Things to Do in Bon Air

Nestled on 28 tree-lined acres of Chesterfield County, Oasis Sports Park beckons to sportspeople of all stripes with a scenic complex of family-friendly, recreational attractions. The centerpiece of the entire park, its nine-hole, par 3 course, challenges players with bent grass greens and Bermuda grass fairways and roughs. With tee-to-green distances ranging from 75–175 yards, the course features enough variety for players to dig deep into their repertoire of short-irons, mid-irons, and bedazzled parade scepters. Bunkers enshroud the five target greens at the Park’s 10,000 square-yard driving range, raising the stakes on practice shots as players swing freely from Bermuda grass hitting areas or covered, heated stalls. The Park also encompasses an 18-hole miniature golf course and a nine-station batting cage, where mechanical pitchers hurl baseballs up to 70 mph to simulate the experience of dodging a tiny meteor.

No matter the day, a sense of competition fills the air at King Pin Lanes. The sound of clattering pins and congratulatory high-fives echoes as bowlers roll strikes down the alley's 32 gleaming lanes. Automatic scoring systems allow visitors to focus on their upcoming bowls instead of adding up frames, and for kids 8 and younger bumpers pop up from each gutter to help little ones get into the competitive spirit. Every Friday and Saturday, DJ Connection spins tunes to soundtrack cosmic bowling sessions with requests dominating after 9 p.m. And, crooners sing their hearts out for the crowd's affection during karaoke sessions held in the Tapz Bar & Grill. There, bowlers gather all week long around plates of nachos or freshly grilled burgers for conciliatory snacks after intense games or bowling shoe insults.

Over its 30 year history, The Dive Shop has trained over 10,000 new scuba divers and earned the honor of being a five-star PADI Instructor Development Center, without ever switching owners. The same teachers who helped the first class of students discover the underwater world now aid their children and grandchildren in making the same discovery through Open Water Certification diving courses and introductory lessons. They start beginners off in the safety of local pools, before plumbing the depths of Lake Rawlings during certification dives.

After a knee injury made traditional workouts impossible for her, Sandi Cauley revisited her childhood dance training. As a kid, she danced ballet folklorico, but as an adult she tapped into a more modern tradition—street dance. Cauley now helms Dance Trance Richmond, based out of Rigby’s Jig studio. In classes designed for participants of all skill levels, Cauley and a team of five instructors teach students hip new moves in a program based on the Dance Trance concept.

Originated by Jay Handline, Dance Trance centers on modern, calorie-burning dance workouts. In advanced classes, students mimic their instructors’ movements, picking up dynamic choreography by doing it themselves instead of relying on verbal direction. Beginners, meanwhile, can opt for classes that use spoken instruction and a slower pace, such as Dance Trance Breakdown sessions, which introduce new routines methodically.

To create Peak Experiences, the dedicated staff sets more than 125 top-rope routes, lead climbs, and bouldering problems for climbers of all skill levels. Five levels of classes and safety training spanning basic problems such as climbing a bunk bed to lead climbing a 50-foot wall prepare climbers to conquer any of these problems, and the gym also outfits its members with an onsite gear shop that stocks harnesses, footwear, and belay devices such as grigris or ATCs. Kids can also learn climbing skills during youth programs that invite children aged 5–18 and young rocks aged 3,000,000–4,500,000 to climb together with camps, teams, and trips.

Golf balls trace high arcs over the driving range or roll toward mini-golf holes at Hanover Sports Park, where guests hone power and finesse as they work on their game. Waterfalls cascade into tiny ponds on the edges of the mini-golf course, where twisting greens provide a venue for families and friends to haggle over who gets to hold the scorecard. Sixty-three artificial hitting mats line the subtly curved, two-tiered driving range, which includes 28 heated and covered hitting areas and seven natural-grass tees.

The chime of sharp line drives resonates from the center's seven batting cages, where hitters swat at everything from high-arching softballs to baseballs zipped at up to 80 miles per hour. Hanover Sports Park's staff helps guests manage their activities and special events by creating group and party packages for birthdays and corporate gatherings.