Recreation options available during school break
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldA novice skater gets a hand up. The Larson Ice Rink is one of the places kids and families can go for fun during the winter break from school.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldSkaters take to the ice at the Larson Ice Rink Monday. The rink is one option for families looking for something to do during the winter break.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldSome skaters needed help to stay upright while skating at the Larson Ice Rink Monday. The ice rink is one option for families who want to get away from the house during winter break.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldThe Larson Ice Rink was filled with skaters Monday afternoon. The ice rink is one option for families looking for activities during winter break.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldSkaters skimmed - at varying speeds -around Larson Ice Rink Monday afternoon. The ice rink is one option for families looking for activities during the break from school.
MOSES LAKE — It’s not exactly true that kids don’t have anything to do during Christmas vacation. They can run around the house, watch TV or its streaming equivalent, play with their new toys, fight with their brothers and sisters, take naps, and tell their parents they’re bored and there’s nothing to do.
Well. Actually there are things to do, some of them even outside the house.
It is cold out there - the whole winter thing - but high temperatures for the mid- to high 30s are forecast for the rest of the week. And it might be fun to go ice skating.
Luckily there’s an ice rink right in Moses Lake. There are even special operating hours during Christmas break.
The rink will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. It’s open from 2 to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day, noon to 8 p.m. Jan. 2 and noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 3. Skate rentals are available.
Sledding is another possibility, although not necessarily in town - not a lot of hills in Moses Lake. Mission Ridge, 12 miles from Wenatchee, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. New Year’s Day and Jan. 2.
The Mt. Spokane ski area has a designated tubing hill. The Leavenworth area, near Stevens Pass, offers a sledding hill and sleigh rides.
Public libraries in Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy and Warden have programs throughout the year, and some of those activities continue this week.
The Moses Lake library sponsors Storytime for babies from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and for toddlers from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday. Bilingual (English-Spanish) Storytime is scheduled for 6:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The programs all include song and rhymes as well as stories. The library is located at 418 East Fifth Ave.
The Ephrata library sponsors Storytime for preschool-age children from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The library is located 45 Northwest Alder St. A preschool Storytime is scheduled for 10:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Quincy Public Library, 208 South Central Ave. Bilingual (English-Spanish) Storytime is scheduled for 4 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The Quincy library also hosts “Boredom Busters” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, where kids can come in and play card games or board games.
The Warden library sponsors preschool Storytime from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The library is at 305 South Main St.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.