Miner 49er: Indoor, miniature-golf course detours rainy-day doldrums

Miner 49er

Indoor miniature golf course detours rainy-day doldrums

If there’s one thing you can count on in Ohio, it’s rain. And finding an uncrowded, indoor facility for family fun on a rainy Saturday can be challenging. Fortunately, though, we struck it rich when we discovered Miner 49er in Grandview.

We found the indoor, miniature-golf course – with an Old West mining-town theme – while searching the Internet for something to do. The 18-hole, black-lit course opened in spring 2015 and filled a void for family-friendly establishments in the area. It’s open year-round and nearly all hours of the day.

We also learned that the indoor course is connected to another golf-related business called Caddy’s Delight. Here, golf enthusiasts can play virtual golf at one of three stations that allow players an opportunity to swing their clubs at dozens of popular courses around the world.

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We decided to concentrate on the miniature-golf course on this outing. The businesses are housed in a windowless building that doesn’t scream “family fun” from the street. Only their respective names inform you that you’ve arrived at the proper place.

Inside it’s dark so the black light effect works. Pop music blares to ratchet up the kid-friendly quotient (if not the adult-friendly quotient). You can tell a lot of time and thought went into the course design. Hand-painted murals adorn the walls and add a realistic, three-dimensional effect. And the course, built of plywood, is cleverly constructed and laid out to fill two rooms.

But if I have one pick axe to grind with Miner 49er, it’s the cost. We paid $32 for two adults and two kids to play a round of golf, which seemed a bit steep considering two of our players ran through the course in 15 minutes.

Determined to get our money’s worth, Mike and I took our time playing each hole – even playing each one a second time to perfect our strokes.

A couple of other families arrived during play, but we never felt rushed to finish. The experience can be slowed down even more by ordering house-made food – including vegetarian options – from the menu or a local craft beer. Prices are higher than it seems like they should be, however.

Miner 49er is located at 1158 W. Third Ave., Columbus. For more information, call 614-725-4219 or visit www.miner49erminigolf.com.

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Vertical Adventures: Introduce youngsters to rock climbing at innovative, indoor facility

Vertical Adventures

Introduce youngsters to rock climbing at innovative, indoor facility

I recently took my two children to Vertical Adventures for a birthday party. And “birthday” is just what I thought when I entered the indoor rock-climbing facility on Columbus’ north side, just off Busch Boulevard.

The interior of the 16,000-square-foot facility looks like confetti exploded all over its gigantic walls. The confetti was actually thousands of colorful hand and foot holds meant for scaling the walls, which reach up to 45 feet.

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My children and I had been never been to an indoor climbing facility, so this was indeed an adventure. Our friends at the party, however, looked like pros, as we learned they’re avid indoor climbers. I had no idea this was such a popular sport in flat Columbus – and one that provides a good physical and mental workout for children and adults.

Vertical Adventures has two climbing areas: one for rope climbing and another for equipment-free climbing on low walls, called bouldering. In bouldering, there’s no requirement for spotters. When you fall, you land on a thick, spongy pad.

The birthday party focused on rope climbing, which involved a climber and a spotter. The climber wore a harness that was tied to a rope that passed through an anchor at the top of the wall and led back down to the spotter.

My children joined other guests in donning harnesses that were tied to ropes by staff members, who served as spotters.

Climbers chose a path to climb depending on their skill level, which went from easy to expert. My daughter chose a route marked with color-coded holds of various sizes and shapes, including a puppy and an alligator. Some holds were tiny and barely protruded from the wall.

The party offered us a great introduction to the sport. But how might others do it?

One way to learn the ropes of climbing is to take an hour-long “Indoor Rope 101” class for $39, available for ages 14 and older. Parents can take the class to learn how to be spotters for children as young as 2. Spotters must be at least 14 years old.

Another way is to visit during open-climb hours from 2-6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, when participants as young as 5 can experience five climbs with a staff-person spotter for $25. Reservations are not required, and a parent or guardian must sign a waiver for participants younger than 18.

Vertical Adventures is open daily and, unlike outdoor climbing, doesn’t waver upon on the weather.

Vertical Adventures is located at 6513 Kingsmill Ct., Columbus. For more information, call 614-888-8393 or visit www.verticaladventuresohio.com.

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SportsOhio is located at 6314 Cosgray Rd., Dublin.

SportsOhio

Spaces for city kids to play inside and out

Playing outside was easy when I was a kid growing up in northeastern Ohio. I simply walked out our front door and explored the world, often following streams wherever they led.

SportsOhio in Dublin offers spaces for city kids to leisurely play inside and out.

SportsOhio is a hundred-acre campus of rec centers with indoor and outdoor areas for soccer, baseball and ice skating. It’s also a fun zone for playing miniature golf, driving go-karts, hitting golf balls and baseballs, and jumping on inflatables.

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Two ways for families to sample what’s available at SportsOhio are during “Open Play Days” on select Fridays throughout the year and at “Phat Fridays” in the spring and summer.

My children and I checked out an “Open Play Day” at the FieldSports building in early April. I signed a waiver and paid $8 apiece for my kids to play for three hours. Rosie and Max went straight for the bounce-house area that included a jump house, inflatable slide and obstacle course.

They jumped, slid and bounced until they were red in their faces, at which point I purchased blue Slushies for them at the concession stand. We then climbed a set of stairs to rows of picnic tables. The perch also served as a lookout post over the vast indoor facility.

We spied ball fields on either side and a fierce game of dodgeball taking place in a court in front of us. Behind that was a basketball court where kids were riding scooter boards across a shiny, wood floor. The most appealing area was a turf-covered field filled with toys normally found outside, like hula hoops, bouncy balls, scooters, frisbees and big-wheeled tricycles.

The three hours zipped by, leaving my kids pleasantly exhausted for the ride home.

We’ll most likely return for “Phat Fridays,” when visitors get unlimited access to outdoor activities such as go-karts, mini golf, inflatables, batting cages and outdoor fields for $15 apiece from 7-10 p.m., beginning April 24.

SportsOhio is located at 6314 Cosgray Rd., Dublin. For more information, call 614-791-3003 or visit www.sportsohio.org. Learn about upcoming “Open Play Days.”

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Columbus Blue Jackets: Watching hockey game is only half the fun

Columbus Blue Jackets

Watching hockey game is only half the fun

The first time I attended a Blue Jackets hockey game was in the early 2000s while on a date with my now-husband, Mike. I remember the initial excitement of seeing the bright, white ice rink at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus and the thrill of watching players slam against the Plexiglass panels.

Our enthusiasm for our city’s first professional hockey team kept us coming back. We’d regularly join in choruses of “Let’s go Jackets!” while waving paper cutouts of team member’s faces, such as the handsome Rostislav Klesla and the rebellious Jody Shelley, who was known for starting fights. We got autographs, too, including one from former team captain Rick Nash on my cell-phone case.

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Fast forward to a decade later in February 2015 when we took our two children to see their first hockey game – a matchup between the Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens at Nationwide, where the Jackets have been playing since the expansion team was founded in 2000.

Our 7-year-old daughter, Rosie, seemed especially enthusiastic about the outing. Our son, Max, 5, on the other hand, just wanted Dippin’ Dots – beads of ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen – but none were to be found.

The surroundings, more than the game, enchanted our children.

First there was Stinger. The mascot, a bright green bug with bulging red eyes sporting a Blue Jackets’ jersey, buzzes around the stadium, interacting with crowd members, launching T-shirts and skating on the ice between the three-period game.

Second there were the prizes. The team’s promotional members hurled empty pizza boxes into the crowd for a chance to win a free pizza. And a remote-controlled blimp that Rosie called “Blimpy” dropped parachute-strapped paraphernalia – more T-shirts.

Next there was the cannon. A replica of an 1857 Napoleon cannon, it’s fired at home games whenever the team takes the ice, scores a goal or wins a game. The cannon complements the teams’ namesake and Ohio history, but be warned: It is loud.

Fourth and foremost there was the Jumbotron. The giant screen, seen by fans from four sides, displays the game and entertainment during commercial breaks and lulls in the action. Rosie kept mugging with her dad in the hopes that they would make it onto the big screen. Alas, they did not. I tried mugging it up with Max, but he was too far gone playing Minecraft on my cell phone to show much interest.

There are a few more things for kids to do around the arena. There’s the IGS Energy Zone, an area where kids can play a makeshift hockey game with soft sticks in a small rink that has a comfy floor. This area is staffed by adults. Our kids also enjoyed stopping at the Fox Sports Ohio Blue Line, the official team store of the Blue Jackets. It was packed with clothes, toys and Blue Jackets memorabilia.

Nationwide Arena’s website lists several no-nos, items that you’re not supposed to bring to a game. They include strollers, backpacks, laptops, air horns and (surprise!) fireworks.

While the Blue Jackets did not win the game, we enjoyed the action of the players battling it out on the ice. Hockey players seem to really earn their money, and it was a lot of fun watching the game from a bird’s-eye view.

The Blue Jackets made sure everyone in the family had fun. Now if only they can serve Dippin’ Dots.

For more information, visit bluejackets.nhl.com.

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Kingmakers

Kingmakers

Pick from more than 450 titles at Short North board game parlor

Kingmakers is a game parlor in the Short North that boasts more than 450 board games – from Apples to Apples to Zombie Dice – that are neatly shelved on a wall and ready to entertain you and your friends.

Guests pay $5 apiece to access the game library for unlimited play. Employees, known as “Board Game Sommeliers,” know how to play the games, so besides serving snacks and beverages, they can explain rules and offer tips for outsmarting opponents. Heck, they’ll even sit down and play with you, if you’d like them to.

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My son, Max, and I visited Kingmakers on a Sunday afternoon when most of the tables were occupied. Guests enter under a striped awning off Buttles Avenue and descend an indoor staircase. It felt like I was taking my 5-year-old to an underground bar, but, alas, the stairwell led to a bright, comfortable space with groups of noticeably content people playing board games at various sized tables with mixed-matched chairs.

Kingmasters takes only credit cards for payment. So when you enter, you’re asked to provide a card to keep a running tab of your expenditures. We started off with a $10 charge soon after walking in.

Beverages and snacks are available, including beer on tap and in cans, wine, soda, coffee and locally made snacks, such as a mix from the Krema Nut Company in Grandview. Don’t attempt to bring your own snacks or games from home, however, as they’re not permitted. I ordered a wine for myself and chocolate milk for Max.

The joint is welcoming to children, visible by the selection of board games such as Candy Land, Hi-Ho Cherry-O and Sorry. Children’s games are clearly marked, as well as the duration of time you can expect to play.

Most games, though, appear to be of the role-playing variety, the likes of Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve never played these types of games, but I think this would be the perfect, non-threatening place to give them a try.

Max and I spent two hours playing five games, three of which were new to us. All pieces were contained in the boxes, which isn’t always the case at home. The space allowed us to focus on the games, and I could tell that Max appreciated his one-on-one time with mom. That alone was worth the price of admission.

Kingmakers is located at 17 Buttles Ave. Parking is located at nearby meters, and there is no fee on Sunday.

Hours are 5-10 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 5 p.m.-midnight, Friday; 1 p.m.-midnight, Saturday; and 1-10 p.m., Sunday.

For more information, visit kingmakerscolumbus.com. View the game library at kingmakerscolumbus.com/library.

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Chuck E. Cheese’s

Chuck E. Cheese’s

Confessions of a closet fan

Don’t judge, but we’re regulars at Chuck E. Cheese’s. In one moment, as parents, we were saying we’d never step foot into the chain restaurant that’s got a ratty-looking animatronic mouse for a mascot. But the next moment we realize we’ve been there five times, saving up game points so we can redeem top-shelf prizes for our kids. (We only need 500 more tickets to get the Star Wars Fighter Pods, which go for 2,500 tickets.)

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How did this happen? I blame it on an invitation for a preschooler’s birthday party, which we didn’t even attend because we were on vacation. But once the thought entered our son’s brain of a mystical place “Where a kid can be a kid,” it was over. The requests poured in.

“When are we going to Chuck E. Cheese? Can I have my birthday there, too?”

Going there on our own would be easier than hosting a party, we thought. We spent two hours at the Dublin location playing video arcade games, a bargain considering we’d spent $20 on 80 brass tokens, which filled two plastic cups. It took just one coin to play each game instead of two or more like at other entertainment centers. And the games worked, dispensing tickets as they were supposed to.

The restaurant also was clean and the environment felt safe, thanks to a woman who served as gatekeeper at the entrance. She made sure family members displayed matching glow-in-the-dark stamps before they exited.

The menu offered plentiful options beyond pizza, and the salad bar looked appetizing. We soon found out we weren’t the only closet fans, as the place has been packed each time we’ve visited.

There are three Chuck E. Cheese’s locations in central Ohio:

  • 2711 Martin Rd., Dublin, 614-791-9480
  • 4284 Macsway Ave., Columbus, 614-863-6482
  • 3631 Soldano Blvd., Columbus, 614-351-8884

For more information, visit www.chuckecheese.com.

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Columbus Children's Theatre Thrifty Thursday
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Columbus Children’s Theatre: Thrifty Thursday

All seats just $12 on Thursday nights

If you’ve got kids, and those kids like to watch plays (a likely eventuality), then check out what Columbus Children’s Theatre has to offer.

Located at 512 N. Park St. near the North Market, Columbus Children’s Theatre offers discounted tickets to its performances every Thursday. “Thrifty Thursday” tickets are just $12 apiece for all ages, compared to $15-$25 for tickets on other days. This once-a-week bargain presents a great opportunity for those not familiar with the theater company a chance to become acquainted with its fine productions.

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The theater was founded in 1963 with a mission to offer theatrical instruction to children throughout central Ohio. In addition to about eight productions a year, the theater offers a professional touring company that performs at schools around Ohio, as well as acting classes and workshops for children as young as three.

I took my family to see “Pinocchio” on a recent Thursday. The 50-minute show was the perfect length for a school night. The show started at 7:30 p.m. I arrived 30 minutes beforehand to secure a parking space. I pumped $2 into a meter in front of the theater.

The venue has three sections of stadium-style seating, with the actors positioned on the ground in the center. All seats provide good views.

Four versatile actors from the theater’s touring company performed the popular play about a wooden puppet that dreams of becoming a boy. They made it appear as though there were many more cast members as they moved about the theater, changing costumes and character voices.

My children were enraptured by the performance, especially when they asked for audience participation. My daughter, Rosie, delighted in joining two other girls on stage. At one point she was led behind a curtain, only to reappear with donkey ears on her head. She, along with Pinocchio, had been turned into a mule because she was playing too much and not doing her school work.

The cast members stayed afterward to sign autographs on playbills and pose for pictures.

Performances normally take place at the Park Street location, except the springtime productions, which move to bigger, more-accommodating venues.

Upcoming shows in the 2015 season include:

Feb. 12-22
“Healers in the Forest,” an hourlong show about a farm boy who discovers fairylike children with the power to heal that’s suggested for ages 4 and older.

March 12-29
“Fancy Nancy: The Musical,” a 75-minute show adapted from the children’s books by Jane O’Connor Minutes that’s suggested for ages 4 and older.

April 9-29
“The Emperor’s New Clothes,” a 50-minute William Goldsmith adaptation suggested for ages 3 and older.

April 30-May 10
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” a two-act musical based on the animated film suggested for ages 5 and older and performed at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.

The box office is open one hour before shows. No concessions are sold at the theater and no food or drink is permitted inside. For more information, call 614-224-6672 or visit columbuschildrenstheatre.org.

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Movie Tavern, Breakfast and a Flick

Movie Tavern: Breakfast and a Flick

Bargain movies on weekend mornings with a side of eggs

Getting a price break on a first-run movie usually means settling on an afternoon matinee showing. But the Movie Tavern at Mill Run presents another option – bargain movies on weekend mornings with the added bonus of breakfast.

“Breakfast and a Flick” starts at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests pay $5 to see a first-run film at the 12-screen theater.

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I recently took my children on a Saturday morning to see “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb,” which proved to be a pleasant family outing that took half the time it would to separately eat a meal in a restaurant and see a movie.

I read the menu by a dim light that remained lit throughout the film. Our server, Jared, took our order at our seats before the movie started. We could request additional service by pressing a call button. Our food was delivered during the movie, and I paid toward the end.

The breakfast menu includes pancakes, French toast, bagels, oatmeal and quesadillas. Kids meals, including a drink, are priced at $4.25.

The food was a bit bland and the surroundings a bit disheveled, which I attribute to the theater’s nontraditional seating – think office chairs pulled away from the tables. That said, the wheeled seats that swivel and recline are quite comfortable.

Movie Tavern is a national chain. It has a full bar, so if you feel inclined, order a Bloody Mary or mimosa for breakfast, too.

Movie Tavern is located 3773 Ridge Mill Dr., Columbus.

For more information and
movie times, visit www.movietavern.com or call 614-777-1012.

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