Mid City Lanes Bowling
There are plenty of places to get wild and crazy in New Orleans (trust us), but when you’re looking for a break from the booming clubs and late-night dancing, try one of these fun nightlife experiences. From laser tag to karaoke, these unique spots are sure to shake things up. You never know — things might get wild and crazy anyway.

Painting
Spend the evening with a paintbrush (and a glass of wine) in hand at Corks N Canvas, a unique art studio where you can bring your friends and your favorite beverage. Each class features professional instruction and all the materials you’ll need, including brushes, paint, canvas and an apron. Just bring your creativity, a couple friends and a good bottle of wine.

Bowling
Some places are just built for a party, and Mid City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl is one of them. Gather your friends for a night of live music, classic pub grub and (hopefully) lots of strikes. Every Wednesday through Sunday night, local bands take the stage to keep this place hoppin’ with live music. You can even choose from one of their party packages, which start at $20 per person and include 2.5 hours of bowling, shoe rentals, drinks and catered food. 

Karaoke
There’s nothing like singing in public to get your heart racing and your friends laughing. Grab the mic and get ready to croon your favorite tune at the Cats MeowBourbon Street’s famous karaoke bar. They offer hundreds of songs to sing, from classic rock ballads to Top 40 hits. You can always take a shot of liquid courage before you get on the stage — we won’t hold it against you.

Laser Tag
It doesn’t matter if you have kids or just want to act like a kid — Adventure Quest Laser Taghas everything you could want for an evening of action-packed activities. Compete against your friends in the 6,000-square-foot laser tag arena, play nine holes of glow-in-the-dark cosmic golf and smash bumper cars under the black lights.

Paranormal Activity
Looking to experience New Orleans’ spooky side? Give yourself goose bumps on a moonlight graveyard tour or a walk through New Orleans’ paranormal sites. A number of tour operators offer nighttime adventures through haunted mansions, mortuaries and other bone-chilling spots. For the full experience, try Bloody Mary’s, which also offers voodoo spells and psychic readings. 

Photo by Flickr/Mills Baker