Ladies aren’t the only ones who need a night out. For the competitive, adventurous or sporty guy, there are several locations that offer a fun gathering with the fellas while enjoying some friendly rivalry. Check your calendars and set a date to hang out at these three unique venues. All will deliver what any guy wants — more fun!
Thrill Seekers
If you live for a thrill, then ZipQuest Adventures in Fayetteville should be top of your list. Just ask retired race car driver Jim Vandiver, 73, who came on a multigenerational zip line adventure with his son T. Rhett, 48, and grandson, Rhett, 19.
“I enjoyed it thoroughly. I wished I could have zipped faster,” he said. “I have the need for speed.”
Flying from tree to tree, some runs are as much as 1,000 feet long and 80 feet high, propelling participants up to 40 miles per hour, said guide Erin Lavelle. The 2 1/2 hour treetop adventure includes canopy bridges, floating spiral staircases and breathtaking zips over Carver’s Falls, a 20-foot tall waterfall that stretches 150 feet wide and is the largest waterfall in the central and eastern regions of the Carolinas.
“This was a lot cooler than I expected,” said T. Rhett. “And I felt completely safe.”
Grandson Rhett agrees. “This is a great activity to do with my family,” he said. “It was a bonding experience.”
Brothers Eason, Russ and Callan Bryan own the land and recognized a treetop canopy tour as an ideal way to share their land in an environmentally sustainable manner. They took great care to have a minimal carbon footprint on the environment when constructing the course, which opened this past summer. ZipQuest is a great blend of eco-tourism and adventure, offering the beginner or advanced adrenaline junkie an Indiana Jones type of experience.
“It’s a short drive for a big adventure,” said Callan.
ZipQuest is open seven days a week and tours are $79 for age 10 and older. There is a $10 discount for military, an 8-percent discount for groups of eight to 15 and a 10-percent discount for groups of 16 or more. Plan your trip at www.ZipQuest.com.
Ballers and Strikers
There’s bowling, and then there’s bowling at Sparians, the newest bowling boutique and bistro to open up at North Hills this past December.
No detail has gone unnoticed. Leather couches, nine projection screens, 25 LCD TVs, Wii and Xbox stations, Wi-Fi, plush lounging area, upscale dining and a full-service bar.
“Part of our challenge is changing the perception that we are not a bowling alley since we will create an environment unlike anything seen in this area,” said Chris Angel, Sparians’ managing partner. “Just like Cirque de Soleil transformed the circus industry, Sparians will breathe life into entertainment and bowling to capture new audiences. The focus of Sparians is on casual bowlers, families and private and corporate events — not traditional leagues.”
Need a location to celebrate a birthday, promotion or bachelor party? Private suites are available for any special occasion and feature private lanes with unlimited bowling, private waitstaff and bartender and LCD TVs. Prices start around $150 an hour.
A menu of gourmet choices like Louisiana Gumbo, Grilled Japanese Eggplant, Jonah Crab Cakes, Angus Beef Burgers, Build Your Own Pizza and Southern Fried Pecan Pie will satisfy your appetite as you burn up the lanes. Call (919) 803-3718 or visit www.sparians.com for more details.
Trigger Happy
Described as golf with a shotgun, clay shooting is a great way to enjoy the thrill of the hunt with the guys in a controlled outdoor environment.
“Sporting clays is a shotgun sport the whole family can enjoy,” said Scott Ferguson, pro shop manager at Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School in Sanford.
Never shot a gun? That’s OK. Minimal coaching is needed and included in the $55 rental fee along with use of a gun, ammo, 50 clay targets, eyeglasses and earplugs. Ferguson said they use low recoil guns so they are less intimidating.
No reservation is necessary to shoot at the 13 different stations, which are always changing the direction the clay disks launch, just like a golf course changes the hole on a putting green, Ferguson said. Accept the challenge: Perfect scores at the course are extremely rare.
Deep River also offers a full-time shooting school. Ferguson recommends the Try It Out Package for beginners. For $50, there’s 45 minutes of personal instruction on safety and etiquette, a gun, ammo, eyeglasses and earplugs.
Whether it’s to entertain clients, team building exercises or just recreational fun with the guys, Ferguson said Deep River can tailor a shooting experience for any group. The school has been in business for 22 years and is open seven days a week. There’s a clubhouse available as well as catering. A month’s notice for reservation is recommended. For more information, visit www.deepriver.net.
