Summer fun for the budget-minded

Rising food and gas prices along with increasing unemployment statewide and a soft housing market adds up to a tough economy this summer. Many people are staying close to home instead of going on fancy vacations.

But if you’re a sports fan here in the Seattle area you can have some fun and do it without breaking the bank. The crack Enterprise sports department came up with a list of 10 things you can do locally for $10 or less to get your sports fix. And of course, don’t forget the trails that your tax money paid for. Running, biking or walking at Hamlin Park, the Burke-Gilman Trail or Interurban Trail, to name a few, is a way to stay in shape and it doesn’t cost anything extra.

Funtasia

If you can’t find something fun to do at the Funtasia Fun Park, you just aren’t trying hard enough.

The seven-acre facility (7212 220th St. SW in Edmonds, 425-775-2174), offers a wide range of activities, including miniature golf, gas-powered go karts and a batting cage.

There’s no admission fee to Funtasia and all games and activities are priced individually.

Auto racing fans should check out the mini-Indy Go Kart track where they can race gas-powered go karts on a 20,000-square-foot banked track. Prices are $7.50 (driver) and $3.75 (passenger).

Golfers have two different miniature golf courses to play. They can try the nine-hole indoor golf course with a lost civilization theme or the nine-hole outside course with a pirate theme. Fees are $7 per 18-hole round.

Baseball and softball players can work on their hitting skills at one of the state’s largest batting facilities. Plenty of options are available with baseball, slowpitch softball and fastpitch softball cages. Rates are $1 for 15 pitches. Bats and helmets are available for rental.

Other activities include bumper boats with water cannons, laser tag, bumper cars, air hockey and video games in addition to a restaurant.

Snohomish County Vikings football

Semi-professional football or adult amateur football has been a staple in the Pacific Northwest since the 1960s. The eight-team Northwest Football League, formed in 1961, is the oldest league around. The closest team in the area is the Snohomish County Vikings, which play their home games at Edmonds Stadium.

Players are not compensated and therefore retain their college eligibility. Most of the players, however, won’t be moving on to the next level. They are out on the field for the simple love of the game.

Snohomish County is 3-5 and has two more regular season games. Lake Stevens graduate Hal Bisnett is the quarterback and some other familiar faces can be spotted on the field, including Mountlake Terrace graduate Matt Terwilliger and Edmonds-Woodway graduate Chris Stokes, though it’s difficult to know for sure who will be suiting up from game to game. See www.vikingfootball.org for more information.

While the league has seen its share of blowouts this season, last week was perhaps the most competitive slate of games to date. All four contests were decided by 13 points or less.

The Vikings face the Seattle Stallions at 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9, at Ingraham High School and then close out the regular season against the Puget Sound Titans with a 6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, game at Edmonds Stadium ($8 for adults; $5 for youth ages 11-18, senior citizens and military with ID; free for youth 10 and under).

It’s likely that Puget Sound will be attempting to close out the season with an undefeated record in the Aug. 16 contest.

Those fans wishing to follow the playoffs should check out the league’s Web site at www.nwfootball.net for the post-season schedule. The semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 23 with the championship game set for Sept. 6.

Disc golf

Mountlake Terrace’s Terrace Creek Park is home to one of the few 18-hole disc golf courses in Snohomish and King County. The course opened in 1994 and draws disc golf enthusiasts from all over the region. The 60-acre park (23200 48th Ave. W) is the largest park in Mountlake Terrace and also includes paved and natural hiking trails, playground equipment, picnic tables and an open grass field. It’s more or less first-come, first-serve at the course and there is no fee to play.

Disc golf is an easy game to learn. The basics are grab a plastic disc, take aim at a metal basket on a pole and throw. Beginners are advised to come out and watch the sport to learn the proper etiquette, which include rules about taking turns and not damaging foliage and plants in or near the course. Participants should come prepared with comfortable walking shoes since they will be on their feet for an extended period of time.

Another 18-hole course is located at Mineral Springs Parks (1500 N 105 St. in Seattle).

To learn more about the sport, contact Seattle Disc Golf at 425-670-2548 or see www.pdga.com.

Bowling

Few accomplishments in sports can match the excitement of a strike in bowling. But you don’t have to be a longtime bowler to experience this feeling. Even relative beginners have a good chance of achieving some degree of success in the sport. And they can do it at a bargain price.

At Shoreline’s Spin Alley (1430 NW Richmond Beach Rd., 206-533-2345), open bowling prices before 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday are $3 for adults and children. After 5 p.m., prices are $4. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, all ages are $4. Shoe rentals are $3.

The rates at for Robinhood Lanes (9801 Edmonds Way in Edmonds, 425-776-2101), are $3 per game before 5 p.m. and $4 after 5 p.m. with shoe rental $2.50.

Bargain hunters should check out Brunswick Majestic Lanes (1222 164th St. SW in Lynnwood, 425-743-4422), on weekdays. From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. you can bowl for $1.49 per game. After 5 p.m., the rates are $4.79. There also is a $1.49 per game special from 9 p.m.-midnight on Monday and Tuesdays. On weekends the rates are $4.79. Shoe rental is $3.69 for adults and $2.69 for youth 12 and under.

Skating

Looking to beat the summer heat? Look no further than a pair of ice rinks. Both the Highland Ice Arena (18005 Aurora Ave. N in Shoreline, 206-546-2431) and the Lynnwood Ice Center (19803 68th Ave. W in Lynnwood, 425-640-9999) offer public skating sessions at a reasonable rate.

Through August, Highland has public skating sessions seven days a week. Times vary. Admission fees are $6 for adults and $5.50 for children 6-12 and seniors. A Sunday family rate special is available for $12. Skate rental are $3 per pair.

The Lynnwood Ice Center also has public skating session throughout the week. Prices are $7 for adults, $6 for youth 12 and under and seniors and free for youth under 5. Skate rental is $5. From 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, rates are $5.

If ice skating is too chilly then consider “regular” skating at the Lynnwood Bowl and Skate (6210 200th St. SW in Lynnwood, 425-778-3133). Open skate sessions are held throughout the week. Rates are $6 and skate rentals are $3 for inlines and $1.50 for quads.

Swimming pools

August is typically the hottest month of the year so it’s a great time to hit local pools to cool off and get in a swim. At Lynnwood Pool the canvas roof is off until mid-September so it is an outdoor pool right now. Yost Pool in Edmonds is also an outside pool, while the Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline pools are indoor. It’s only a few bucks to use the pool and you can get punch cards for 10 swims for even less. Call ahead for the day’s schedule.

Lynnwood Pool

18900 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood

Daily schedule: 425-670-5588

Other questions: 425-771-1346

Admission: Youth: $3; Adults (18 to 54) $3.50; Seniors (over 55) and disabled: $3; Family (six or fewer): $9.50.

Jackson Park golf

One of the best golf deals around. It costs only $8.50 to play the nine-hole, par-3 course east of the clubhouse at Jackson in north Seattle (1000 NE 135th St., in Seattle). The course is in good condition and will give you a chance to practice hitting your short irons. Premier Golf, which operates the city of Seattle courses including Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, West Seattle and Interbay, offers a membership card which you can use to accumulate rewards with each purchase.

Seattle Mariners bleacher seats

Sure, the team is struggling this year, but hey, baseball is baseball. If you buy your ticket in advance prior to game day, for $7 you can sit in the center field bleachers. From that vantage point you get a good view of home plate and Ichiro patrolling right field. The disadvantages are that you can’t really see the main scoreboard which is directly behind you and you have to sit on metal seats. But for seven bucks, those are small inconveniences. To save money on parking, take the bus or find a spot in the International District and walk 15 minutes to Safeco. If you get there a little early, you can stop on the way for Chinese or Japanese food or pho at the many good Asian restaurants there. It’s guaranteed to be cheaper and healthier than the ballpark fare. Plus when you leave you won’t be caught in post-game traffic. To buy tickets, go the Mariners Web site at seattle.mariners.mlb.com, drop by the Mariners Team Store at Alderwood mall or if you have to, call Ticketmaster at 206-622-4487,

Everett AquaSox

The AquaSox, the Mariners’ short season A ball club, play 20 of their 30 games in August on their home field at Everett Memorial Stadium. That means there’s plenty of opportunities to see future Mariners in action at a good price. Tickets are $7 for general admission in the outfield and $10 for upper field box seats. Go to www.aquasox.com to buy tickets.

All-Comers track meets

If you want to see current, past or future track and field stars and get a chance compete against them, then this is the meet series for you. Club Northwest’s final Wednesday night meet of the summer is Aug. 13 at Shoreline Stadium where the meets have been held the last few years. The meets get going at 6 p.m. and include the standard events from hurdles to jumps to pole vault to throws to track events. Some events are held on alternating weeks and the final week includes the 400-meter hurdles (instead of 100/110 hurdles), 200 meters (instead of 100 meters), 1,500 meters (instead of the mile) and 3,000 meters (instead of 5,000 meters).

The 3-year-old 50-meter dash is definitely a highlight for families.

Entry fees the day of the meet are $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for youth and seniors.

For more information go to www.clubnorthwest.org.