By Jessica Steinhoff | Photography By Valerie Tobias
Snowboarding is synonymous with wintertime daredevilry, but what if you prefer your adventures sans stocking cap? Head to these indoor attractions for the thrills minus the chills.
Bounce into Madison’s new Urban Air Adventure Park to put gravity to the test. Ricochet off walls lined with APEX trampolines, or step onto an elevated platform and then drop onto a ProZone performance tramp. You’ll swear you’re in outer space when you bound upward and hover in midair for a split second. Feeling competitive? Challenge a friend to a duel on the Battle Beam, a balance beam poised above a pit of squishy blocks. Hilarity will ensue when you see that the swords are squishy, too. Or experience flight with Sky Rider, whose belts and ropes help you zigzag through the air with the greatest of ease. urbanairtrampolinepark.com
Space adventures galore can be found at West Towne Mall’s Dave & Buster’s. Begin with the Star Wars Battle Pod, which puts you in the driver’s seat of the film franchise’s most awe-inspiring vehicles. Then proceed to Star Trek: Dark Remnant, a virtual reality game that involves zipping through the cosmos and zapping attacking spacecraft. For a spookier experience, check out Dark Escape 4D, where you must escape a madman and his monsters while wearing 3D glasses, or Ghostbusters Arcade, where you and a friend shoot ping-pong balls at vintage ghouls. To delve even deeper into the 1980s, try Pac-Man Battle Royale. This four-player version of the arcade classic is just the ticket for daring double daters, nostalgia-fueled bridal parties or siblings with a score to settle. daveandbusters.com
Sometimes the biggest thrills come from a simple act of precision—say, hitting a hole in one. Vitense Golfland’s 18-hole indoor mini-golf course is both challenging and exhilarating. It’s also Madison-themed, with each hole representing a local landmark or event. Putt your way past a tiny replica of Olbrich Gardens’ Thai Pavilion, a tribute to Concerts on the Square and a Kohl Center hole where you can slam-dunk a ball into a hoop. There’s even a Capitol building between two miniature lakes filled with remote-control boats. With obstacles to climb and a slide that looks like a giant Oscar Mayer hot dog, this course is an ideal choice for families and anyone with a healthy sense of whimsy. vitense.com
Find your inner Ninja Warrior at Sky Zone, whose obstacle course rivals the popular TV show’s tests of agility and strength. Feeling more like an American Gladiator? Head to Sky Joust, where you and an opponent battle for the title of “The One with the Best Balance.” Or shed the constraints of day-to-day life at the wall-to-wall trampolines of Freestyle Jump, where you can flip and tumble to your heart’s content. When you’re ready to take freestyle movement to the next level, try Parkour Blox. These hurdles are for folks who dream of vaulting over cars, leaping from one skyscraper to another and other feats fit for a Hollywood chase scene. skyzone.com
