Remember when your biggest worry was whether to choose Pac-Man or Donkey Kong?

Grab your Rubik’s Cube and acid-washed jeans—we’re time-traveling through Vermont’s most radical ’80s-inspired spots!

1. Pastime Pinball (Manchester Center)

Holy flipper fever, Batman!

Pastime Pinball is like stumbling into a time warp where neon never went out of style.

This pinball paradise is packed tighter than your mom’s perm with classic machines from the ’80s and beyond.

The moment you walk in, you’re hit with a sensory overload that would make even Cyndi Lauper say, “Whoa, that’s colorful!”

These silver ball battlegrounds are ready to transport you back to a time when high scores were the ultimate bragging rights.

The best part?

No need to scrounge for quarters—it’s all set to free play.

That’s right, you can flip till you drop without worrying about your allowance running out.

But don’t think it’s all just bells and whistles.

Pastime Pinball is serious about preserving these mechanical marvels.

It’s like a museum where you’re encouraged to touch the exhibits—and boy, do they touch back!

Just be prepared for some friendly trash talk when you inevitably tilt the machine.

Remember, in pinball as in life, sometimes you’ve gotta know when to nudge and when to let it ride.

2. The Archives (Burlington)

If Pastime Pinball is the mullet of gaming establishments, The Archives in Burlington is the full-on rock concert.

This barcade (that’s bar + arcade for the uninitiated) is where Pac-Man meets pale ale, and Donkey Kong clinks glasses with craft cocktails.

Nestled in a brick-walled wonderland, The Archives boasts rows of arcade cabinets that’ll make you wonder if you’ve stepped into Flynn’s Arcade from Tron.

From the moment you hear the cacophony of 8-bit soundtracks and the clinking of glasses, you know you’re in for a night that’s more fun than a Rubik’s Cube convention.

But here’s the kicker—while you’re battling it out on Street Fighter II or trying to beat your high score on Galaga, you can sip on cleverly named cocktails that would make even Tom Cruise in “Cocktail” jealous.

How about a “Hadouken” while you’re actually throwing fireballs in the game?

It’s like your childhood dreams grew up and got a liquor license.

Just remember, no matter how many quarters you pump into these machines, you still can’t take them home with you.

Trust me, I’ve tried—turns out “But officer, I was just trying to recreate my childhood bedroom” isn’t a valid legal defense.

3. Fairlee Motel & Drive-in Theater (Fairlee)

Hold onto your leg warmers, because the Fairlee Motel & Drive-in Theater is about to blow your mind faster than Marty McFly’s DeLorean hitting 88 mph.

This place is the ultimate two-for-one deal—a motel AND a drive-in theater?

It’s like someone took the best parts of “Dirty Dancing” and “The Outsiders” and mashed them together in the Green Mountain State.

Picture this: You’re snuggled up in your car, the Vermont night sky twinkling above, and on the massive screen before you, Indiana Jones is cracking his whip or the Ghostbusters are busting ghosts.

It’s enough to make you want to raise your fist in a Breakfast Club salute.

But wait, there’s more!

After the credits roll, you don’t have to worry about a long drive home.

Just mosey on over to your motel room, where you can dream about being chased by Freddy Krueger or dancing with Patrick Swayze.

It’s the closest thing to time travel without needing a flux capacitor or a phone booth.

4. Sunset Drive-In Theatre (Colchester)

If the Fairlee Drive-in left you hungry for more outdoor cinema action, then buckle up, buttercup, because the Sunset Drive-In Theatre in Colchester is about to satisfy your craving like a perfectly timed freeze-frame ending.

This four-screen behemoth is the cinematic equivalent of a Choose Your Own Adventure book.

Can’t decide between a rom-com and an action flick?

No problem!

At Sunset, you can have your cake and eat it too—just don’t try to sneak between screens like a ninja, or you might miss the best parts of both movies.

As the sun dips below the horizon (hence the name, clever, right?), the atmosphere transforms into something magical.

The air fills with the scent of popcorn and anticipation, car radios tune in to the perfect frequency, and suddenly, you’re not just watching a movie—you’re part of an experience that’s as quintessentially American as apple pie or denim jackets.

Pro tip: Bring a cozy blanket and some lawn chairs.

It’s all fun and games until your leg falls asleep halfway through “Back to the Future” and you can’t make it to the snack bar without doing the time warp shuffle.

5. Welden Theatre (St. Albans)

Hold onto your Jazzercise headbands, because the Welden Theatre in St. Albans is about to take you on a cinematic journey that’s more nostalgic than finding an old mixtape in your parents’ attic.

This isn’t just a movie theater; it’s a time capsule with a popcorn machine.

The moment you step under that retro marquee, you’re transported to an era when movie tickets cost less than a Walkman battery and “special effects” meant someone was really good at makeup.

Inside, the Welden is like the cool grandparent of movie theaters.

It’s got stories to tell and character to spare, but it’s also hip enough to show the latest blockbusters.

You half expect to see Molly Ringwald or Emilio Estevez hanging out in the lobby, discussing their latest John Hughes script.

But the real magic happens when the lights dim and the curtain rises.

Yes, an actual curtain!

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It’s like the theater equivalent of a drum roll, building anticipation faster than you can say “Goonies never say die!”

Just try not to gasp audibly when the movie starts—we don’t want to ruin the illusion that we’re all sophisticated cinephiles here.

6. Vermont Antique Mall (Quechee)

Alright, time travelers, strap in because the Vermont Antique Mall in Quechee is about to hit you with more ’80s nostalgia than a marathon of “I Love the ’80s” on VH1.

This place is like your cool aunt’s attic, if your cool aunt collected every awesome thing from the decade of excess.

We’re talking Cabbage Patch Kids still in their boxes, enough neon to light up Times Square, and more leg warmers than a Jane Fonda workout video.

Wandering through the aisles is like playing a real-life version of “Where’s Waldo?” except instead of finding a bespectacled guy in a striped shirt, you’re hunting for that one Transformers action figure you always wanted but your mom said was too expensive.

Fair warning: You might walk in thinking you’ll just browse, but you’ll walk out with a Rubik’s Cube, a Trapper Keeper, and a sudden urge to crimp your hair.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you find yourself trying to explain to your kids why that plastic rectangle with buttons is called a “cassette player.”

7. Bennington Centre for the Arts (Bennington)

Now, I know what you’re thinking.

“An arts center? That doesn’t scream ’80s!”

But hold your horses, because the Bennington Centre for the Arts is about to school you harder than Mr. Feeny ever could.

This place is like the mullet of cultural institutions—business in the front, party in the back.

On the surface, it’s all sophisticated galleries and theater performances.

But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find it’s got more ’80s spirit than a Cyndi Lauper music video.

The center regularly hosts retro-themed exhibitions and performances that’ll transport you back to the days when MTV actually played music videos.

One minute you’re admiring a classic landscape painting, the next you’re bopping along to a tribute band belting out “Take On Me.”

And let’s not forget the architecture.

That white exterior?

Pure ’80s Miami Vice chic.

Don’t be surprised if you half expect to see Don Johnson roll up in a Ferrari, pastel suit and all.

8. Parkway Diner (South Burlington)

Grab your scrunchies and parachute pants, because we’re sliding into a booth at the Parkway Diner in South Burlington, where the ’80s never left and the coffee is always hot enough to perm your hair.

This chrome-clad time machine on wheels (well, it doesn’t actually have wheels, but you get the idea) is serving up more nostalgia than a John Hughes movie marathon.

The moment you step inside, you’re hit with a wave of neon, vinyl, and the unmistakable aroma of freedom fries and optimism.

The menu reads like a greatest hits album of comfort food.

Want a burger that would make the Brat Pack proud?

They’ve got it.

Craving a milkshake so thick you could stand a spoon in it?

Coming right up!

And don’t even get me started on the breakfast—it’s the kind of meal that would fuel you through a day of battling the Demodogs in the Upside Down.

But the real star of the show?

The jukebox.

This isn’t some newfangled touchscreen nonsense—we’re talking about a genuine, coin-operated, neon-lit beacon of musical nostalgia.

One play of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and suddenly everyone in the diner is a rock star, air guitars and all.

9. Fortress of Fun (Rutland)

Last but not least, we’re storming the castle of childhood dreams at the Fortress of Fun in Rutland.

This place is like someone took all your favorite ’80s arcade games, mixed them with a bouncy castle, and sprinkled in a dash of medieval fantasy.

From the moment you step inside, you’re assaulted by a cacophony of beeps, boops, and the sweet sound of quarters clinking into machines.

The arcade section is a veritable who’s who of pixelated heroes—Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Frogger are all here, waiting to challenge your hand-eye coordination and deplete your wallet.

But the real kicker?

The play structure that looks like it was designed by a 10-year-old hopped up on Pop Rocks and Jolt Cola (in the best possible way).

It’s a labyrinth of slides, ball pits, and climbing structures that would make even the Goonies think twice about exploring.

And let’s not forget the prize counter.

It’s stocked with enough plastic trinkets and oversized stuffed animals to make you feel like you’ve won the jackpot at a carnival run by Rainbow Brite.

So there you have it, fellow time travelers—a tour through Vermont’s most radical ’80s-inspired attractions.

Adventure is calling!

Use this map to steer your road trip in the right direction—and maybe discover a surprise or two along the way.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go tease my hair and practice my Moonwalk.

Cowabunga, dudes!