To-Dos - Suburban Style: Are You Game?!?!

Who's Got Next?

By Tracye Dee

Many of us are so overworked, overbooked and overstressed that we don’t take the time we need to relax and have fun. When was the last time you had some uninhibited adult play time? Play time is not just for kids you know. Adults of all ages need it too. Participating in fun activities is a good way to hone skills, tap into your creativity, or just blow off steam. Fun combined with laughter has proven to be good for your mind, body, and soul which coincidentally leave you with extra added energy. Plan a play date for you and some friends today!

Here are a few adult play time ideas to consider.

Xtreme Trampolines in Carol Stream provides exciting indoor trampoline fun! There is absolutely nothing like it! Xtreme Trampolines is located in a large warehouse filled with commercial grade trampolines.  You can hop, bounce, twist and flip from one trampoline to another.  There are 5 separate trampoline courts, including a dodge ball court and a giant foam pit. Each court is dedicated to a specific age group.  I’ve been a couple of times and the staff is exceptional and the fun is unlimited!  Its open daily and you pay by the hour. The first hour is $11, and each hour after that is $5.  You must sign a liability waiver in order to participate. Xtreme Trampoline is located at 485 Mission Street, Carol Stream, Illinois, (630) 752-1400.

Calling all Mario Andrettis and Nicole Lyons wannabes, Go-Kart Racing at Melrose Park Grand Prix is waiting for you Hop into one of the 9 hp Go- karts and take to the track within their 130,000 sq. ft. indoor facility. All karts are fitted with transponders that track and record lap times throughout the entire session.  The times are displayed in real-time on the projection screen for spectators to monitor your progress. Following the session, drivers are provided with a printout of their lap times. You do not have to be an experienced racer to enjoy the fun.  The cost is $20 for your first race and subsequent races the same day are $15. There are other pricing incentives as well.  The Melrose Park indoor Grand Prix is located at 2225 West North Avenue Melrose Park, Illinois,  (708) 343-7223.

Be a major league hitter at the batting cages of the Bulls/Sox Academy in Lisle, Illinois.  With 13 different cages, including machine and non machine cages, people of all skill levels can practice their swings. I personally hit like grandma, but enjoy the upper body workout.  The Hack Attack Softball Pitching Machine is a favorite at the academy. The wheel speed can be adjusted to throw fastballs,, drops, right- and left-handed curves, screwballs, knuckleball changeups and more.  Individual non machine cage rentals start at $12 for 15 minutes and $14 for machine cages. Other rates with longer batting times and group rates are also available. 

Space Golf, located behind Orland Square Mall at 15611 South 94th Avenue in Orland Park, is a science fiction themed indoor miniature golf course played in black light for a colorful glowing effect.  The course is complete with life sized aliens and flying saucers.  Beginning Friday, November 25 Space Golf’s 18 hole indoor course will be transformed into a holiday greeting card with snow and holiday music. The price for adults is $8. Pay an additional fee for the 3-D glasses that allow you to see things pop-out at you on the course.

Paintball Explosion in East Dundee is the newest paintball park in the Chicago area – located at the former site of Santa’s Village.  There are seven professionally-designed outdoor paintball fields and one indoor filed that include different war game scenarios. You can come as a team or join other teams there. When you’ve been shot with paint, you must leave the field, but can rejoin when the next game starts.  Different packages can be purchased to participate. However, the basic prices include the park entry fee of $18. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can rent the semi-automatic marker, safety goggles and mask, and access to the 3000 psi air tank for $15. Paintball pellets have to be purchased starting at $25 for 500. The best advice any one gave me is to “layer up” with clothing. The pellets do hurt, but the paint washes out of your clothes with no problem.

Dodgeball, the favored team game played at school gym, is gaining popularity again among adults! Teams consist of 6 people with up to 4 substitutes and each team is responsible for providing retrievers. An 8-inch Gator Skin ball is the standard for the leagues and the strategies haven’t changed. Before the game, each team decides who is top on the hit list from the opposing team, and then teams up to get them out of the game. Don’t forget the six D's of Dodgeball: Dodge, Duck, Dip, Drill, Dive and Dodge! Dodgeball, not just for kids anymore, is being played in leagues all over Illinois. You can contact the National Amateur Dodgeball Association for a league in your area. The next adult leagues begin in January 2012.  There are also Dodgeball meetup groups in the Chicagoland area.

I've got next!

Tracye Dee
TracyeDee@so-LAZE.com

Comments

[Ramon Murphy]

Thanks so much for this information. I certainly like trying new and exciting things!

[pump paintball guns]

pump paintball guns...

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