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Bowling

If Strip casinos have their shark tanks and roller coasters, off-Strip casinos have their, well, bowling alleys. Many of these are open 24/7, and they draw some serious crowds. At public alleys, it's a good idea to call ahead to make sure they're not booked up by local bowling leagues, which are all the rage in these parts.

Lucky Strike Lanes. By day the lanes are open to all, but after 9 PM it turns into a fusion of nightlife and bowling. Guests tired from hurling a ball can flop into comfy couches in the lounge, play the jukebox, or swirl cocktails under a neon-lit Vegas sign. Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, 3700 W. Flamingo Rd., West Side. 702/777-7999. www.luckystrikelv.com. Daily 11 AM-3 AM.

Mahoney's Silver Nugget. Mahoney's has just 24 lanes and is the only one on our list that does not operate at all hours. But, they make up for it with new equipment, a pro shop, and a modern automatic scoring system. Their version of Cosmic Bowling, which includes fancy lights and a booming sound system, goes 8 PM-midnight on Friday and 7 PM-midnight on Saturday. Weekend days you can rent lanes by the hour, instead of paying per person per game. 2140 Las Vegas Blvd. N, North Las Vegas. 702/320-2695. Sun.-Thurs. 9 AM-10 PM, Fri. and Sat. 9 AM-midnight.

Orleans Hotel and Casino. The Orleans is in a working-class neighborhood, and its 70-lane bowling center sees lots of traffic, but its not-far-off-the-Strip location also makes it a popular spot for visitors. 4500 W. Tropicana Rd., West Side. 702/365-7111.

Sam's Town. With its 56 lanes and day-care center, this is the alley you'd choose for your bowling league if you lived in Las Vegas. But tourists like it too for the cocktail lounge, connecting casino, and weekend night "Extreme Bowling Experience" that's like bowling in a night club. The scoring system includes Spare Maker so rookies know where to aim. 5111 Boulder Hwy. 702/456-7777.

Santa Fe Station Hotel and Casino. Santa Fe Station is a locals casino, but it's one of the area's most polished, and that's reflected in its bowling center. The 60-lane bowling facility features the top-of-the-line Brunswick electronic scoring system. 4949 N. Rancho Dr., Rancho Strip. 702/658-4995.

Suncoast Hotel and Casino. Reflecting its upscale Summerlin neighborhood, the bowling center at the Suncoast, with 64 lanes, is designed to provide every high-tech toy for bowlers. It's arguably the most attractive facility in town. 9090 Alta Dr., Northwest Las Vegas. 702/636-7400.

Texas Station Gambling Hall and Hotel. This 60-lane alley was the first to declare itself a nightclub hybrid by adding the "cosmic bowling" concept that's since been imitated at alleys all over town. It draws a youngish crowd, so if you like to party while you bowl, this is for you. Beginners like the "coach" feature on the scoring system that offers an aiming point for spare pickups. Thankfully the old hideous purple-and-blue carpeting was replaced in late 2006 with brand-new hideous purple-and-blue carpeting. 2101 Texas Star La., Rancho Strip. 702/631-8128.

Terrible's Town. It's a boutique alley with just 16 lanes, but Terrible's has all the amenities of a larger facility including 24/7 play and casino. They even offer gutter bumpers for kids (or adults with a fragile sense of self-worth). On Saturday night between 7 PM and 1 AM they host "Rock and Bowl" complete with music, flashing lights, and glowing pins. And what round of bowling is complete without a smoke machine? 642 S. Boulder Hwy., Henderson. 702/564-7118.