Bowling in Las Vegas

Bowling in Vegas will give you a new appreciation for the sport most of us associate with bad haircuts and ugly shoes. You'll find elements of casinos, bars, and nightclubs here; with lively crowds to match. Locals take their leagues seriously, so spare yourself some heartache and call ahead to make a lane reservation.

The Orleans Bowling Center. The Orleans Resort and Casino is in a working-class neighborhood just off the Strip, and its 70-lane bowling center is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. 4500 W. Tropicana Rd., West Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89103. 702/365-7111. www.orleanscasino.com. 24/7.

Red Rock Lanes. This 72-lane bowling alley has all the amenities, including Cosmic Bowling—glow-in-the-dark bowling with a deejay—until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Roll on through until morning—it's open 24 hours a day. If you've got the bankroll, you can live the full nightclub-plus-bowling dream with bottle service at your own VIP Lanes. Red Rock Casino Resort Spa, 11011 W. Charleston Blvd., Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, 89135. 702/797-7467 or 866/767-7773. www.redrocklanes.com. Mon.-Thurs., 8 am-2 am; Fri.-Sun., 24 hrs.

Sam's Town Bowling Center. This is a 56-lane locals' alley where leagues and tournaments are taken seriously. Tourists come for the cocktail lounge, connecting casino, and "Xtreme Bowling Experience" starting at 9 pm on Friday and Saturday nights that will allow you to "strike out" in a night club like never before. The scoring system includes Spare Maker, so rookies know where to aim. 5111 Boulder Hwy., Boulder Strip, Las Vegas, NV, 89122. 702/456-7777. www.samstownlv.com. 24/7.

Santa Fe Station Bowling Center. This 60-lane facility at Santa Fe Station Casino is a traditional bowling center, with video arcade, bar, and the top-of-the-line Brunswick electronic scoring system. 4949 N. Rancho Dr., West Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89130. 702/658-4900. www.santafestationlasvegas.com. Sun.-Thurs., 7 am-midnight; Fri.-Sat., 7 am-1 am.

Silver Nugget Bowling. This alley has 24 lanes and new equipment, a pro shop, and a modern automatic scoring system. Its version of Cosmic Bowling, which includes fancy lights and a booming sound system, goes 7 pm-midnight on Friday and Saturday. Weekend days you can rent lanes by the hour, instead of paying per person per game. 2140 Las Vegas Blvd. N, North Side, Las Vegas, NV, 89030. 702/399-1111. www.silvernuggetcasino.net. Sun.-Thurs. 9 am-9 pm, Fri. and Sat. 9 am-midnight.

Suncoast Bowling Center. Reflecting its upscale Summerlin neighborhood, the bowling center at the Suncoast, with 64 lanes, is designed to provide every high-tech toy for bowlers. The alley has "Cosmic Bowling" on Saturdays and hosts a number of different leagues throughout the week. 9090 Alta Dr., Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV, 89145. 702/636-7111 or 877/677-7111. www.suncoastcasino.com. 24/7.

Terrible's Town Bowling. 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). Terrible's has done away with its version of nightclub bowling on weekend nights, but if you're looking for a place to roll it without disco lights and thumping bass on a Saturday night, this is your place. 642 S. Boulder Hwy., Henderson, Henderson, NV, 89015. 702/564-7118. www.terribleshenderson.com. 24/7.

Texas Star Lanes. This 60-lane alley at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel was the first to add 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. 2101 Texas Star Lane, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89032. 702/288-7728. www.texasstation.com. Sun.-Thurs., 7 am-1 am; Fri.-Sat., 7 am-3 am.