Looking For an Afternoon of Old Style Fun in Northern Virginia?

It is happening every day in dark alleys throughout Northern Virginia. Fun is happening away from the glare of the hot summer sun. How can it be? It is easy when you let your eyes adjust to the darkness and spy a group of adults tossing a grapefruit size ball at miniature pins in a game of duck pin bowling or a party full of little bowlers keeping the ball in the lane with the rubber bumpers covering the gutters.

Back in the day bowling alleys had the reputation of being smoke filled buildings with greasy fries and hot dogs as the main attraction. My dad wouldn't let me go the bowling alley a few blocks from our house because that was where the "Fonz" characters hung out. Ironically that same Springfield bowling alley eventually became the Long & Foster Real Estate office where I worked in for 3 years.

Fast forward to today and you will find a new breed of bowling alley with plenty of fun for everyone. When the weather in Northern Virginia gets muggy everyone starts to look for ways to find entertainment inside and bowling is a great alternative to the wave pools and better for you than a bucket of buttered popcorn.

When my kids were growing up we used to hit the Bowl America Lanes in Burke on oppressive days and discovered it was a great way to pass away an afternoon. We even hit a bowling alley in the UK on a rainy day and discovered cosmic bowling. Nothing like a lime green bowling ball glowing under black light to pick up your spirits!

In Northern Virginia you can find bowling alleys scattered throughout the area and most of them offer a wide variety of activities for all age groups. Kids are never disappointed by a gutter ball with the blow up bumpers and with the automatic scoreboards no one can be accused of miscounting the remaining pins. So try something different and head to your local bowling alley.