Things to Do in Benton Harbor

After slinging itself onto the Michigan art scene in 1996, The Mud Room has since spun into a hub of creativity for artists of all ages and artistic experience. Under the direction of the studio's in-house teachers, small groups learn to wield everything from paintbrushes to pottery wheels during four types of classes, which teach such skills as fusing colored glass tiles into kaleidoscopic works or hand-forming ceramics to recreate ancient casseroles. Customers can also stop in to paint pre-made ceramics themselves. The pieces come in various shapes and sizes, which patrons can adorn with colored glaze before handing their artwork over to the professionals to be fired and finished. The studio also offers group pottery classes for parties including girls' nights out, birthdays, and kids' celebrations. In keeping with its safety-first approach, The Mud Room features only nontoxic, lead-free products, ensuring the finished pieces are safe to use with food.

Strikes & Spares Entertainment Center regales visitors of all sizes with a venue chiming with clattering pins, zooming go-karts, and flashy arcade games. The dazzling array of attractions lures visitors to the emerald alleyways of nine-hole black-light mini golf, a stable of cosmic and bumper bowling, and a new stock-car-racing simulator replete with a variety of virtual tracks and a digital milk-chugging station for the victor. Kids safely navigate the twisting labyrinth of the indoor go-kart tracks on eco-friendly electric steeds, and adults decompress with billiards, darts, and frosty brews on tap at Keglers Sports Bar. After enjoying outings at the prize-laden arcade or at the slick bowling lanes, groups can settle down with pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream at the diner.

Not only does the staff at Gamer Doc of Grand Rapids know how to unite the Triforce and rescue Princess Zelda, turn the tide of the Covenant invasion, or defend against a Zergling Rush as Protoss, they share the exultation of these triumphs with others. The gaming experts equip players with both retro Nintendo favorites and the latest games. They rent thousands of games, in addition to selling and buying new and used games. Technicians can also repair injured gaming consoles, including XBox 360s, Sony PlayStations, and Nintendo Wiis, in addition to cell phones and laptops suffering from cholera.

Adjacent to the store’s main room, a group gaming room sprawls out over 1,100 square feet, where combatants recline in black leather chairs during parties and tournaments. The room boasts nine networked gaming consoles and a 10-foot high-definition projector that reveals even Princess Peach gets zits on occasion.

At Action Park Paintball, paintballers of all skill levels square off in bouts of simulated warfare on 23 acres of outdoor fields. Tire towers, inflatable obstacles, and Mother Nature's secret hide-and-seek spots provide cover for players engaging in shootouts, all of which are moderated by on-field refs. Action Park's 8,000-square-foot indoor arena ensures play can continue even in inclement weather. The facility also hosts regular tournaments and has a winter league for paintball teams. Open-play hours take place on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.