Best Paintball Arenas Near Sacramento

Paintball is messy. While that may be so, it's also a wildly popular game among young and old. The premise is simple: don't get hit by a paintball. It's an adrenalin-filled paint splatter contest. Strategy, skill and the ability to duck at the right moment are all required. If you're looking for something new to do, this is worth a look. Form a team, load up and start ducking.

Capital Edge Paintball Park
9391 Florin Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95829
(916) 842-1777
www.capitaledgepaintball.com

The vibe here is fun, all the way. The Bain family owns this paintball park and takes enormous pride in keeping it on the edge. Take your choice of turf, real grass, urban setting or dance around the spools and mounds. A covered picnic area is a great shady respite from the flying paintball. Beginners are given basic training by the pros. League play will sharpen anyone's skills. Capital Edge is proud of giving back to the community through several community groups. A day spent with paintballs flying about is a bit of radical fun.

Out in the country, on 880 rolling acres, paintball splats are as numerous as wild plants. Action Paintball runs this maze of bunkers, forts and open areas for the paint obsessed. Very family friendly, you have to be at least 10 years old to play here. Bring your own gear or rent some. You should bring with you a lunch, dark clothing, shoes with good traction, your I.D. and the desire to dodge flying paintballs. Referees keep everything on the up and up and safe for all. Relax under the covered picnic area. Can you make it through the day without a new color combo? Who knows?

This is an indoor/outdoor paintball gallery and is billed as the only one of its kind in the area. Wooded terrain that easily drains the rain, several different areas feature either a hold-it-at-all-costs set or high-frequency, heart-pounding, shoot-and-duck spots, among others. Tournament play is especially nice in this setting. Shooters has authorized dealers for a multitude of paintball suppliers. Bring your own, rent equipment or buy it locally right here. On these fields only can Shooters' eco-friendly paintballs be used. Play is for those who are over 10 years old. Full safety equipment is required for everyone. Outrageous fun just comes with the deal.

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Davis Paintball staff will fill you in on the rules, use of the gear and safety before you head out into the paint zone. Depending on your mood of the day, choose from nine different fields to embark on. With names like Stalingrad, Berlin, Dougastan and a couple of Hyperfields, these nine fields should connect with your needs for the day. Tournaments, teams, big games, newbies and pros battle it out on these fields. Bring your birthday party for an amazing, colorful time. Davis Paintball even has a summer camp for 10- to 14-year-olds. Three weeks worth, one week at a time, and your young ones will get the wiggles out while learning about sportsmanship and cooperation as the running, firing and splatting ramp up.

Sure, you can learn to surf here or master the trampoline, but if you are a paintball hero, this arena may be what you are looking for. For paintballers ages 10 and up, all the gear is provided. No one has an equipment advantage. Your skills are what make you the last one standing, while everyone else is swimming in paint. Day or night, the customizable arena will test your level of concentration, your team's tactical skills and everyone's ability to have a bucket full of fun. The only thing you are allowed to bring, besides your overwhelming cunning and aim, is your own protective gear and masks. If you really want to test your paintball bravado, go up against the " elite trained" staff. This could be interesting, not to mention colorful.

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Charles Ferris is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 37 years. In 2010 he retired from teaching after 36 years . He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. His work can be found at Examiner.com.