Things to Do in Canandaigua

In the cozy confines of Created By Us's art studio, clients daub bisque figurines, dishware and vases with personalized designs as they sip espresso drinks from the on-site coffee bar. A staffer oversees all proceedings, armed with technical tips and advice on color palette. After fully decorating their masterpieces, patrons leave them behind for studio staffers to glaze and finish, rather than holding them over the next campfire along with the camp counselor's retainer. For special occasions, children and adult revelers alike can take their painting projects into private-party rooms decorated with balloons and fuel their efforts with provided popcorn.

It's hard for Bayside Boat and Tackle's owner Captain Ken Strimple to imagine a life without fishing. Captain Strimple first pulled sunfish out of his grandfather's pond when he was 4 years old. From this early foundation, he moved on to bigger fish and competed in bass tournaments including the ESPN Northern Tour. Today, Captain Strimple and the team at Bayside Boat and Tackle help new generations connect with nature through fishing and boating on scenic Irondequoit Bay aboard rented pontoon boats, rowboats, and paddleboats. They also supply live bait and tackle to help customers snag a fish for dinner or a tire to replace a recent auto flat. Dedicated anglers can join Bayside's Let's Catch Fish fishing club, whose members enjoy discounted store purchases and boat rentals.

Arrowhead Golf Course’s 18-hole track rubs shoulders with the banks of the Erie Canal, which players follow on a picturesque tour of flora and fauna. Richard Wholers built the course in 1976, and made up for the lack of available distance by keeping the bluegrass fairways narrow and the bentgrass-greens compact. In addition to the canal, which looms heavily on the mind throughout a round, golfers must also factor water hazards on 12 holes into their shot-making decisions and choice of location for talking about how dumb mermaids look. These aquatic pitfalls take the form of nine ponds and two creeks that snake their ways across the beryl-green grass.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 66 course
• Total length of 4,171 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 61.5 from the back tees
• Course slope of 103 from the back tees

With a variety of colorful sewing notions and fabrics in tow, Each 1 Stitch 1’s army of instructors demystifies the art of garment construction for aspiring seamstresses and tailors. With access to professional-grade cutting devices, sewing machines, and dyeing stations, students and members can fully customize their own style of pants, dresses, and tote bags for carrying smaller, less fashionable tote bags. Private and group instruction for all experience levels teaches sewing techniques and fundamentals, and membership options offer discounts and studio time.

On Performance Paintball’s year-round outdoor field, teams compete in 10-minute rounds of elimination or capture the flag. Clutching Tippmann 98 paintball guns, players stalk and pursue enemies around obstacles—or climb the two-story Tower of Terror for a bird’s-eye view—as they fire gelatin capsules from pressurized air-guns, splattering enemies with water-soluble, biodegradable, nontoxic paint. Customers can arrive alone during open-play hours, or organize teams for a party or event. The outdoor playing field is open year-round, allowing players to compete against both friends and snowmen.