Madison loves to bowl. We have only been a few times, but she has asked to bowl everyday since that first experience. Mike and I have taken her and it was fun, but we thought it would be more fun if we asked our friends along. So, when I informed her we would be going bowling with her friend, Jamie, you would have thought I had told her we were going to Disney World. To say she was excited would be an understatement.
We arrived around 5:30, secured some lanes, and ordered some bowling alley pizza. The timing was perfect as it was not too crowded, and our lanes were all the way in the back so our kids could run around without too much worry of annoying fellow bowlers. This was a bonus, because ours liked to play duck, duck, goose while waiting for their turn.
I remember bowling with my family as a kid and loving it. It was a time when we were all together, playing a game, cheering for each other, and having fun regardless of age. My four year old loves it, my one year old runs around and loves it, and Mike and I have fun too. I never thought I would have a family that bowls, but I think I kinda like it.
Colonial Lanes is running a summer special: sign up online and your kids (up to age 16) bowl for free all summer. You get two games per visit but have to rent shoes which are $3. Madison is currently our only bowler as Sophie, who thinks she is four but is in fact one, is still too young to bowl. Each game is $3.50 for kids until 6:00 and $4.75 after that so we usually save $7-$9.50. Not a huge savings but we’ll take it and appreciate the offer. It takes about 48 hours for them to acknowledge your registration. Then, the next time you go bowling just let the attendant know your kid is part of the summer pass, give them their last name, and you’re all set.
Colonial Lanes is in the Chester ShopRite Plaza. It is very clean, and the staff is friendly. Every time one of the kid’s balls gets stuck because of a super slow roll that only a preschooler can master, they come right over to retrieve it and don’t seem to be annoyed at all. You can program the bumpers to go up or down depending on whose turn it is. (This may be common knowledge, but I had no idea so I thought I would share just in case!) As I write this, my children are still sleeping. This is huge considering my daughter is often up before the sun rises. I’d call it a success based on that alone but it really is a fun way to spend an hour or two.
P.S. Madison just woke up and the first words out of her mouth? “When can we go bowling again?”
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