BEST OF THE MAIN LINE:Health & Recreation

Boot Camp Workout

Ellis Athletic Center

One devotee of Ellis Athletic Center’s C.L.I.M.B (Creative Ladder Intervals Mega Boot Camp) workout described it simply as “brutal” and, in the next breath, said he couldn’t wait to do it again. At this sweaty, hour-long class, participants endure a non-stop series of boot-camp-style exercises, from resistance sprints and sit-ups to ladder drills. Novices needn’t be intimidated: Instructors tailor the intensity of the workout based on your experience. 3819 West Chester Pike,

Bowling Alley

Palace Bowling & Entertainment Center

Forty lanes. All-ages birthday parties for everyone from tykes to seniors. Programmable bumper bowling. Affordable prices. No smoking. What else could you possibly want from a bowling alley? How about dancing. At Palace Bowling, they bring in a DJ and partiers hit the dance floor. One Saturday a month September-May, they have a family dance and bowl party, and the over-18 crowd is welcome every Friday and Saturday night until 3 a.m. 977 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown; (610) 269-9999, palacebowling.com

Cardio Workout

MLS Fitness

With more than 18 years of experience as a fitness instructor on the Main Line, Marilu Sutter has a following of cardio fanatics. Her passion for exercise and a healthy lifestyle has converted even the most anti-workout people into believers. An hour-long class at Sutter’s studio burns hundreds of calories and tones the body parts most all of us need to tone. Her roster of classes includes kick-butt programs like “The Ball Workout,” which uses a stability ball, body bars and dumbbells while combining cardio, sculpting and core training. After a few classes, you won’t recognize your tummy, tush and arms.

Gamble

Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack

This mini-gaming city combines the best of two worlds: the glitz of casinos and the old-fashioned thrills of live horse racing. Its 100,000-square-foot  gaming arena features more than 2,700 slots and video poker machines. As for those thundering horses, the 2007 harness racing season begins this July. You also can place your bets in a state-of-the-art indoor wagering area, with simulcasts of  thoroughbred and standardbred racing seven days a week. 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Chester; (484) 490-1800, harrahs.com

Health Club (Readers’ Choice)

Main Line Health & Fitness

Health Programs for Kids (Readers’ Choice)

Upper Main Line YMCA

New Gym

PSC Radnor

Sure, they have treadmills and weight benches. But who works out like that anymore? Head into the Mind & Body Studio for soothing vinyasa yoga, break a serious sweat at the “Box I.T.” class or keep your schedule and abs in check with the trainer-supervised XpressLine program. All of it in one of the most stunning gyms in the area.

New Racquet Club/Fitness Center

Fairmount Athletic Club

If you haven’t heard the buzz about Fairmount Athletic Club, here are some of the highlights: 12 top-of-the-line singles squash courts and two doubles courts, with the added feature of moveable side-walls on two of the singles; push a button, and the wall moves four feet to make a wider court (the standard for doubles internationally). Fairmount’s squash programming includes lessons, clinics, leagues, and summer camps, which leaves little room for excuses if you’ve never played.

Park (Readers’ Choice)

Valley Forge National Historical Park

1400 N. Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, valleyforge.org/nationalpark

Personal Trainer

Doug Sebes, Pinnacle Training and Fitness

A personal trainer should do more than simply lead you through a routine and correct your form. He/she should be an exceptional listener and a powerful motivator. Doug Sebes does that and more. He trains clients of all ages and fitness levels, incorporating a wide variety of exercises so his clients never get bored.

Place for Teen Parties

Beat Street Station

For kids who love to dance, Beat Street Station is the perfect venue for any special occasion. Kid-friendly, fun and funky, this nightclub-style party room is also spacious, convenient and reasonably priced. Kids love the cozy lounge area and large dance floor, complete with strobes, disco balls, neon signs and light shows with fog and black lights. In-house Infinity Catering offers pigs in a blanket, veggie egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, mini barbecue chicken wings, silver-dollar hamburgers and pasta, plus a sundae bar and whimsical cakes.

Place to Feed Your Muscles

Max Muscle Sports & Fitness

For serious athletes, including those college-bound boys who need to bulk up for football (the right way), Max Muscle has been a long time coming. Weekend warriors, too, can benefit from the extensive selection of vitamins and supplements and expert nutritional and educational guidance. And ladies, don’t miss the Bia Brazil line of workout wear designed to make you look 10 pounds thinner.

Place to Get Vertical

Philadelphia Rock Gym

The “boulder clinic” may sound like a cure for writer’s block, but it’s just one of many activities at this place to hang. At PRG—as it’s known among the rock-climbing set—climbers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to get their “total body workout” by scaling one of the 30-foot walls. The staff-to-climber ratio is 1:5,  and there are plenty of club events, including competitions and outdoor rock climbing. Check out the new PRG Climbing Center in Valley Township about 10 minutes west of the Exton Mall. 422 Business Center, E. 520 N. Circle Drive, Oaks; (610) 666-ROPE, philarockgym.com

Place to Learn to Dance Like a Star

DanceSport Academy

Are your moves more Jerry Springer than Emmitt Smith? Then it’s time for lessons at DanceSport Academy, where nationally and internationally recognized instructors show students all the tricks of the trade to perfect everything from the foxtrot and the samba to the mambo and the paso doble. Group and private lessons are available, and DanceSport offers a complimentary 30-minute private lesson and dance analysis before sign-up.

Place to Walk, Run or Just Hang Out

Ridley Creek State Park

Looking to get away from it all? You’ll never know you’re just minutes from the Main Line hustle and bustle when you’re strolling the more than 2,500 acres of this tree-laden park. Follow the banks of Ridley Creek, meander along one of the park’s many trails or simply lounge in the manicured formal gardens. There’s a natural setting for every mind set.

Running Track

Haverford College

Runners and walkers from all over the Main Line converge at Haverford College for their daily workouts. The quarter-mile track welcomes non-students when college-related sports aren’t taking place. The scenic view of the campus is one plus. The other? The track’s surface is so comfortable you’ll never want to run anywhere else again. 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford; (610) 896-1000, haverford.edu

Yoga Studio

Verge Power Yoga

Ease your mind and harden your abs at one of Verge’s popular classes, ranging from bending basics to complex contortioning. With a positive student-focused attitude, the staff of this hot spot are dedicated to transforming bodies and souls with a can-do vigor. 250 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne: (610) 971-0518, vergepoweryoga.com

Contributors: Melissa Auman, Tara Behan, Benjamin Berliner, Kelly Farber, Scott E. Pruden, Catherine Quillman, Katherine Savo and Dawn E. Warden.