19 Activities Like Bowling to Do With Your Friends

Are you an avid bowler that enjoys spending a couple of hours hanging out with friends in your favorite alley? And let’s face it, a little bit of trash talk and friendly banter never hurt anyone!

If you love to bowl or you just like to spend time with your pals, here are some fun activities like bowling you can do for some buddy-bonding time!

Watch the video below or read the full blog post!

1. Pickleball

Pickleball is a fast-growing racket sport that resembles tennis or ping pong. You can play singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2).

A pickleball court is 44 x 20 feet which is smaller than a tennis court. The standard paddle size is a maximum of 24 inches in width and 17 inches in length. The ball is made of hard plastic and bounces less than tennis balls. Pickleball is a relatively new sport but booming in popularity as it is easy to pick up and relatively affordable.

The best part about pickleball is that anyone can do it! You and your friends can head out to your local pickleball courts and start playing. You may need some practice to get things rolling but soon you will be having loads of fun.

If you are a bit competitive then pickleball is just right for you and your squad.

2. Axe Throwing

Axe throwing is another activity that is quickly growing in popularity. Dedicated axe-throwing facilities will provide a safe, confined area where you get to hurl axes at targets. Not only is this loads of fun, but it has also been proven to be therapeutic as a way to relieve stress.

The focus and concentration required in axe throwing can help ease any lingering frustrations you might have and take it out on the target instead. The satisfying “thunk” when your axe lands on the bullseye is like no other!

Many of these facilities sell food and beverages so you and your friends can stay awhile! I highly recommend axe throwing as it is so much fun. Have a tournament to make it competitive to see who the axe-throwing champion is in your group!

3. Mini Golf or Pitch & Putt

Golf is loads of fun, but maybe you don’t want to spend all day walking through a full-sized 18-hole course. In this case, you can try mini golf or pitch and putt instead.

Mini golf courses often have fun obstacles like ramps, tunnels, water hazards, and windmills. All these add a little zing to the game, and you’ll have to navigate through them to finish the course.

Pitch and putt is a type of golf game but with shorter distances to each hole, typically about 50 to 120 yards. It is called pitch and putt because the course is so small that you only have to do pitch and putt shots. Unlike golf, you’ll only be using two to three clubs.

I live in Vancouver BC and there are so many pitch and putt courses here, it is honestly one of my favorite things to do with my friends and family. You grab your wedges, putter, and a ball, head to the course and have blast!

When my dad visits, we always play and we are quite competitive LOL. There is a brewery next to the Stanley Park Pitch & Putt, so the loser often buys the winner a beer.

Love the idea of going golfing? Read our related post “19 Activities Like Mini Golf to Do With Your Friends” here.

4. Go-Karting

Want to race against your friends in a safe environment? Go-Karts are a fun way to spend the day zooming around trying to beat your friends or your previous lap times. Whether you are an absolute beginner or seasoned pro, everyone can enjoy some friendly competitive racing, even kids!

Beyond racing your buddies, go-karting can also allow you to escape everyday routine and immerse yourself fully in the moment with nothing in your head but your cart and the track.

I remember go-karting in Antigonish Nova Scotia with my girlfriend and her cousins. I don’t think I stopped laughing around the entire course, the experience was so much fun. Trying to go full speed to beat your opponents is thrilling and for some reason hilarious.

5. Escape Rooms

This is where you put your brain power to the test. You’ll team up with friends and solve a series of puzzles to get yourself out of the room that you are locked into.

There are various levels to choose from so beginners can try something easier while escape room veterans can go for something more challenging.

The puzzles are often tricky and will require efficient teamwork and communication from everyone working towards a common goal. Escape rooms are a wonderful bonding opportunity for you and your buddies. Just be sure to keep it together and don’t panic!

6. Ziplining

Wanna zoom through the air surrounded by lush greenery and spectacular scenery? Ziplining might just be your thing. There are many dedicated zipline facilities but you can also find ziplines as a part of a larger adventure park, usually a ropes or obstacle course.

Many zipline parks are tucked away in awesome surroundings like forests, waterfalls, and more. There, you are harnessed to cables and fly from platform to platform, often above treetops, through gorges, or above lakes for a wonderful view.

I was a zipline guide for 5 years, I highly recommend grabbing your group of friends and heading to a popular ziplining location. Find a zipline that is reputable and includes numerous zips. It is really worth it to find a zipline location that offers long ziplines, beautiful views, and extra activities nearby so you can make a full day out of it!

7. Laser Tag

Another fun day out would be to visit a laser tag facility. You’ll wear vests that have infrared sensors and shoot at each other with laser guns. Once the sensor on the vest detects a shot from the gun, it will vibrate and you’d be “dead”, but only for a few seconds.

Like any war game, the objective is to stay alive and zap your opponents before they get you. You’ll be running, dodging, and hiding around the arena, but you’ll also need to communicate with your teammates to come up with a strategy to win. No man is an island, and if you seek to destroy your opponents all on your own, you’re not likely to succeed!

I grew up playing a lot of laser tag at the local laser tag location. Trying your best to get the high score to get your picture on the wall was a dream for many of us!

8. Indoor Skydiving

If you’ve got an indoor skydiving facility near you, you’re lucky! Indoor skydiving is a great way to experience the feeling of freefall at a fraction of the cost of an actual skydive. Indoor skydiving uses wind tunnels that push powerful columns of air upwards, allowing you to float weightless and do some spins and tricks.

You’ll learn how to control your body and improve your balance and focus on optimizing your stability. Most wind tunnels also allow more than one flyer at a time, so you can get in there with your buddies and try out some tricks together.

Read more about indoor skydiving in our related posts:

9. Spikeball

Spikeball is like a combination of volleyball and foursquare. It is played with a small, round net, and a ball 6.5 (rookie) or 3.5 inches in diameter. The main objective is to keep hitting the ball into the net until the opposing team cannot return it.

Once you hit the ball on the net the other team must spike the ball back onto the net, they have 3 touches to make the return. After each time the ball is played off of the netting the possession changes. Whoever doesn’t return the ball off the net the opposite team receives the point.

You can play it 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3, and this fast-paced game can be set up anywhere on level ground. It is super popular at the beach! Learn more about the rules by reading or watching some videos on Spikeballs website here.

See the latest price of Spikeball on Amazon here.

10. Paintball

Paintball is the ultimate war game! Most paintball arenas are outdoors, so you might be covering a lot more ground. There’s the classic elimination battle where you shoot the opposing team until they are all “dead”, but you can also play different variations like Capture the Flag or Protect the President.

You’ll need a large group of friends for paintball as each team is typically made up to 4 to 10 players. You can either make two teams with your friends, or make a team and take on some other players that you can find on social media or on-site.

Protective goggles for your eyes are a must, and make sure you wear long pants and sleeves. Anyone that has gotten hit by a paintball can attest that they can hurt! You’ll be doing loads of running, crawling, and dodging, so comfy shoes are also a good idea.

11. Roller Skating

Roller skating rinks were all the rage in the 70s and they remain a fun way to spend hanging out with your friends to this day. Not only will you get an excellent workout, but you will also improve your balance and stamina which gives you an edge in all your other activities.

Rinks usually have F&B outlets and other fun stuff like video games, so you can mix and match several activities in a single afternoon.

If you think roller skating would be fun, read our related post 10 Activities Like Roller Skating to Do With Your Friends here.

12. Disc Golf

Disc golf was previously known as frisbee golf and has also been called “frolf.” Instead of using clubs to hit balls into holes, you toss a disc into a metal basket.

Disc golf courses often have different terrains like fields, woods, hills, and water obstacles, similar to golf courses. Each hole has a designated start and ends at the metal basket which is your primary target. Courses have different difficulty levels to suit players with various skill levels.

Depending on the distance you’ve got to throw, you also have different discs. Just like golf, you have drivers, mid-range discs, and putters for the short throws. You’ll have to select the disc you use based on your objectives, the wind, and distance you’ll need to cover.

13. Painting or Pottery Classes

Although painting and pottery are a little milder than outdoor activities, it is a nice way to balance out your creative side with your adventurous spirit. You can round up a bunch of your buddies and do a painting or pottery class to try your hand at creating art pieces for a change instead of running around shooting at each other.

Art has long been known to be therapeutic and stress-relieving, so if you want to tone it down a notch, check out some artsy activities instead of adrenaline-fueled ones.

My girlfriend and I have gone to a painting pottery location 2 times now and it was so much fun! I recommend this if you enjoy being artsy (you don’t have to be a pro!), and if you want a relaxing night out with your friends. Many places offer sip-and-paint events where you bring some wine or a beverage of your choice while you create art.

14. Karaoke

If you want to unleash your inner Pavarotti, you can also go karaoke singing with some friends. Leave the shyness at the door and just grab the microphone and go to town! Life’s too short to be self-conscious!

Even if you can’t sing you can have a good laugh with your friends hitting up a karaoke night out. Trust me, watching your friends attempt to sing will make you cry laughing!

15. Go to an Arcade

You can spend hours at an arcade having a blast with your friends. With so many new games, you can pick and choose from traditional video games, air hockey, shooting games, and competitive racing. Arcades aren’t only for kids, and they will provide hours of fun for you to embrace the child in you!

Tackle some team arcade games where you and your friends can work together, or choose competitive arcade games to challenge each other!

16. Play Pool

Pool is an extremely complex game that goes beyond “shoot the ball in the hole.” It is a highly strategic game where it isn’t just about accuracy but it is about planning the next shot, or even several shots in advance.

You can hang out at a bar with a decent pool table, or you can go to a dedicated facility where the majority of the players are decent shooters. There, you should be able to learn a trick or two from the more experienced players.

Pool can be a great relaxing way to hangout with your pals for a few hours!

17. Shuffleboard

This classic game improves control, skill, and hand-eye coordination. You have to slide discs across the smooth surface, scoring the most points by having the weighted discs end up in scoring zones.

In addition, you can also block your opponents from doing the same, or knock their discs out of the way. You’ll need to be precise and strategic, combining skill with tactics. Encouraging friendly competition and banter, shuffleboard is an enjoyable game that can be played by all levels or ages.

Play tabletop shuffleboard too where you can hang out inside and stay away from the poor weather.

18. Amusement Parks

Amusement parks are always an excellent idea for a fun day out with friends. With thrilling rides and other attractions, you can hang out with your buddies all day riding roller coasters to get your adrenaline rush.

In the hotter months, you can also check out water parks, which are water-themed amusement parks. Nothing beats the heat better than playing with water all day!

19. Cornhole

Cornhole is an easy game to learn but a difficult one to master! It is played with a wooden board with a hole and two sets of four bean bags. The objective? To chuck each bean bag into the hole.

Sounds simple, but the curveball is that the wooden board is angled slightly upwards which makes it a bit more difficult for the bean bag to slide into the hole. You get three points if you get a bag into the hole, and one point if your bag ends up on the board. You can also hit a bag that’s on the board into the hole.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of activities that you can have fun with your friends with. While you might enjoy some activities alone, some are simply better when shared. So grab a couple of buddies and head out for some thrills and giggles!

Jamie Penney

Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!