A new family entertainment center in Middlebury, Whirlie’s World, invites you to bounce, putt and play. The name is a nod to kid-loving family patriarch Whorley John Neff — father of owner Peter Neff — who passed away three years ago. If a glow-in-the-dark, 13-hole mini golf course doesn’t pique kids’ interest, the converted warehouse is packed with other activities, too: arcade games, inflated bounce houses, 55-inch TV, Xbox Connect, Nintendo and a concession area. “We appreciate the need for a safe, fun space for kids to meet their friends or come with their parents,” says Naomi Neff, Peter’s wife. That their six kids — from different marriages — all work at the place makes this a real family business.

Whirlie’s World: Open Tuesday through Thursday, hours vary by day. $6 per game of mini golf, $2-6 for unlimited bouncing for kids, price varies by age. 1232 Exchange Street, Middlebury. Info, 989-7351, whirliesworld.com.

This article was originally published in Seven Days’ monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.

This article appears in The Food Issue 2011.

Kate Laddison is the Associate Editor of Kids VT. She lives in St. Albans with her husband and son.