eSkape offers bowling, video arcades, batting cages, and laser tag all in one place. Located in Buffalo Grove, eSkape is a whole new kind of entertainment complex. It combines state of the art recreation and casual faimly dining option all in one 60,000 square foot facility.
After downing about 8 Nestle Crunch bars and 12 Reeses peanut butter cups, we needed some way to burn off the sugar and calories. And what better physical activity is there than bowling. We hiked over to eSkape in Buffalo Grove and were surprised that it was much more than a bowling alley. eSkape is right off of Lake Cook Road which was not that hard to get to now that the Edens construction is done. eSkape bills itself as an Entertainment complex and it lives up to that name with bowling, laser tag, arcade, batting cages, a bar, and a restaurant.
We originally went there for the bowling. eSkape allows you to pay by the hour or the game. We knew we were not going to last long so we did by the game ($3.95 per person). Setting up the names on the computerized scoring was easy, but it was hard to find where we could set up the gutter bumpers for the kid. The associates were very helpful and we were off and bowling. One thing we really liked was that they keep the 6 pound balls behind the counter so that they can give them to parents with small children. The fun of bowling is always watching peoples' body language as they try to steer the ball down the lame with their hips, arms, and legs. Our kid's running man, jumping, and crawling routine to help his ball down the lane was pure art. He bowled a 72 and he only threw the ball in the wrong lane once.
Next up was laser tag ($7 per person for 15 minutes). Our kid had played laser tag at the outdoor festival on Southport this year, so we took a chance at this 5,000 square foot laser tag facility. The vest is about 2-3 pounds and the laser is a little less than a pound. Our four year old handled the weight no problem. There is also a requirement that you have to hold the gun in a certain way to make it fire correctly. We had to remind him a couple of times to reset his hands. The maze inside the laser park is pretty dark and he was a little hesitant at first, but once he started sprinting up and down the ramps and shooting Dad, the darkness was forgotten. When you get hit, the vest vibrates which he thought was hysterical. He had an absolute blast in the laser area and we came out panting and sweating.
The video arcade is not what eSkape focuses on. They did have the essentials like skee ball, basketball hoops, car racing, spider stomp, and the core military, secret agent games. The batting cages are for 10 and up and are actually behind the bowling alley.
We had a great Saturday afternoon at eSkape. They do a brilliant job of catering to all ages. They have drink specials at night and on the weekend for the adults, a fairly decent restaurant where we ate lunch, and bowling and laser tag that supports all ages. I think older kids, maybe 7 and up, will have an absolute blast with team laser tag and younger kids will just like the thrill of running and shooting and seeing all of the blinking lights. eSkape differentiates itself from the other indoor playgrounds in that they don't have a heavy focus on video games, but really on phycial activity. They don't have bouncies or cater to the really little children. So we would say for 4 and up, this is a great place that has enough variety to fill an afternoon or a birthday party.
Review eSkape
Larry and Donna
Mom Says: We went midday on a Saturday. The place was filled by families and children's birthday parties, it was really fun. I would be hesitant to bring young children there in the evening, as they do host leagues and it looks like they may have a pretty big bar scene.
Dad Says: I thought I was going bowling and was pleasantly surprised that there was so much to do. Laser Tag is not the laser tag I played as a kid. It is a bit more complicated, but we had a great time, running, hiding, and shooting. We'll be back.
