Fans enjoy family activities at the VCO

During Family Weekend at the Volvo Car Open there were a wide variety of activities. The fun continues throughout this week and coming weekend. Admission was free for kids 16 and younger and under $10 for adults during Family Weekend. While the remainder of the week requires paid admission, once inside the gates the event offers many fun activities that are completely free, no waiting in line to buy activity tickets.

Families will not need worry if they visit the VCO right from school or at mealtime as they’ll find an assortment of snacks and entrees throughout the grounds. When I visited the VCO this past weekend, I expected to see satisfying staples and I wasn’t disappointed. I found burgers, pizza, snow cones, grilled and cold sandwiches, ice cream, smoothies, salads, barbeque and more. A new venue and vantage point for tasty fare this year is a casual, rooftop eatery.

Particularly exciting this year during Family Weekend is that families were greeted even outside the main gate by a Ferris wheel, carousel and other amusement rides. These colorful attractions appealed to kids of all ages, set a tone of carnivals-que excitement, and made me wonder what other fun awaited me inside the actual event.

One exciting offering inside the event is an inflatable obstacle course with a wide range of obstacles such as a rope maze and a warped climbing wall. Phrases from the video game “Fortnite” have been added throughout the course to give it an up-to-date twist. Kids are timed as they navigate the obstacles and get a chance to beat the existing record of their siblings, friends and neighbors.

Nearby, Net Generation occupies a few centrally-located courts and offers free walk-on tennis instruction to children of any age. Net Generations, the youth movement of the United States Tennis Association, has the goal of spreading the love of tennis to a new generation. The organization clearly succeeded this past weekend, as I saw kids who had never held a racquet before smile joyfully when they succeeded to hit balls that were hand-fed by instructors over the net.

Another popular attraction for family members of all ages is the chance to try one of two labyrinth balance boards sponsored by Synchronicity. I saw many kids eager to stand on a board while a ball rolled in a maze below their feet. The object of the game is to use one’s balance to roll the ball to the maze’s end in the center of the board.

For families or friends who want to enjoy some outdoor games, the central area is the place to go. It boasts opportunities to play corn hole, ping pong, and foosball. There is also a photo-op as you enter that lets you snap a picture of your child holding a giant tennis racquet. By the continuous stream of people young and old who I saw pick up (and sometimes try to swing) these racquets, this seemingly simple attraction clearly served as a desirable novelty.

For those who want to show off their silly side, the photo booth is a place not to miss. Boasting a wide range of props with which to pose, this fan favorite definitely brings smiles.

Family Weekend at the Volvo Car Open was enjoyed by many and was a fulfilling start to a week of great tennis. Families visiting the VCO in the coming days will head home after their visit neither bored, broke, disappointed nor hungry.