Bowling Alleys (Alexandria, Leesburg, Fairfax: high school, college, live)

[k8p]

Are there any nice, clean, non-smoking bowling alleys around here?? I'd like to take my kid bowling but don't want to be stuck in a smoke filled place.

[seiketsu]

I think all alleys are non-smoking now in VA. Fort Myer has the best prices and in theory is open to the public, but I've heard mixed reviews about people's ability to get on the base. I had no problem showing just my license. There are a smattering of divey AMF and Bowl America lanes in Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax. Avoid at all costs Lucky Strike in Chinatown, it's not a bowling alley, it's a bar with a couple of lanes that charges like $10 per game.

[movingtodcfromseattle]

We just attended a birthday party at Bowl America in Fairfax (Guinea Road) and I was very impressed! It was clean, good pizza and the kids had a blast! They had the bumpers up and also have that rack-thing to roll the ball down if your kid can't get it down the lane.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by seiketsu

I think all alleys are non-smoking now in VA. Fort Myer has the best prices and in theory is open to the public, but I've heard mixed reviews about people's ability to get on the base. I had no problem showing just my license. There are a smattering of divey AMF and Bowl America lanes in Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax. Avoid at all costs Lucky Strike in Chinatown, it's not a bowling alley, it's a bar with a couple of lanes that charges like $10 per game.

As a military dependent, I can attempt to explain getting on Ft. Myer.

Situations:

DOD sticker and military/govt ID: No problem.
Military ID and no DOD sticker: Car gets searched but you will likely get in.
DOD sticker and DL: Depending on base, Get in, possibly getting searched.
No DOD sticker and no Govt/Military ID: Unless you can prove legit business on that base (taking college class on base, job interview, visiting people on base and they notify security in advance.) I can't think of a reason they would let you in.

Essientally unless you were in the first three situations forget about going to the Ft. Myer lanes.

[k8p]

We are military so Ft. Myer is an option as is Fort Belvoir. Thanks for the suggestions!

[car54]

Originally Posted by movingtodcfromseattle

We just attended a birthday party at Bowl America in Fairfax (Guinea Road) and I was very impressed! It was clean, good pizza and the kids had a blast! They had the bumpers up and also have that rack-thing to roll the ball down if your kid can't get it down the lane.

I don't bowl...but I practically live at that Bowl America. Believe it or not, bowling is part of high school Pys Ed class! So, on the Fridays that they're going from Robinson or Lake Braddock, we take them over there...4 buses for each class period, all day. I've been there up to three times in one day.

And sometimes the elementaries go as a field trip. They're there longer and unlike for the PE bowlers, the bowling alley cranks up the music and turns on the light show stuff....the kids love it!

[cdmurphy]

GW has a bowling alley that's open to the public - The Hippodrome (http://hippodrome.gwu.edu/ - broken link).

[k8p]

we ended up at Fort Belvoir and it was great. Good atmosphere, good tunes and great pizza!

[Caladium]

There's an upscale bowling alley coming soon to the Village in Leesburg (the shops next to the new Wegmans). I think it opens this spring.

[Joke Insurance]

Originally Posted by seiketsu

Avoid at all costs Lucky Strike in Chinatown, it's not a bowling alley, it's a bar with a couple of lanes that charges like $10 per game.

With their discreet racist dress-code for customers?

Lucky Strike's Official Dress Code | Lucky Strike