Things to Do in Prairieville

Circle Bowling Lanes has been hosting bowling bashes—particularly accommodating of families—for more than 50 years. Thirty-two slick lanes score automatically, allowing ample time to test motor skills at the arcade or snag eats at the full-service snack bar. Cheesy pizzas arrive steaming from the oven beside golden-fried appetizers and brimming pitchers of root beer, Coke, and Dr. Pepper’s lesser-known cousin, Mr. Salt, M.B.A. The recreation haven even offers weekend galactic-bowling sessions that shower patrons with neon lights, fog, and bumping music.

At Metro Bowl, 40 slick lanes, state-of-the-art equipment, and flavorful concessions sate pin-busting cravings within a newly renovated interior. Monitors track and display scores as bowlers compete against friends, family, or time-displaced future selves. Large pizzas from the concession stand fill the air with tantilizing scents, and arcade games entertain players in between sets. Given the alley’s high volume of food, fun, and heavy objects, it’s no wonder that the space often attracts big name athletes, including former LSU football player and Indianapolis Colt Joseph Addai.

Kliebert’s Turtle and Alligator Farm hosts handicap-accessible walking tours that educate guests of all ages during interactions with exotic reptiles. Kliebert’s staffers call themselves “the original swamp people,” and accommodate thousands of cold-blooded critters in their watery hotel. During tours, reptile-loving guides introduce their scaly friends such as Big Fred, a 16-foot gator who's excited he recently turned 55, or Yetta, the 16-foot snake who's convinced her new neighbor, the crocodile, is a reincarnated pair of Rick James's shoes. Guests traverse the grounds to observe feedings or pose for photos with baby turtles and alligators. In addition to demonstrating their dedication to reptile preservation, the tour guides show visitors a bird sanctuary for egrets and herons. Once the riveting tour winds down, guests can browse the gift shop, where they’ll find alligator heads, turtle shells, and alligator meat for purchase.