Tag Archive for: arcade

Star Lanes Polaris

Star Lanes Polaris

Boutique alley offers much more than bowling

Bowling used to be an activity all its own with not much else to spare. You’d show up to an alley ready to bowl, request your clown-like shoes, select a black ball, maybe order some nachos and a Coke, and then desperately try to break a score of 100.

But “boutique” bowling alleys, such as Star Lanes Polaris in Columbus, have changed the notion of traditional bowing and transformed alleys into playful destinations with new entertainment options and full-service restaurants.

Star Lanes, which opened in 2012, is a 35,000 square-foot fun center located near Polaris Fashion Place at 8655 Lyra Dr. What makes it a boutique alley is that the space designated to bowling is relatively small compared to the rest of the venue – just 20 lanes.

[wowslider id=”54″]

You also won’t find a snack counter here. Instead, the Point Bar & Grill offers made-from-scratch meals including skewered coconut shrimp, grilled veggie tacos with fresh guacamole, and an assortment of craft beers and wines by the glass.

The kid’s menu includes classics such as cheese pizza, quesadillas, mac and cheese, and chicken bites, as well as a roasted turkey sandwich and a Caesar salad. (On Wednesday nights, kids eat free with the purchase of a regular-priced adult meal.)

Along with a sit-down restaurant, meals can be served alongside your alley, outfitted with comfortable couches and a selection of colorful bowling balls. Keeping score is kitschy, too, as you can reset the monitor theme and program gutter bumpers to seamlessly pop up and down in between turns.

Star Lanes also offers an upscale lounge with billiards tables and a DJ booth. Plus it has an arcade, where players can win e-tickets redeemable for an assortment of prizes. There’s even space for private parties.

For more information, visit www.starlanespolaris.com or call 614-468-4830.

/by

Magic Mountain

Miniature-golf outing with kids proves fun, but tests parents’ patience

The promotional text on Magic Mountain’s website aptly sums up my family experience playing miniature golf at the Polaris-area fun center: “Each exciting hole will lead you on an adventure of skill and test your patience, too.”

My husband, Mike, and I recently decided to make use of a gift certificate by taking our two young children to Magic Mountain’s pay-as-you-go rides and attractions. Located in the Polaris area, at 8350 Lyra Drive, Magic Mountain offers go-karts, arcade, bumper boats, laser tag, climbing playground and two, 18-hole miniature golf courses.

Five-year-old Rosie was most interested in riding a go-kart with her daddy, while 3-year-old Max wanted to crawl through the above-ground tunnels in the play area.

Neither wanted to play miniature golf. That was my idea. After all, I thought, it would be a fun bonding experience for my golfer husband and our children, whom Mike hopes will one day take up his favorite sport.

My plan started out great, with Rosie selecting a pink golf ball and Max selecting his favorite color, orange. Then things went sour. Rosie immediately dropped her ball down the last hole of the game, sending it back inside the fun center and me back to the front counter to plead for another pink ball. Meanwhile, Max threw his ball over the fence into a nearby hotel’s parking lot.

Mike and I tried to play a serious game as Rosie and Max explored the interesting features at each hole including little bridges, rocky streams and a gushing waterfall at the peak of the course’s “magic” mountain.

Ultimately, we determined Max and Rosie were a little immature for miniature golf. They, however, enjoyed the outing.

Rosie had way more fun on the Magic Track Go-Karts. Rosie measured just over the required 42 inches needed to be a passenger with a driving adult over age 21. Together they rode for five minutes around a looping track, under and over a bridge. Max and I stood at the sidelines, watching as they smiled the whole way.

Max enjoyed playing Skee-ball in the arcade, where he didn’t have to meet a height requirement. (The KidsGym Playground requires participants to measure at least 58-inches tall.)

Other smart kids, like Max, will like the arcade, too, as Magic Mountain gives free arcade tokens to youngsters who get good grades. Every “A” on a report card earns four tokens.

For more information visit magicmountainfuncenter.com.

/by