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The game where getting a Strike or a Turkey means you’re ahead! While bowling is very much a professional sport, it began as a simple pastime, an easy-to-understand game for the whole family!
Where family fun is paired with fried food and, for the 21+ among us – usually a full bar. Our vacation rentals in the heart of Fort Walton Beach are within easy reach of several bowling alleys where you can spend the day shielding from the Florida sun and honing your ball-rolling skills. Lounge at the seaside, taking in the panoramic views from your private balcony while you rest your throwing arm!
Here’s what you need to know about bowling in FWB.
Why Go Bowling on Your Next Visit to Fort Walton Beach
Bowling has been around longer than the United States itself. It’s one of the great American pastimes, alongside sports like cornhole and baseball.
While there is plenty to do in the Fort Walton Beach area, both indoors and outdoors, bowling is one of the few attractions that appeal to the whole family, no matter the weather outside! It’s affordable, you can rent all the equipment you need to play onsite, and it’s good for the super competitive or laid-back among you.
6 Best Places to Go Bowling in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Here are our favorite bowling alleys in Ft. Walton Beach and Destin and what to expect at each venue.
1. Hurricane Lanes
Photo Credit: George Rudy
- 34876 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL
- hurricanelanesdestin.com
This highly esteemed bowling alley has its very own sports bar called Rupert’s, 26 bowling lanes, a fully equipped billiard room, and is located within an easy walk of the beach. This makes Hurricane Lanes easily one of the best Fort Walton Beach bowling alleys for young and old! The Strikezone Cafe serves fried-filling food such as cheese curds, nachos, burgers, and pizza to bowlers. The retro design of the lanes and affordable prices make this a favorite for large groups and families looking to bowl late into the evening.
This is the only set of lanes in the area that is certified by the Panhandle USBC Bowling Association. The USBC is the national governing body of bowlers. This is where you’ll find the serious players. This means Hurricane Lanes is one of the best places in town to pick up a bowling ball.
2. Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl
- 4251 Legendary Drive Destin, FL
- unclebucksfishbowlandgrill.com
Another set of lanes within a short jaunt of the beach, Uncle Buck’s is a chain spanning five different states, including Florida. The Destin location is known for family fun and better-than-average dining.
The Southern specialties served on the lanes include catfish, hush puppies, fried pickle chips, and cajun linguine. One of the unique aspects of Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl, however, is the “under the sea” theme—bowl in nautical lanes with balls painted in a whimsical array of undersea characters like octopus and mermaids. Shoe rentals and youth group events are available here.
3. Fort Walton Beach Bowl
Photo Credit: Creative Stock Studio
- 745 Beal Pkwy NW, Fort Walton Beach, FL
- fwbbowl.com
Following the closure of the FWB’s famous White Sands Bowling Center, Fort Walton Beach Bowl became the in-town favorite among locals. This 24-lane alley is large enough to accommodate even the busiest bowling nights and largest groups. It quickly became a bowling league staple and popular among the tournament crowd. At Ft. Walton Beach Bowl, you can enjoy a full bar serving your favorite drinks, numerous pool tables, and host your child’s birthday or special event with ease.
Bowling Alleys in Nearby Pensacola
Pensacola is an easy 40-minute drive from downtown Fort Walton Beach and Destin along the scenic Emerald Coast. Within these big city limits, there are several alleys for avid bowlers to add to their lists.
4. Deluna Lanes
Photo Credit: SeventyFour
- 590 E 9 Mile Rd, Pensacola, FL
- delunalanes.com
This retro bowling alley has all the staples of a good time. It’s a fully-fledged fun-zone with cosmic bowling, nightly specials at Peter B’s Sports Bar & Grill, league nights, and lots of other bowling specials to keep the sport fun and low-cost!
Don’t worry about bringing your own ball and shoes, either. The real reason Deluna Lanes draws players all the way from Fort Walton Beach and Destin is the Thursday-Sunday lane specials.
5. Strikerz
Photo Credit: New Africa
- 3200 N Palafox St, Pensacola, FL
- facebook.com/p/Strikerz
Enter Strikerz Entertainment Center. A 32-lane behemoth of a bowling alley. There’s food, there’s special deals for discounted bowling nights, and every once in a blue moon, there’s live music at the bar and restaurant area. But don’t worry; this establishment is also a family-friendly affair.
6. Cordova Lanes
Photo Credit: oneinchpunch
- 2111 Airport Blvd, Pensacola, FL
- cordovalanes.com
We’ve saved one of the best for last. Cordova Lanes is among the oldest and most renowned bowling alleys in the greater Emerald Coast area. For more than 40 years, they have offered bowling, darts, pool, pizza, and drinks to host epic kids’ parties, adult nights out, date nights, and more!
They set themselves apart from the competition with two different on-site restaurants: Shooter’s Sports Bar for the 21+ and Mama Onnie’s for Pizza and American favorites like Burgers and Nachos. Additionally, they are one of the few bowling destinations in the area, with a well-stocked pro shop where you can shop for the premiere bowling accessories and get yours repaired. Come during the daytime hours or Thursday night for the best deals!
Other Family-Friendly Activities in Fort Walton Beach
If you’re looking for more attractions fit for the whole family in Fort Walton Beach, we’ve got you covered. You can check out the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park and Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone, one of the local mini-golf destinations (or fully-fledged golf courses), or visit the Emerald Coast Science Center to entertain the kids indoors.
If you’re hoping to catch some rays of sun, there is no shortage of family fun in FWB. You can hit the shallows of Crab Island, swim on Okaloosa Island, take a dolphin cruise through the bay, try your hand at fishing with a private charter, or explore some of the nearby state parks highlighting Florida’s lush nature.
Stay With Us for Maximum Fun in Fort Walton Beach!
Fort Walton Beach is most well known for its white sand beaches, turquoise waters, the warm shallow waters of Crab Island, and the scenic Okaloosa Island boardwalk. But you’ll want to keep the kids and yourself entertained in between that natural beauty!
This is why bowling alleys are so popular in the Ft. Walton Beach- Destin area. Take a seaside stroll from your luxurious vacation rental in the town center to one of the nearby alleys on this list! You’re guaranteed a perfect stay and a fun-filled vacation for the whole family.
