Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark

Houston's flagship public park, opened in 2008 beside the Sabine Street Bridge: 30,000 square feet of in-ground concrete with a street course, a kidney pool, a big bowl and two cradles, one of them thought to be the largest in the country. Areas are laid out by ability, and the morning hours are noticeably quieter.

The park sits in Eleanor Tinsley Park in the shadow of downtown, with parking at the Fonde Recreation Center. The street course, the pool and the big bowl are far enough apart that you can pick a corner that matches your legs on the day — and the two cradles are worth watching even if you never intend to ride one.

The practical tip from locals: the first couple of hours after opening, typically 9am to 11am, are much less crowded, which makes them the right window for anyone relearning the basics. There is a spectator area inside the park, and the walkway in from Sabine Street — “Skater Alley” — is lined with commissioned art.