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Bowling, Arcades & Games in Vail

In Vail, family trips often come down to one question: How do you keep everyone entertained? The town offers plenty of activities and recreation, but bowling lanes, arcades and game rooms add a little friendly competition. When deciding what to do in Vail, there’s never a dull moment at these attractions.

Find the Best Bowling & Arcade Nightlife in Vail

DECA + BOL

Step inside DECA in Solaris Plaza, a sophisticated restaurant where a fusion-style menu pairs easily with a night of bowling. Take your pick from delights like pan-seared Norwegian salmon or classic crispy chicken strips for younger diners, then follow the sound of pins crashing to BOL toward the back. The alley’s lively yet polished feel fills the space with 10 custom lanes ready for a few rounds of bowling in Vail — with reservations required to secure a spot. You’ll notice the restaurant’s upscale vibe continues just off the lanes in BOL with plush lounge seating, giving you a comfortable place to enjoy garlic Parmesan wings or grilled buffalo chicken flatbread from DECA’s full menu while keeping an eye on the scores flashing across the large screens overhead.

Insider Tip: Just outside DECA + BOL, an ice skating rink adds another activity for the whole family.

Rabbit Hole at Chasing Rabbits

Nightlife takes a playful turn at Rabbit Hole, a neon-lit arcade found within Chasing Rabbits, an entertainment venue in Vail. Open to guests of all ages before 10 p.m., non-members must pay a cover charge at the front to access the arcade, which lights up with games many remember from childhood — rev your engine on Mario Kart, roll a ball up the ramp in Skee-Ball or guide Pac-Man through the maze while dodging ghosts. Order a mezcal espresso martini from the bar for a jolt of energy before heading back to the machines for another game or two.

Insider Tip: The arcade is just the start. With movie screenings and weekly DJ sets on the schedule, it’s worth checking Chasing Rabbits’ calendar online before you go.

Need More Fun Things to Do in Vail With Kids?

Imagination Station

Kids with curious minds will keep themselves busy at Imagination Station, a discovery center for family-friendly fun in Vail. Open year-round, young visitors can get creative with hands-on activities like pottery painting, try science projects or challenge each other with Nintendo Switch games. Watch lightweight objects spin and float in the wind tunnel, send coins spiraling around the gravity well or step into pretend vet and baby-care stations for imaginative play. Virtual reality experiences give older kids more ways to engage. Admission is $18 per child, and adults enter free with children.

Insider Tip: Santa makes a one-day stop at the station each December. Register ahead so your child can write a letter and take a photo.

Kid Zone! at Vail Library

Families may be pleasantly surprised by what’s in store at Vail Library’s Kids Zone! The children’s area is filled with picture books and early chapter titles to flip though, along with library computers where kids can pull up a chair and click through educational games. Many of the online activities revolve around animal trivia, geography challenges, color-matching and brain-teasing puzzles, including several from PBS Kids. When you’re looking for things to do in Vail with kids during a quieter moment, this is a nice place to take a break while still keeping little ones entertained.

Insider Tip: Storytimes are offered twice weekly at the library.

Where the Grown-Ups Go to Play in Vail

Altitude Bar & Grill

At Altitude Bar & Grill, foosball or pool are simple ways for family members to face off and see who comes out on top. As a well-known sports bar in Vail, this casual spot keeps the atmosphere laid-back while games keep things interesting. Line up a shot at the dartboard, take a turn with Big Buck Hunter or keep the silver ball in play on the classic pinball machine. Soft pretzel bites with Dijon aioli or lightly battered cheese curds are solid picks from the bar’s seasonal menu when hunger starts to kick in.

The George Restaurant & Pub

A beloved Vail Village dive bar, The George is part restaurant and part lounge, creating a comfortable space where games pair naturally with a drink in hand. Order a freshly poured Stella Artois, then head over to the pool tables to see whether solids or stripes are on your side, or jump into a quick game of foosball. Happy hour draws a crowd for all the right reasons, making the bar a great place to wrap up a day of exploring outside — especially in colder seasons, when everyone may appreciate warm indoor hangouts.

Want to Book a Vail Hotel With a Game Room? No Problem.

Note: Guests must be staying at a hotel to use a game room.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail

The teen center inside Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail gives older kids a place of their own. A game of air hockey sends the puck sliding fast across the table, while pool and ping-pong tables are ready for friendly competition. There’s also a TV lounge with snacks where teens can relax. As a bonus, families looking for bowling in Vail will be pleased with the resort’s on-site alley.

Insider Tip: Whoever loses should treat the winner to a Haute Chocolate at The Remedy, the Four Seasons’ on-site lounge. It comes topped with a fluffy, housemade marshmallow.

Grand Hyatt Vail Resort & Spa

The Level Up Arcade sits on the first floor of Grand Hyatt Vail Resort & Spa, glowing with bright game lights and the sounds of play. Pop-A-Shot sends basketballs bouncing from hands to backboard — enough to bring out someone’s inner LeBron James. Elsewhere in the room, kids can work the joystick at the claw machines, trying to line up the metal grabber with their next stuffed animal.

Insider Tip: Reloadable arcade cards are available for gameplay.

The Sebastian Vail

At The Sebastian Vail, the arcade room brings together a mix of games for kids and families staying at the hotel. Racing classics send cars speeding through tight turns on the screen, foosball tables are ready for quick matches and the familiar shooting sounds of Galaga carry through the space.

Insider Tip: Table and board games are also available for anyone who prefers finding fun the old-fashioned way.

Hero Photo (top): Courtesy, Chasing Rabbits; photographer Michael Stavardis for Rockwell Group