When I was a kid, I spent too much time in bowling alleys. Specifically, every Saturday morning and Tuesday night was spent at Chalet Bowl, competing in various leagues. I was never very good at bowling, which is an odd thing considering the years I devoted to it. Mainly, I helped to raise my team's handicap because my average score was so miserable. Still, there was something about the vibe of the alley that kept me coming back even though I was so lousy at the game.

As an adult, these alleys take on new connotations and different vibes. Unless you're an avid bowler, the lanes aren't a place you visit on a regular basis. They're, more often, a place to go with friends to blow off a little steam, maybe get come beers and laugh at how difficult it is to get that damn ball to knock down all those stupid pins. If anything, the one person in your group who's good at the game is an outcast.

If you're trying to decide which alley to hit up, there are a surprisingly high number of bowling alleys in Tacoma, each with its own distinct personality. Tower Lanes on Sixth Avenue (6323 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) is the weirdest of the bunch. A 24-hour alley, Tower Lanes also offers mini-golf, a full bar, an arcade and an attached restaurant to keep you busy. Now, keep in mind, I don't want to know the lunatic that will go to Tower Lanes at four in the morning to pick up a quick game, but it's comforting to think that it's always open. (It's another thing to actually go there in the middle of the night.)

Aside from Tower Lanes, you have Narrows Plaza Bowl (2200 Mildred St. W, Tacoma) and Chalet Bowl (3806 N 26^th St., Tacoma) - and they couldn't be more dissimilar. Chalet Bowl, typically, is where more experienced bowlers go to hunker down and have a no-frills game. Narrows Plaza Bowl is where kids go to completely take over and bliss out to black lights and plink! plink! sounds. Both experiences are totally valid; it just depends on what you're looking for. If you and your friends are going to get blitzed and haphazardly chuck balls around, you might as well make it Narrows Plaza. Otherwise, pay a visit to the quiet (for a bowling alley) and charming Chalet Bowl.

LINK: Where to watch the game