Family Fun Night
By PJ Goetz
Get the family together we are going to have some fun! For the last month my kid’s have been dragging me all over the Bay area in a quest to find great spots for family fun night. We have discovered and rediscovered some great places to have to fun. We have now made Wednesday night the official Family Fun night at our house. Here is a sampling of some of the places we have been.
Golf anyone?
And god said let there be light and the guys over at Terrace Hill Golf Course listened. This is a great 9-hole executive lighted golf course. The last tee time is 8:30pm so you’ll have plenty of time to get the kids in the car after work and still get in 9 holes. With all the holes par 4s and par 3s it is a great place to introduce your kids to the game. You won’t believe the hills you find on this golf course. They have a lighted driving range and golf classes for kids too. The courses manager John is great and will help to make your night here lots of fun.
Terrace Hill Golf Course
7746 Temple Terrace Hwy
Temple Terrace FL
(813) 984-8655
Tag Your It!
Qzar Laser Tag in Tampa is great for a family night out. Stay together on the same team and work together to help your color win the game. All kids love the fast pace and the excitement of laser tag. The room is lit by black lights, the music is pumping and you are getting tagged from every which way. Plan to play at least 2 games to get the hang of what is going on. That’s how long it took me anyways. By the second game my family and I put together a great plan and we won!
Qzar
7807 N. Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa FL 33614
(813) 933-6995
Journey to the stars: Saturday night hold on tight as you and your family tour the solar system at Bishop Planetarium. The first show starts at 7pm and one runs every hour until 10pm. Can we come here again is what my kids said as soon as the show ended. It is a bit of drive from Tampa but well worth it. Spend the day at the beach in Anna Maria Island and hit this place on the way home after dinner. You should call in advance and reserve your seats.
Bishop Planetarium
201 10th Street West
Bradenton Florida
(941) 746-4131
Ride a Roller Coaster in the dark: @ Summer Nights Busch Gardens: How about riding the SheiKra in the dark? No way not me but the kids love it and I am the only to happy to wait this one out. They did get me on the Montou and I’ll never do it again. Bands and special nighttime events are set up through out the park. Beat the heat and have lots of fun. We get there around 6 and have still have enough time for fun. The park stays open until 10pm on weekends and 9 pm during the week. If you don’t have a Florida Fun Card they have special admission prices after 5pm. \
Log on to Busch Gardens for the details.
Picnic on the Beach: If you have little ones who don’t take the heat of the day at the beach very well head on over after work and have a picnic dinner while watching the sunset. The crowds are all gone and your little ones can run around in the sand without bothering anyone. I love to do this at Pass-A-Grille. And I love to get Pizza from Gennaro’s for our picnic. It is right next to the Circle K Call when you are leaving Tampa and it will be ready when you get there.
Gennaro’s
One Pass-A-Grille Way between 20th and 21st Ave
(727) 360-0563
Grand Prix: Putt- Putt, Go carts, video games, paintball, batting cages – here they have it all! The big track is for bigger kids and is one if the longest tracks in the country. My 9 year old did two laps and begged for more. For my younger ones we headed over the family track and had a blast. My mini Mario sat beside me in the double seater and urged me to go faster. Tuesday and Thursday you can play unlimited video games for $12.00 a person (for an additional fee you can add on unlimited go carts). We played putt – putt, batted in the batting cages, played the video games and had a great time. They offer paintball but I was too chicken. (After the guy said it felt like a bee string when you got hit I was out.) This is not one of my favorite places but my kids love it so much that every once in a while I let them talk me into bringing them here.
Grand Prix
14320 North Nebraska Ave
Tampa FL 33613
(813) 977-6272
Cyber Bowling: Bowling in the dark is so fun. Black lights fill the air and the music starts pumping. You’ll learn all the latest songs and dance moves from your kids. Cyber bowling is great for pre-teens and teens that never seem to want to do anything. Everyone in the family can have fun bowling. Two of our favorites are Ten Pin Lanes in St. Pete Beach and Pin Chasers (formally Crown Lanes) on Hillsborough. Most bowling alleys offer Cyber bowling Saturday night call your local bowling alley for details.
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