Even the kids like bowling

The leisure days of summer make my mind wander to all the extras I can’t find time to do the rest of the year. One such activity is bowling. The whole family enjoys it but the activity never seems to make it onto the family calendar during the school year.

Last week, our kids attended a group bowling outing with some friends. Stories of strikes and gutters, told by bright-eyed kids, were flying over the dinner table the next evening. One lucky kid said he’d hammered two strikes in a row. Suddenly, he’s a superfan of bowling. As the chattering continued, my mind drifted to researching other bowling specials around the city. I wanted a list of the specials all in one spot that I could pull up on short notice.

The next day I was on it, honing in on the specials that these alleys offer during the week. I only noted the cheaper specials.

Brunswick Zone in Chula Vista has 48 bowling lanes. Monday Mayhem is after 8 p.m. Unlimited bowling and shoe rentals for $10.89. $2 Tuesdays also starts at 8 p.m., $2 a game and $2 shoe rentals. Wednesday Late Nights starts at 9 p.m., $8 unlimited bowling and $1 shoe rentals.

Mira Mesa Lanes offers Early Risers Sunday Special, $1 games and shoes from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday Madness, 99¢ games and 99¢ shoe rentals after 9 p.m. Two-fer Tuesdays offers $2 games and $2 shoe rentals from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Warrior Wednesdays offer $1 games, $1 shoe rentals for military with ID from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Cosmic Bowling, in a darkened alley under black lights and colored lights, is on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m., $5 for bowling and shoe rentals.

Over at Kearny Mesa Bowl, Thursday mornings bring $1 games from 9 a.m. until noon. Thunder Alley is every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. until closing. $25 per hour per lane, $4 shoe rental.

Parkway Bowl in El Cajon offers a Sunday Family Special, $9 per hour from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Midnight Bowl is $1.75 per game on Fridays and Saturdays from midnight until 3 a.m. Seniors and military also save with 80¢ per game on Mondays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until noon and Wednesdays from noon until 5 p.m.

AMF Eagle Lanes in San Marcos offers Early Bird Bowling on Sundays, $1.99 games after 12 p.m. Sunday Funday starts at 6 p.m. with $3 games and $3 shoe rentals. Monday Mayhem comes on Mondays after 8 p.m. with unlimited bowling and shoe rental for $13.09 per person. $2 Tuesdays begin at 8 p.m. with $2 games and $2 shoe rentals. Wednesday Late Nights brings unlimited bowling for $7 after 9 p.m. and $1 shoe rentals.

Aztec Lanes, located on the campus of SDSU in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union building offers bowling to the public for $4 a game, $2.50 shoe rental. Check the site for potential private-party closures of the 12 bowling lanes.

Many of the alleys also are participating in the Kids Bowl Free program. Check sites.

Sometimes Mom and Dad want to bowl without the kids, and in — how to say it — a higher-end setting than the average bowling alley. Tavern+Bowl in East Village is the place for that. It’s something like a gastro pub/sports bar with a small bowling alley attached. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, lanes are $19 an hour. That jumps to $29 an hour from 4 p.m. till midnight. Shoes are $4, socks $3. Friday and Saturday, it’s $35 an hour for a lane until 4 p.m., $45 an hour from 4 p.m. till 2 a.m. closing. After 9 p.m., the venue goes to 21-and-over. That’s when I like to go, split a bacon bleu-cheeseburger ($13.95) and garlic parmesan fries ($3.95) with my man and play a competitive game or two. Winner gets a garlicky kiss.