MomsTribute
Parents often find themselves partaking in activities that are fun for their children. If children were taken out of the equation, parents would opt out of these activities. Parents and children don’t always see eye-to-eye on what’s fun. What brings parents joy is seeing their children have a good time, not necessarily the activity itself.
I often think about what activities are super fun for me, the adult. I ask myself: If I were to plan an event with just myself, what would it be? There are plenty of relaxing activities, such as facials and beach days. Personally, I prefer activities that keep me active.
One of my favorite activities of all time is mini-golf. Every time I play, I find myself smiling the entire time. It’s one of the few activities where the playing field is level. Rarely will you find someone who is really good at this activity. Participants rarely play, and when they do, they do it for leisure. There are no PeeWee Competitive Golf Teams that I am aware of. Also, because scoring has a limit at each hole, you don’t have to worry about the points accumulating too high before needing to move on. The difference between the best and the worse player is very small.
In the small San Francisco East Bay community in which I reside, we have a few great options for miniature golf. We have two wonderful outfits right in our backyard, and the third option is just a short drive away. This is a blog to tell you about them and give you, the busy mom with kids, the best activities with maximum five star recommendation.
Subpar is a fabulous MiniGolf course located on Park Street, the main thoroughfare through central Alameda. It is an indoor venue, which is fantastic for planning purposes: the weather won’t change your plans! The inside of this impressive establishment will make your eyes pop. Within the building are eighteen holes, a full arcade, and a snack bar that serves beer. It’s a perfect destination for both kids and their parents. As the children cruise through the golf course, the parents can be seen sipping on their pints. It’s a popular spot for birthday parties as well. They are open every day of the week, but the times vary, so please visit KidFriendlyVenues.com or use the app prior to venturing there. The website will include the dates and times closed to the public and it has the latest entry rates published. My visits to Subpar were on both a weekday as well as the weekend, and we did not have any difficulty getting inside and securing a spot in the lineup. It seems that people move through the stations quite quickly. As soon as the golf is complete, you will lose your children to the arcade section. It’s a fantastic destination to kick-back and have some fun with the family.
This outdoor pee wee golf set-up is both simple and fun. The miniature golf holes are home-constructed by the owner of the business. It’s a pop-up miniature golf course in a parking lot in the middle of Alameda, right by the water. You can’t beat the location. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles (no electronics in the design), but the course is fun and challenging. The stations are designed out of wood, and part of my enjoyment of visiting this golf course was appreciating the construction design and attention to detail. When comparing this outfit to larger establishments, such as SubPar and Golden Tee Golf Course, this outfit seems rinky-dink in comparison. And yet it serves the main purpose of creating challenging and fun miniature golf holes with a better price point than the competition. In addition to the normal course, there are multiple stations that aren’t for scoring points; rather, they were constructed for pure enjoyment. For example, there is one station where you can place your ball at the top of a long ramp to watch your ball drop down to other ramps and curve its way down long tracks until the end. My children played at this station for a solid half hour! Crowds never seem to be an issue at this venue. You will definitely want to check for hours of operations. Currently, they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. This particular business also has miniature golf parks in both Martinez and Walnut Creek.
This is the crème de la crème of Miniature Golf! Located in Castro Valley, this course gives off the feeling of entering DisneyLand. The various golf holes are decorated in bright colors and set beneath a castle. It’s truly magical. Children go bonkers when they see this for the first time. It is set outdoors, so hot or rainy weather may impact your plans. There also isn’t much shade, so if you decide to go on a hot day, be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and water.
Golden Tee can get crowded. It’s a popular destination point for visitors from all over the San Francisco East Bay. Families gravitate here for large birthday party gatherings. The outdoor pee wee golf course will keep everyone entertained. For those looking for even more fun, you can migrate into the arcade on site. As with the other miniature golf locations, it’s best to know their hours and prices.
You really cannot go wrong by choosing to spend your free time with Miniature Golf. Each course has its own magical touch, and they’re all worth checking out. Any activity that leaves me and my children with smiles and giggles is a hole-in-one!
Laura D
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