Go Play Inside
It has arrived—the hottest part of the year—with humidity so intense that you're covered in sweat from going out the door. No one wants to work out in this weather, but it's important to stay active, so we've compiled a list of fun indoor sports to keep you moving in cooler temperatures.
Bowling
Bowling is a personal favorite. It's an all ages activity that requires some skill but is fun to play even if you have very little. The weighted balls and shoe sizes accommodate for everyone, and there's a whole selection of bowling alleys in the Greater New Orleans area. Some of them even have bars, "bistreauxs," DJs, and live music, so it's easy to plan a whole night.
Fulton Alley
600 Fulton St., (504) 208-5569, fultonalley.com
Rock 'n' Bowl
3016 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 964-1700, rocknbowl.com
Westside Bowling Lanes
3715 Westbank Expy., Harvey, (504) 340-2695, westsidelanesnola.com
Colonial Lanes
6601 Jefferson Hwy., Harrahan, (504) 737-2400, colonialbowling.net
Bowlero Kenner
3640 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (504) 443-5353, bowlero.com
Bowling USA
685 Brownswitch Rd., Slidell, (985) 649-4811, playbowlingnearme.com/bowling-usa
Soccer
Soccer is a sport that evokes rolling green fields and sunshine, but there are plenty of inclement cities where players still need to practice, so here are two indoor sports centers with fields big enough to accommodate full leagues.
NOLA Sports Center
1710 10th St., Kenner, (504) 355-1628, nolasportscenter.com
La Cancha Indoor Soccer
1550 S. Lopez St., (504) 382-7172, facebook.com/lacanchaindoor
Arcade Gaming
New Orleans has a few great arcades for all sorts of more cerebral gaming. Each one is centrally located with nearby music venues and restaurants if you're having too good of a time to go home.
Sea Cave
3000 St. Claude Ave., (504) 662-1926, seacavenola.com
Emporium Arcade Bar
2231 St. Claude Ave., (773) 697-7922, emporiumarcadebar.com
Dave & Buster's New Orleans
1200 Poydras St. Unit 601, (504) 226-3300, daveandbusters.com
Climbing
If you're into climbing, there's a popular place in the New Orleans Healing Center for getting your grip on and making like-minded friends.
New Orleans Boulder Lounge
2360 St. Claude Ave., (504) 962-7609, climbnobl.com
Group Activities
If you can't decide on just one sport and you're with a group that wants variety, we've got a selection of mega-complexes for gaming, laser tag, and bowling. Some even have bumper cars and mini-golf.
Game On Social Hub
2421 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner, gameonsocialhub.com
Adventure Quest Laser Tag
1200 S. Clearview Pkwy. Suite 1106, (504) 207-4444, lasertagnola.com
Optimus Entertainment
9820 Lake Forest Blvd., (504) 241-0219
Fun Frenzy Laser Tag
6003 Bullard Ave., (504) 246-2188
Recreational Centers
Recreational centers are a great place to swim indoors, box, play basketball or badminton, take dance classes, and more. Many of the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission ones are even free.
Treme Recreation Community Center
*indoor basketball court, indoor pool
900 N. Villere St., (504) 658-3160, nordc.org/parks/treme
St. Bernard Recreation Center
*indoor basketball court, outdoor pool
1500 Lafreniere St., (504) 658-3040, nordc.org/parks/stbernard
Annunciation Recreation Center
*indoor basketball court
800 Race St., (504) 658-3095, nordc.org/parks/annunciation
Gernon Brown Rec Center
*indoor basketball court
1001 Harrison Ave., (504) 658-3151, nordc.org/parks/gernonbrown
Cut-Off Recreation Center
6600 Belgrade St., (504) 658-3058, nordc.org/parks/cut-off
Lyons Recreation Center
*indoor basketball court, indoor dance studio, outdoor pool | 624 Louisiana Ave., (504) 658-3004, nordc.org/parks/lyons
Joe W. Brown Park
*indoor basketball court, indoor pool
5601 Read Blvd., (504) 658-3080, nordc.org/parks/joe-w-brown-park
Milne Rec Center
*indoor basketball court
5420 Franklin Ave., (504) 658-3088, nordc.org/parks/milne-rec-center
Rosenwald Recreation Center + Rosenwald Annex
*indoor basketball court, indoor dance studio, outdoor pool
1120 S. Broad St. & 1140 S. Broad St., (504) 658-3090, nordc.org/parks/rosenwald
Sanchez Multi-Service Center
*indoor basketball court, indoor dance studio, indoor pool
1616 Fats Domino Ave., (504) 658-3059, nordc.org/parks/sanchez
Stallings St. Claude Recreation Center
*indoor basketball court, indoor dance studio, outdoor pool
4300 St. Claude Ave., (504) 658-3053, nordc.org/parks/stallingsstclaude
Morris F.X. Jeff, Sr. Park (formerly Behrman Park)
*indoor basketball court, outdoor pool
2529 General Meyer Ave., (504) 658-3170, nordc.org/parks/behrman
The University of New Orleans (UNO) and the New Orleans JCCs, for a yearly fee, also have vast indoor spaces for all sorts of activities and workouts.
UNO Recreation & Fitness Center
2000 Lakeshore Dr., (504) 208-6357, unofitnesscenter.com
New Orleans JCC - Uptown
5342 St. Charles Ave., (504) 897-0143, nojcc.org
New Orleans JCC - Metairie, Goldring-Woldenberg Campus
3747 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 887-5158, nojcc.org
There are so many other ways to stay cool and active for the rest of this grueling season: yoga, pilates, aerials, pole-dancing, bocce ball, etc.
Hopefully this list helps you get started and gives you some inspiration for your next indoor activity.
