Best recreation and game centers

By Brian J. O'Connor | Sun-Sentinel

A look at the best recreation and game centers. Activities range from go-karts and batting cages to video games and rock climbing.

1. Boomer's Recreation Center 3100 Airport Road just north of Glades Road and east of I-95, Boca Raton; 561-347-1888

Game room, children's playland, batting cages, race track, bumper boats, miniature golf, laser tag and rock climbing. Hours: noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; noon to midnight, Friday and Saturday; summer hours begin at 10 a.m.

Also at 1801 NW First St., Dania Beach; 954-921-1411. Go-karts, bumper cars, arcades, mini-golf and batting cages, as well as Naskart racing and Sky Coaster. Open 365 days. Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday. Admission: Free. Unlimited video games on Tuesdays for $12.

2. Dania Beach Hurricane Roller Coaster 1760 NW First Street, Between Stirling and Griffin roads, Dania Beach; 954-921-2433

One of the biggest wooden roller coasters south of Atlanta, the ride is 100 feet tall and 3,200 feet long, traveling up to 55 miles per hour for the two-minute ride. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets: $6.25 per ride or $12 for an unlimited pass. Minimum rider height requirement 48 inches.

3. Dave & Buster's 3000 Oakwood Boulevard, Hollywood; 954-923-5505

A huge sports bar/family restaurant with billiards, video games, virtual reality and lots of TVs for sports. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Sunday through Wednesday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

4. GameWorks In the Sawgrass Mills mall, Oasis section, Sawgrass Expressway and Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise, 954-845-8740

Combines restaurant, bar and interactive games. Attractions include virtual roller coasters, video games including Jurassic Park: The Lost World; the Virtual Arena; Indy 500; Dance Dance Revolution; the Ford Racing Zone; the Max Flight VR2002 Roller Coaster, a full-motion simulator, as well as Centipede, PacMan and Asteroids. Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday.

Also in Miami, in The Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Drive, 57th Street and US 1, South Miami; 305-667-4263

5. Kabooms Amusement & Party Center 9130 SR 84, Davie; 954-452-2800

Laser tag, whirlyball, roller skating, roller hockey, paintball shooting gallery. Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.