Don't let the 5 star rating fool you. I am actually giving this place 6 out of 5 stars. You just can't see my invisible 6th star, which is reserved for special places of exceeding awesomeness.
I've been here a handful of times, and every time I leave, i feel empowered, enthusiastic, and determined to keep coming back and eventually conquer those 5.10's.
You arrive here feeling like vulnerable mini Mario, but you exit feeling like super-sized cartwheeling and invincible Mario.
Rock Spot does wonders for your self esteem. It also does wonders for your fear of heights. (Coming here has helped me go from being completely incapacitated by heights to tolerable of them.)
1. BEGINNER FRIENDLY: Rock Spot is not at all intimidating. It embraces newcomers with enthusiasm and warmth. You will not feel out of place. Yes, there are people there who have been climbing for years, own their own gear, and whiz up those 5.11's like spiderman. But there are also A LOT of beginners who are there to have a good time. You will not ever feel judged. You will not ever feel embarrassed about your abilities, or lack thereof.
2. FAMILY FRIENDLY: This place is fantastic for families and children. The staff members are great at interacting with kids. I get all warm and fuzzy watching the encouragement given to kids trying a difficult route. Plus, rock climbing is one of the few physical activities that is particularly well-suited for families to participate together as a group.
3. GOOD FOR GROWTH: There are around 30+ belay routes ranging from beginner level (5.5) to very advanced (5.11/5.12 ?). Newcomers and intermediate climbers will not get bored easily. I've been to the rock wall at Boston University gym and that one greatly pales in comparison.
4. DEALS $: These types of activities can be expensive. Fortunately, Rock Spot is always offering reasonable deals that make it affordable for anyone. I just purchased an online coupon that got me 5 sessions for 2 people (10 sessions total) for $30. Earlier this year, Yelp offered a deal of unlimited sessions for $30/month. Meetup.com has a group that gets a discount on weekly climb sessions. If you are patient and resourceful, you can almost always find a way to come here for less.
5. STAFF: The staff members here are FANTASTIC. Every single one of them. I came here once in January and had a nice blond fellow teach me the roping and belay techniques. I then came back a full month later and, having forgotten everything from my previous session, was retrained by two different staff members. The refresher course ended up being 30 minutes of in-depth training and tips. The staff here are so enthusiastic about helping you out, super duper friendly, and knowledgeable. And as mentioned before, they are good with kids. THEY are what really makes this gym stand out from its competition.
6. FUN: i love coming here. I love that feeling of achievement i get when I reach the top of a challenging new route. I love that ache I get in my arms that tells me for days afterwards how good of a workout I got. I love the calluses and bruises (aka battlescars) I get that make me feel hardcore and kickass.
In summary, come here if:
-- you are a single young adult. You are guaranteed to meet some other attractive singles. Consider this as a pick-up line: "Hi there. Do you need a belay buddy?"
--you are looking for a neat date idea with your S.O.
--you are looking for something thing to-do with your friends that does not involve alcohol, eating, or sitting around.
--you are looking for a family-friendly activity
--you are looking for a new and exciting way to stay active
PS. This gym may be in Boston, but it is FAR from downtown. If driving, IGNORE YOUR NAVIGATION SYSTEM because it wants to take you on a scenic route through every neighborhood southwest of Boston. Instead, find your way to Route 95 and get off at exit 14. read more