Visiting arcades, entertainment centers, and bowling alleys is a great way to bond and create memories with friends, family, and co-workers. Whether you’re celebrating a special event, participating in a team-building event, or looking for a fun date night activity in the Plano, Texas, area, these locations offer lots of fun.
Nickel Mania
Image via Flickr by m01229
Head over to 2661 Midway Road, Suite 218 in Carrollton to play modern and vintage arcade games at Nickel Mania. All of the games and pinball machines use real nickels instead of quarters or tokens that add to the old-timey feel of playing in this arcade. You can either bring nickels from your personal coin collection or purchase them at Nickel Mania.
Play the various pinball or arcade games to win multiple fun prizes to bring home as memories of your fun time spent at Nickel Mania. While the arcade doesn’t offer food, you’re encouraged to bring your own picnic or party supplies. The hosts at Nickel Mania offer tables that you can rent so your group can enjoy the food and have a place to celebrate your special event.
Corky’s Gaming Bistro
Kids of all ages can have fun playing classic arcade games such as Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and TRON in the arcade room at Corky’s Gaming Bistro. Other exciting classic games include Joust, Mortal Kombat, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You’ll also find fun pinball machines where you can test your balance and hand-eye coordination skills.
After your fill of old-fashioned arcade and pinball games, head over to Corky’s Gaming Bistro’s Duckpin Bowling center to toss a few balls down the ramp. This miniature bowling alley is perfect for all skill levels. Feel like a lumberjack when you head over to the ax-throwing area. Individuals get to toss a 1.25-pound ax at wooden targets. As you compete against others, you’re scored on where the ax hits the target, and those with the highest numbers win.
When you’re ready to refuel after a busy day of playing arcade games, bowling, and throwing axes, stop by the bistro for items such as spicy chicken wings, loaded nachos, or a hummus plate. You can also order pizza, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and refreshing salads. Find Corky’s Gaming Bistro at 1900 N. Central Expressway in Plano and 3520 Grapevine Mills Blvd. in Grapevine.
If you’re ready to get outside and get some fresh air after a day of playing games at Corky’s Gaming Bistro, spend some time exploring nearby Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.
NickelRama Arcade
Make NickelRama Arcade in Garland your next go-to arcade for birthday parties or just for an afternoon of arcade fun. Instead of traditional quarters used in classic arcade, video, and pinball games, NickelRama Arcade uses nickels. Try your hand at classic games such as Skee-Ball, Scooby-Doo, and Grand Piano Keys. Other classic games include Dizzy Chicken, Star Wars Pro Pinball, and Guitar Hero. Players compete in a friendly manner to win tickets for fun prizes to bring home or share with friends.
Plan to spend an affordable family fun day at NickelRama Arcade by bringing in your own food, snacks, and beverages that you can eat at one of the rented tables. Save even more money by visiting the arcade during happy hour where players get free admission with the purchase of a select amount of nickels. You can find NickelRama Arcade at 1238 Belt Line Road or 3046 Lavon Drive in Garland, Texas.
PINSTACK
With so many family activities to participate in, you and your family will want to visit PINSTACK, located at 6205 Dallas Parkway in Plano, time and time again. Bring your friends or family for an exciting game of bowling with state-of-the-art lanes that include lane-side food and beverage service. Decorated with sleek, modern styling, bowling at PINSTACK becomes an elevated experience.
For arcade games, you’ll appreciate the huge variety of classic and contemporary pinball machines, video, and arcade games available for all ages and skill levels. Get a thrill on the virtual reality motorbike racing ride, try and beat your component at air hockey, or become a pinball wizard on the colorful pinball machines.
Feel like an athlete on the climbing wall, fly through the air over the arcade games on the high ropes course, or play on Texas’s largest foosball table. The 16-foot foosball table allows multiple players to play at once, making the game ideal for large groups or team-building events.
You can also play mysterious laser tag or try your coordination skills in the laser maze. When you’re hungry, grab a bite to eat from the chef-inspired menu with offerings such as the Texas smokehouse burger, your favorite pizza, or healthy salads. You can find other PINSTACK locations in Allen, Austin, and Los Colinas.
Strikz Entertainment
Enjoy bowling, arcade games, delicious food, and more when you head over to Strikz Entertainment located at 8789 Lebanon Road in Frisco. This family entertainment center has over 43,000 square feet of arcade and video games, bowling alleys, laser tag, and a bar and grill to satisfy your hunger and thirst. Game enthusiasts will appreciate the numerous classic and modern arcade games where anyone can win tickets to redeem in the prize store.
With nearly 30 lanes to bowl on, you can come to Strikz Entertainment often to find the perfect lane for your bowling style. Spend an afternoon or evening chasing and hiding from your friends in the state-of-the-art laser tag arena. You’ll feel like you’re in another world as you stalk down the black light and fog-filled alleyways looking for your next target to tag. For your next special event, party, or co-worker gathering, consider stopping at Strikz Entertainment.
There you have our team at Huffines Chevrolet Plano’s recommendations of fun arcades to visit in the Plano area. Which activity does your family enjoy participating in the most? What arcade are you looking forward to visiting again and why? Is there a hidden gem of an arcade or family entertainment center that we missed? If so, feel free to let us know and we’ll add your recommendation to our list.