The Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA Skatepark in Encinitas, California, is one of the most storied skateparks in the world — the legendary home park of a who's-who of skateboarding greats, including Tony Hawk, Danny Way, Mike McGill, Bucky Lasek, Bob Burnquist, and Shaun White. For anyone touring Southern California's skate history, this North County San Diego institution is hallowed ground.

The park packs remarkable variety into its footprint. There's a full street course with multiple ledges, rails, boxes, mini ramps, and stairs for beginner and expert street skaters alike; two of the finest cement pools in the country for pool and bowl riders; and a big vert ramp with serious pedigree (a version was used at the 2003 X Games). Younger and newer skaters get their own “mini-land,” a section with features scaled to roughly a third of the street course, making it a genuinely welcoming place to learn.

Note that this is a YMCA facility, not a free public park. Skaters pay a modest per-session fee (and a signed waiver is required), and the skatepark runs on set operating hours that vary by day, so check the current schedule and rates before you go. Helmets and pads are required.

Come prepared with your safety gear, bring water, be courteous and take turns with a crowd that can include serious talent, and respect the staff and rules. Iconic, varied, and beginner-friendly, the Ecke YMCA skatepark is a bucket-list session in the birthplace of modern vert and street skating.