As we get older we’re always told that we can’t have fun the way we used to when we were kids. There are some truths to it but there’s still fun in our lives. I know we adults can’t exactly experience the excitement going on the playground as we used to when we were children, but we have something better! We have access to adult money and we can drink as much as we want. To me, that’s definitely a win in my eyes. When I was younger I would dream of growing up so I can finally be an adult and do what I want. However, I’ve come to learn that adulting is properly my least favourite thing to do, and I occasionally considered it a chore. What I’ve come to learn is that time is limited as you get older due to juggling more responsibilities and more than half the time you’re really just going out to dinner as a “night off”. For the longest time, I thought that’s what “adults” were supposed to do when they wanted to have fun, but thanks to friends, I’ve realized that we can have a different type of fun that doesn’t always involve fancy bars and drinks.

During my elementary school years, we would take lots of field trips and my favourite was when we went to mini golf. Something about holding a metal stick and hitting a ball seemed like one of the most fun times you can do. And honestly, it still is. I’ve been to a handful of mini golf places and I have to say with all my heart that, West Coast Mini Putt is my favourite place to go. All mini golf courses are fun but I personally believe that when things are glow-in-the-dark, they’re a hundred times better. This is a great place to take your friends or date too, and unlike most places, you don’t have to book a reservation online to visit. Occasionally it gets really busy on a Friday night but the wait at most is usually around the 15-20 minutes top. One thing you do have to remember is to wear white so you “glow”. Inside West Coast Mini Putt, the courses are all very colourful with adorable little illustrations on the walls. The course gets harder and harder, but at the end, the winner of your group gets to choose a prize from the treasure box. The treasure box is usually filled with gourmet candy and chocolate, along with small little knick-knacks. The last time I went, I got to choose between the treats and ended up getting matcha white chocolate. Whas was extremely delicious but sadly cannot find it anywhere else now. Also, if I’m being completely honest, this is also a great place to take Instagram photos with all the bright colours in the background.

No matter how old I get, arcade games will always be the best games to play. Throughout the lower mainland, The Rec Room, at the amazing Brentwood Mall has to be one of my favourites. The arcade is open all day, however, once it hits 10:00 pm it’s adult only. After a five-year delay, The Rec Room finally made its way to Vancouver in the summer of 2021. The 43,000 sq. feet has three restaurants and over 90 arcade games for you and your friends to play. The best thing about The Rec Room is that all the arcade games are classic games, but they are also brand new, so you won’t have to push so hard on the buttons for your characters to move. My absolute favourite game in the arcade is Dance Dance Revolution because it’s one of the only games I would ever play when I was younger. Sadly, I can’t move as fast as I used to but nevertheless, it’s still a lot a lot of fun and a good work out too. In addition, since it’s adult only from 10:00 pm-midnight, you’re aloud to bring your drinks around with you. If that’s not an awesome aspect, then I don’t know what is.

My other favourite arcade place has to be E-Spot located in Richmond on No. 3 Road. For the past 5 years, E-Spot would be the place where my friends and I would meet up every Friday. Just like The Rec Room, they have over 100 arcade games for you to play and lots over 20 claw machines. Winning a stuffed animal is just so much more satisfying than purchasing one sometimes. Even though it will probably cost you more to win one, it’s all about the excitement. The arcade also has a Net Cafe, meaning that there are over 2 dozen gaming computers that you and your friends can rent hourly or all day. Aside from the claw machine and the Net Cafe, the main reason why I’m constantly at E-Spot is that they have over a dozen pool tables that you can rent for however long you want. Therefore, if you’re a big fan of pool and billiards, then this is the place for you! In addition, you are also allowed to consume alcoholic drinks here which makes it a thousand times better. Playing drunk pool games isn’t exactly the most winnable game but it will definitely be a game that you and your friends can laugh about and reminisce about later on.

Now, do you believe that adults can have fun too? As I previously mentioned, having fun for adults should consist of other things instead of just heading out for drinks with friends. Don’t get me wrong, dressing up for the bars and having fancy cocktails is pretty fun, but sometimes you just need a different type of fun. Sometimes you need to dance to your favourite songs, ride those motorcycles to the finish line, and win those stuffed animals for your loved ones. There are times when you need to let loose and let your inner child out in a game of pool, ping pong, or air hockey. Growing up doesn’t mean the fun should stop, it just means that there are different types of fun that we can experience.