Best Arcade

Asheville Pinball Museum | Asheville, NC

Relive the arcade glory days of the 1970s and ’80s at the Asheville Pinball Museum. One ticket lets you play dozens of classic and modern pinball machines along with retro video games (Frogger, anyone?) all day long. This place is so popular that there’s often a waitlist, so show up early to make sure you can get inside, grab a local craft beer and start racking up high scores.

Big Time Entertainment | Oxford, AL

Bowling, axe throwing, mini golf, go-karts, laser tag: if it’s fun, Big Time Entertainment has it waiting for you and your family. Its arcade features over 50 games, from classics like Pac-Man and Skee-Ball to the newest VR games that immerse you in the action. Kids and adults alike appreciate Big Time Grille for a quick burger or pretzel bites before another round of air hockey.

Captain Crazy’s Paradise | Foley, AL

If you want to play old-school Atari and Capcom games but your kids want to play Fortnite during your Gulf Coast vacation, you can do both at Captain Crazy’s Paradise. This arcade brings the nostalgia with games like Asteroids and Street Fighter alongside gaming bays with projectors for your family’s favorite console and PC games. Rather practice your golf swing than fight aliens? Head to the golf simulator.

Dave & Buster’s New York City –
Times Square | New York City, NY

You’ve probably been to one of the 170+ Dave & Buster’s before, but you’ve never been to one like this. The part sports bar, part arcade in Times Square was recently remodeled, adding mind-blowing games like the Human Crane, a giant claw machine—where you’re the claw! Besides cutting-edge arcade games and wall-to-wall TVs, this location also offers murder mystery dinners, half-price games on Wednesdays and all-you-can-eat wings on Mondays.

Galloping Ghost Arcade | Brookfield, IL

The largest video arcade in the U.S., Galloping Ghost Arcade houses almost a thousand games to blast, fly and fight your way through for a flat fee. These aren’t the clunkers you’ve seen at the mall; each is lovingly restored for peak play. The games work so well they’ve become popular for world-record runs—you never know which elite player might be next in line to the Castlevania machine you’re playing!

Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade | Portland, OR

At Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade, your mission is to have fun with more than a hundred pinball machines and video games, both new and retro. Families are welcome from noon to 5 pm, perfect for challenging your kids to an NBA Jam game while downing tasty snacks and mocktails from the full bar. In the evening, the arcade switches to 21+ and hosts mixers, karaoke nights and Stern Army tournaments.

Jedi Alliance | Spokane, WA

The Force (of nostalgia) is strong at Jedi Alliance, where you can play over 150 arcade and pinball games before wandering through its fascinating pop culture museum. After testing your skills on vintage favorites like Mortal Kombat and Theatre of Magic, go geek out over the museum’s unique collection of movie props from sci-fi greats, such as Terminator 2 and Galaxy Quest, along with tons of Star Wars memorabilia.

JW Entertainment Zone | Palm Desert, CA

Inside the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, you’ll find one of California’s largest resort arcades, brimming with nearly 200 classic games, from air hockey and basketball to a giant version of Pac-Man. Treat your friends to a round of drinks during a round of duckpin bowling, and then take a break from the noise of the arcade by walking outside and saying hi to the resort’s famous flamingos.

Musée Mécanique | San Francisco, CA

On Pier 45 of Fisherman’s Wharf you’ll find a place that’s part arcade, part sideshow museum and all kinds of quirky—Musée Mécanique, one of the world’s largest private collections of coin-operated games and gadgets. Among rare finds like an antique hand-cranked organ, you’ll see midway favorites you can play, like Atari’s 1983 Star Wars video game, pinball cabinets from the 1960s and Zoltar-style fortune-telling machines. The best part? Free admission!

Next Level Pinball Museum | Hillsboro, OR

As if the over 300 pinball machines and over 300 arcade games from the 1980s to the present weren’t enough, Next Level Pinball Museum draws in pop culture lovers too with thousands of vintage lunch boxes, pieces of movie memorabilia and toys that’ll take you back to your childhood. It’s one of the largest arcades in the world, so big that it takes almost four days to play every game!

Peasants Deli & Arcade | Solvang, CA

Come for the Kobe roast beef sandwiches, and stay for the secret stash of arcade games at Peasants Deli & Arcade. The arcade is small but mighty, with new-release and classic pinball games, claw machines (because everyone wants to win that huge rubber ducky!) and racing simulators. You’ll love the arcade’s wine-tasting events, complete with gourmet tapas and game tokens, that pair perfectly with a game of air hockey.

Silverball Retro Arcade | Asbury Park, NJ

Step off the Jersey Shore boardwalk and into Silverball Retro Arcade, where over 150 new and vintage games are ready to play. From a 1930s prize machine and a 1980s Donkey Kong arcade cabinet to the latest digital wonders from Jersey Jack Pinball, there’s something to make every inner child giggle. If you work up an appetite, Silverball Café can refuel you with Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and funnel cakes.

Silverball Retro Arcade | Delray Beach, FL

Need a rainy-day activity during your Florida beach trip? Silverball Retro Arcade offers throwback fun with dozens of pinball and video arcade games from every era. The arcade’s disco ball sets a party vibe as you team up for a game of table shuffleboard or Ms. Pac-Man. You should definitely try the arcade’s zeppole, Italian doughnuts topped with pastry cream. Weekday happy hours make the fun budget-friendly.

The 1up Arcade Bar | Denver, CO

With four locations spread across Denver, the 1up Arcade Bar brings its A game no matter where you are in the city. You’ll love playing classics like Big Buck Safari and Galaga alongside new hits like Mario Kart DX racing and Stranger Things pinball. Each arcade has a full bar, perfect for downing a pickle shot (or a mystery shot if you’re feeling brave) before joining the monthly pinball tournament.

The Midway at Circus Circus | Las Vegas, NV

Step right up! The Midway, inside the famous Circus Circus Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, is a family-friendly arcade filled with hundreds of carnival games and arcade machines, both new and old. You can win big prizes while you play or simply sit back and watch the incredible (and free!) circus acts that wow the crowd on the arcade’s center stage.

The Track Family Fun Park | Gulf Shores, AL

While you might be tempted to ride the Skycoaster, go-karts and Blaster Boats all day at the Track, take a break from the Gulf Coast heat inside Fat Daddy’s Arcade, the Track’s indoor gaming space. Over 60 games, from claw machines and racing games to digital bowling, will thrill your family—especially once your kids get to redeem their tickets for cool prizes!

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Our Featured Panelists

Julie Bielenberg

Julie Bielenberg is a Colorado-based writer producing over 75 pieces a year for outlets such as AAA, Family Vacationist, Rachel Ray in Season, Spoke + Blossom, USA Today, Vail Daily and numerous others. She has been the State’s #1 agritourism for ten consecutive years and is always in search of field, farm, forest and forage. Julie has three children and two pandemic pooches and is married to an avid outdoorsman. Follow her on Instagram.

Cherith Fluker

Cherith Glover Fluker is an Alabama-based freelance writer specializing in travel, self-care, and lifestyle content. With a blend of experience, creativity and Southern warmth, Cherith’s writing resonates with readers seeking inspiration and authenticity. Her work has appeared in Food, Wine, & Travel Magazine, SheBuysTravel, LakeLife 24/7, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Motherly and more. She also shares her voice on her blog, WhatCherithinks. Cherith is the author of the book Secret Birmingham, set to be published in fall 2025. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

Amy Piper

Amy Piper is a freelance travel writer, blogger, photographer and author specializing in luxury and multigenerational travel. She is a native Michigander who travels through the lens of a food lover and has been to 45 states and 41 countries around the world. From getting chased by bomb-sniffing dogs in the middle of the night in Bogotá to being boarding on her plane from Buenos Aires to Paraguay due to the wrong visa, Amy always has an exciting adventure to tell her readers and community of travel enthusiasts. Learn more at followthepiper.com.

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