Things to Do in Ballenger Creek

Valley Ballooning takes passengers’ breaths away with safely obtained, unobstructed aerial views of the Shenandoah Valley’s majestic rivers, vineyards, and animal inhabitants. Tours at sunrise or sunset cover up to 10 miles, with experienced pilots pointing out such incomparable sights as whitetail deer bounding below or the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains frolicking in the distance. Winter flights include a warming cup of hot chocolate or coffee to keep passengers from growing envious of balloons, and toast packages conclude with the celebratory ringing of sparkling-cider glasses.

Sitting behind the wheel of a 32 Sodi RX7 kart has a way of making you feel like a professional stunt driver. Maybe it's zipping up your driver’s suit, or snapping on your helmet. Either way, at Summit Point Kart, all participants get the look they want and the safety orientation they need to cut turns like Andretti when they take on that piece of half-mile track known as the Washington Circuit.

Overhead, lights blaze down on the track’s 20 turns, so karters can race well into the evening or on that day after summer solstice when the sun is too partied out to get out of bed. Racers who get hooked can get themselves a yearly membership card, which discounts the price of racing credits. Little ones enamored with the track can enlist in kart school, a daylong camp that builds confidence behind the wheel.

Blank teapots, plates, mugs, and figurines line the shelves at I Made This!, awaiting finishing touches guided by the artful eyes of do-it-yourselfers. The studio carries all of the materials necessary to complete each piece, including paints, glazes, and a 1,800-degree kiln, where pieces of pottery, like really good barbecue or really bad pizza, requires about 20 hours to cook. A team of knowledgeable employees stays on hand to answer questions regarding the glazing and firing processes. The ideal activity for a range of ages and groups, painting pottery at I Made This! can enliven a sunny Saturday morning or a ladies' night out with a customer-provided bottle of wine, with the option of reserving a private party room.

When Dan and Alyce Weinberg purchased the Tivoli in the late 1950s, they imagined its ornate chandeliers and sweeping ceilings watching over concerts and performances that would keep the auditorium as full as it was in the theater's 1920s heyday. After a devastating flood in 1976 almost decimated the space, the Weinbergs and other community members restored the historic theater, which now flourishes as a home for live entertainment, films, and the performing arts.

Craig and Cammie Cole, the husband-and-wife team behind Soaring Eagles Adventures, believe that life was not meant to be lived within cubical walls. Even though they’ve been sharing the wonders of the wilderness for nine years, the sight of a bald eagle's massive wings as it soars gracefully overhead has never lost an ounce of splendor. To them, each canoe excursion they lead is a much-needed break from the stressors of the modern world, so their trips venture into river valleys devoid of human interference, where bald eagles carry on their lives as they’ve done ever since Bigfoot stopped supplying them with toupees. The pair leads guests on half-day, full-day, and overnight camping trips, and share tips for surviving the wilderness and even marriage through podcasts and regular seminars.