If you ever find yourself at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a long layover, there are plenty of things to do. While most people might hang out in the airport or at an airline lounge, some will venture farther afield and head to the famous In-N-Out right near the airport for some pretty epic plane spotting, while others might head to downtown Manhattan Beach, which is a great way to spend a long layover at LAX. Here’s my guide on what to do in Manhattan Beach while you’re there.
But if you’ve done all that already or are looking for something truly unique, then check out the Toyota Sports Performance Center in nearby El Segundo. It’s less than a mile from Runway 7R/25L and just two miles from Terminal 7.
Take a look inside the facility and see what our time there was like.
Skating at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo
The Toyota Sports Performance Center (located at 555 North Nash Street, El Segundo) is the official practice venue for the Los Angeles Kings and the Jr. Kings. It’s also a premier athletic training facility covering over 135,000 square feet with three ice rinks.
The center rink features an NHL-sized rink where the Kings practice and the one to the right of it is an Olympic-sized rink. The smaller rink closest to the parking lot is known as “The Pond” and is open to the public for skating.
My wife and I finally took our kids there this weekend for the first time to learn how to ice skate. I’m embarrassed that it took this long since they’re now five and eight years old. I can’t remember how old I was when I learned to skate but I do remember going pond skating all the time growing up in freezing cold Connecticut. I also played hockey in my senior year of high school, when the team was short players and they recruited members of the lacrosse team.
It’s been decades since I last laced up in a pair of skates and the same goes for my Canadian wife but I’m happy to report that it was like riding a bike – we picked it back up in no time. It’s been so long that I didn’t even know that some skates, like the men’s pair I rented, don’t even have laces, just straps that you snap like roller blades.
Speaking of rentals, they charge $9.50 for ice skates (figure skates or hockey skates) and if you want a “seal,” a plastic aid to help kids, it’s $20 and they run out so get there early to grab one. Multiple people asked us multiple times if we were done with ours and if they could have it.
Cost to skate: Adults $16.50; Children 12 and under $15.50; Seniors/Military/College $12.
Open skating times:
Monday-Thursday 2:30pm – 5pm
Friday: 2:30pm – 5pm and 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Saturday: 1pm-3pm and 7:30pm – 9:45pm
Sunday 1pm-3pm
The two-story facility is quite nice and upstairs provides a bird’s eye view of the two main rinks below. There’s a full-service restaurant called Kings Cove Café in between that offers a variety of food and beverages. I hear their chicken wings and cookies are off the hook.
The facility is great because pparents can drop their kids off at practice and do some work or just relax and have a bite, while overlooking the rinks.
It also looks like they do kid’s birthday parties since they had one set-up while I was there.
And if you’re an L.A. Kings fan, you will love to know that they have open practices, meaning anyone can go watch the NHL players up close for free.
My kids loved it so much that my wife and I are going to set them up with lessons for $116 for four lessons.
They do have lockers but the ones I saw are on the small side so if you have a lot of luggage, I would call the rink first to find out what they recommend. We just left our bag with shoes and a change of clothes on the ground along the boards like most everyone else. But you should would wear a small crossbody bag like this with your valuables (like your cash, credit cards, phone and keys). That’s what my wife did and it was smart.
All in all, our first experience at the Toyota Sports Performance Center was a huge success. My wife and I were pleased that we hadn’t forgotten how to skate, and our kids loved it so much, we couldn’t get them off the ice. They can’t wait to go back! GOOD TO KNOW: My wife and were both worried that we’d be feeling pretty sore the next day after using muscles we don’t always use but neither one of us was.
KEEP READING:
–The family-friendly California attraction you’ve never heard of but need to visit
–5 family-friendly California road trip ideas from Los Angeles
–The 10 most Instagrammable tourist attractions in California
–California road trip: Los Angeles to San Francisco and must-visit stops along the way
–Our first family trip to Legoland and The Castle Hotel
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
