Things to Do in Berkley

The staff of Family Shooting Center maintains a public outdoor range, where shooters of all skill levels can hone their firearms proficiency. A day in the trapshooting area challenges sportsmen with pedestal traps, ATA automatic traps, and five-stand sporting clay stations. Alternatively, pistol and rifle ranges offer marksmen targets up to 100 yards away. The facility's multitude of shooting styles also includes an archery range that lets bowmen hone hunter's vision sharper than Davy Crockett's, even after he got LASIK.

To further develop responsible firearms operators, instructors lead classes that range from basic safety courses to private instruction for law-enforcement officials. Safety and camaraderie are further encouraged through trapshooting leagues and special rates for Boy Scouts. When hunger starts affecting concentration, an onsite vendor refuels guests with fare such as hot dogs, pulled pork, and gourmet bratwursts made from game meats.

Ducking behind a rusty old car, the paintballer peers through the windshield as he preps his next move, knowing all too well that opponents lurk behind the barrels and old cars littering the rest of the 65-acre outdoor field. Meanwhile, at an indoor facility, players traverse an astroturfed airball field or weave their way around a scenario field's walk-in tanks and barricades. Elsewhere, the pro shop equips competitors with gear ranging from name-brand markers to bulletproof easels. In the coming months, American Paintball Coliseum plans on enthralling visitors anew by renovating its outdoor location into 14 different playing fields, adding a concession stand to its indoor facility, and adding a laser tag option to its fields.

Pubcrawls.com arranges safe, lively walking treks to popular, bustling watering holes in dozens of cities across the United States and Canada. The jovial jaunts have earned ample press and a Guinness World Record for shepherding revelers to multiple bars and clubs throughout the course of a day or evening. At each venue, bartenders regale participants with exclusive drink specials and conversations with sentient beer mugs. Many events are tailored around holidays, such as Christmas and Halloween, or costume-friendly themes such as Michael Jackson and superheroes.

The winds of winter were approaching and the members of the Baltimore Bocce League were looking for an indoor activity that stayed true to the irrefutable equation of rolling balls at targets. Allured by skee-ball's friendly competition, simple game play, and mesmerizing concentric circles, they established the Baltimore Barskee League.

The successful Baltimore league eventually spawned a Denver chapter. The Denver Barskee League partners with local bars that sponsor and host each season's games. The matches typically last 15 minutes and are followed by discounted specials on bar fare and celebratory games of flip cup. Its members also stage charity kickball games throughout the year.

Over the course of two decades, the glint of gemstones, polished beads, glass pearls, and sterling-silver chains on the shelves at Desert Gems have inspired countless crafters to create their own personalized jewelry. The shop's veteran staff leads workshops for novice and advanced beaders that cover foundational beading techniques, as well as leather- and wire-wrapping and advanced bead stitching. Between its stock of glass pearls and Turkish beads, Desert Gems carves out a third of the space in its store for rocks, minerals, carvings, and alien-crafted obelisks gathered from around the world.

Campus Cycles owners Mark Velat and Bobby Verenna grew up in the cycling world. Mark has been riding and racing for more than 30 years now, and Bobby broke into the retail end back in sixth grade. At their shop, patrons reap the rewards of their expertise when shopping from shelves of sturdy bikes and gear from brands such as Giant, Cannondale, and Electra, in addition to children's two-wheelers and tricycles. Their service department’s technicians recalibrate bikes with tune-ups, and fit specialists match individuals with the ideal cycle. Patrons can also visit on demo days when big-name manufacturers show off their latest products and let riders take them out for test-drives on nearby mountain trails or paved roads. Meanwhile, the store's Get to Know Your Bike classes give riders basic repair and maintenance skills so they can remedy minor damage incurred when tires pop on fiberglass banana peels littering the road.