgeville, OH 44039

If you're in Northeast Ohio, then one of the best places to play indoor paddleball is North Ridge Racquet & Paddle. They offer several pickleball leagues for adults of all ages. A Tuesday Evening Beginner Pickleball League is perfect for those new to the sport. Or, if you have more experience, consider the Sunday Morning Advanced Pickleball League. 

You can see a complete schedule of league play times on the club's website. Or, you can visit during Open Play hours and hit the ball around with a few friends. Open play is just $8 per day, and it's $100 to join a league for six weeks.

Cleveland Racquet Club

29825 Chagrin Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44124

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The Cleveland Racquet Club is a great place to play indoor racquet sports all year. They have several indoor pickleball courts that are always clean and well-maintained. The club is open Monday - Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Contact the club to find out their latest open-court hours for pickleball.

The Cleveland Racquet Club has a lot to offer in addition to pickleball. If you become a member, you can work out in their fitness center, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or even lunch at the onsite restaurant, The Pub. Of course, there are also tennis and ping pong courts if you need a change of pace.

Mandel Jewish Community Center

26001 S. Woodland Rd., Beachwood, OH 44122

The Mandel Jewish Community Center has two basketball courts set up into four pickleball courts during certain open play hours. They also have several pickleball classes and clinics for players of all abilities. Their Pickleball Skills and Drills Clinic is 90 minutes long and only $25 for community members. Visitors also enjoy their three-week Intro to Pickleball class.

If you're more serious, the JCC also has pickleball leagues you can join. They're divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Pickle & Chill

880 W. Henderson Rd., Columbus, OH 43214

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Do you want to play pickleball in a relaxed setting? Then Pickle & Chill is the place to go in Columbus. This indoor pickleball facility offers league play plus plenty of open play hours. There are even designated open play hours for those ages 60+. 

Pickle & Chill offers "Dink and Drink" open play night and College and Young Professionals nights. If you're new to the sport, consider signing up for their Learn to Play clinic.

Olympic Indoor Tennis

3480 Indianola Ave., Columbus, OH 43214

Olympic Indoor Tennis is a beautiful indoor facility that allows both members and non-members to use their pickleball courts for group play. The charge for members is just $7 per person, and non-members pay $10. Courts are available Monday - Friday between 7 and 9 a.m. and also between 1 and 3:15 p.m. 

If you plan on playing pickleball a lot, consider a pickleball-only membership, which is $75. Members can reserve courts privately at a discount. Members also get access to the pro shop, locker rooms, and lounge area. The lounge area is a lovely place to relax and meet other pickleball fans.

Pickle Shack

3218 US Route 42, Delaware, OH 43015

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Pickle Shack is one of the newest pickleball facilities in the Columbus area. Visitors like their relaxed approach and open concept. They make it easy to reserve courts online through their app, and with 10 courts, there is almost always one available.

Pickle Shack also offers lessons. You can purchase a five-week, five-lesson pack for $150 as a non-member. Learn basic techniques such as how to grip the racquet, how to dink, and how to serve. The final lesson even goes into drop-shot techniques.

Five Seasons Sports Club

11790 Snider Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249

Five Seasons Sports Club has 16 indoor pickleball courts open all year. They're also known for their Pickleball in Five classes, which teach the basics of pickleball in five lessons. Adults are welcome, but there are also specific programs for kids ages 7 to 15.

This innovative club offers free, one-day passes for those who want to check out their facilities and learn more. Their pickleball courts have hard floors, similar to those typically used for tennis courts. You can book courts in advance, and members get a substantial discount on fees. 

The Pickle Lodge

7373 Kingsgate Way, West Chester Township, OH 45069

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If you're in the Cincinnati area, then pickleball is about to become even more exciting. The Pickle Lodge is slated to open in early 2023 at the former Court Yard Sportsplex site. This state-of-the-art facility will feature 17 stunning indoor courts, along with its own bar, restaurant, and group party space. The playing surface will even be cushioned to reduce the impact on your joints during gameplay.

The Pickle Lodge will be the second-largest pickleball facility in the U.S. when it's completed. The owners plan on hosting tournaments, teaching lessons, and bringing more attention to this growing, all-ages sport. 

Serving Up Fun

Playing pickleball is a great way to exercise, relax, and clear your mind. Which one of these indoor pickleball facilities will you visit first?

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King Avenue Five

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