Beat The Heat At Portals Entertainment In Temecula: Take A Peek Inside This All-Ages Play Place

TEMECULA, CA — This week, the summer heatwave finally hit, and with only a few days until our kids go back to school, we were looking for a fun activity we would all enjoy. Enter Portals Entertainment.

Portals Entertainment Center is located at 26469 Ynez Road, in the Palm Plaza Shopping Center, across from Promenade Temecula Mall, next to the Temeku Theater Shopping Center.

The play place is not exactly new; it's about to celebrate its first anniversary in September (with some fantastic deals). With nearly a year of business under their belts, the staff at Portals is knowledgeable, friendly and loaded with ideas about what to do while you're there.

Owners Chad and Alfred Williams first developed the concept of Portals in 2022, focusing on laser tag. After years of research, they expanded the business into what it is today: an indoor entertainment center for all ages. The 13,500-square-foot entertainment center now features four unique portals, each with a separate design, leading to one of four unique attractions, making for engaging entertainment.

The center is fully indoors, and all attractions are powered by blacklight, immersing you in the fun. "Our center also includes our concession-style cafe, Port Bytes, where visitors can order pizzas, nachos, wings, and more," Chad Williams said.

For the grown-ups, a "speakeasy" type Portal 19 is open for those 21 and up, Friday through Sunday evenings.

Patch was invited to experience Portals Entertainment on a 90+ degree Temecula afternoon, to find the lobby air-conditioned, cool and inviting. Games abound, from skiball to the biggest Space Invaders you've ever seen. Here, kids can play for tickets and trade them for prizes at the counter, just like Chuck E. Cheese. With games for all ages, it can be compared to a "cool" Mulligans, with more activities for adults (check the schedule!).

My husband and I are GenX, and grew up playing mini golf and arcade games. At Portals, people of all ages can enjoy the mini-golf, laser tag, and more special events, including Trivia Night, or the super secret and incredibly cool glow-in-the-dark Speakeasy known as Portal 19. A sidenote: Here, they serve 8-Bit Brewing Company beer, Mead, and local Temecula wine three nights a week.

Opening Your Portal To Entertainment:

When you arrive, meet up with a staff member. They'll load up your game card, within your budget for the day. (If you're having a party, call ahead and book your event to ensure every detail is handled.)

Get your game card! You can use this to swipe for golf balls and minigolf games, as well as for laser tag, which is not to be missed. There's no need for parents to hang out at tables, though, because with two indoor mini-golf courses — both challenging and fun — you'll want to get in on the game action!

MINI GOLF: Two Portals Of Entertaining Courses To Delight You

Enter through Portal 14 and be transported to a day-glow world all about the prehistoric era, from the age of dinosaurs to the ice age, with a large volcano thrown in for good measure.

This is a large room with an easy-to-follow course with lots of unexpected obstacles.

The second course, Portal 11, takes you into the realm of the pirates. This mini-golf is another black-lit, glow-in-the-dark, many-roomed course designed to feel like you're on board a pirate ship.

It has you shivering your timbers, as you dodge naughtical obstacles and end up briefly under the sea! You'll see a few Disney-esque nods, and it's fun for all from first to last hole.

LASER TAG ARENA: Choose A Side And Battle For Atlantis!

When golf was done, we looked to the Laser Tag arena. For our family, with college-aged kids, the laser tag was ten minutes of pure adrenaline fun.

We entered the Battle for Atlantis, made teams, and prepared for strategy. Luckily, we had it to ourselves, but there is more than enough room in the multi-level "castle" course for team and arena "Hunger Games" style play.

Yes, Mom and Dad donned the laser tag vests and teamed up for some good old-fashioned gameplay against the girls.

After learning the rules of the game from a Portals team member, we chose our vests and the game was on.

Inside "Atlantis," a fully thought out cavernous space with rooms to hide and blind corners to get trapped in! we crept and hurried across the arena, seeking high ground and sneaking up on one another to battle royale.

Yes, I came in last. But who's counting?

Honestly? This was the most fun I've had with my kids in ages. We laughed, screamed, and made commando hand movements as we made our way through the castle-themed arena.

And when it was done, we were elated, laughing, talking at once like we used to. Ten out of ten recommend, from the Ludwig family.

When you go:

Download the Portals App + Loyalty for program on iOS or Android, because you'll want to go back.

Remember your redemption tickets from Laser Tag! Use them to claim prizes at the redemption counter.

The One Year birthday bash is Sept. 13, from 3 to 8 p.m. Don't miss it! See all the details here. Check out their September 1st anniversary specials for family fun, birthday parties and team building.

And when you go, tell them Patch sent you.

Related:

Portals Celebrates One Year with Bash, App & Loyalty Launch

Family Fun In Temecula At New Portals Entertainment: Meet The Owners