Things to Do in Carmel

Staring at a blank piece of paper can be intimidating, but browsing the blank, premade pottery at Kiln Creations draws hibernating creativity from its den, enticing the brain with shape, size, and bisque meat. Pieces range between $4 and $65, and all merry potters are assessed a modest studio fee—$8 for adults and $6 for children under 12—which covers everything required to design and fire a project, including time. Grab a blank plate and paint a meal upon it, stencil a cup with springtime flowers, or decorate a picture frame worthy of being hung inside itself. If the concept of whole objects is intimidating, spend time in the studio on a mosaic project and enjoy affixing a variety of vibrant tiles upon a wood base of your choice ($12–$65), then grout your gorgeous piece at home with supplied materials ($6–$8 studio fee applies).

Indianapolis Sailing Club is a private sailing club housing a friendly fleet of fun-loving sailboats that provide entertainment for families, racers, and first-time sailors alike. Today’s “Your First Sail” class is specially designed for Groupon customers who want to break out their sailing wings and learn how to soar through the water like helicopters. During the class (most of which will be on the water), an experienced instructor will teach aquatic adventurers all the basics of sailing, from rigging, boarding, and launching the boat to learning the sail positions, maneuvering, steering, and tacking. Classes are semi-private: each instructor will work with two students at a time (each student needs a Groupon), so tell a friend about today's deal or let the club place you with a fellow solo learner.

Director Kara Reibel helms a staff of instructors who help students tone core muscles with an arsenal of more than 500 mat and Pilates-machine techniques. Certified in Pilates by the PhysicalMind Institute, Kara and her instructors lead private, semiprivate, and small-group classes in a variety of Pilates methods, including reformer, Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and ladder-barrel training. To ensure that each individual gets personalized instruction during reformer sessions, Kara caps these classes at four students or one fitness-conscious octopus, and teaches students to use their body weight as resistance during mat classes that lengthen and tone core muscles.

The piercing timbre of a well-struck drive and the satisfying rattle of a putt that found its hole grace golfers’ ears year-round at Golf 365, an indoor facility that fosters on-course excellence. PGA Tour credentialed instructor Sam Foley promotes straight-hitting swings in lessons that utilize the facility’s technological refinements, including V1 video swing analysis, golf simulator practice modes, and holographic Phil Mickelsons. The spacious center facilitates independent practice on its 2,000 square-foot putting green and within hitting bays with automated tee-up technology.

Chronic clubbers can enjoy an immersive golf experience with a round in a PGA Golf simulator, where vast screens conjure up the character of nearly 50 PGA Tour courses, letting players drive over the windswept mounds of the Old Course at St. Andrews or the seaside vistas at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. A twosome can play 18 holes in about two hours, leaving plenty of time to address other practice needs or start training their toddlers to read putts for them.

Mark Weghorst knows a thing or two about developing a sound golf game—the Carmel native played golf at Brebeuf Jesuit and went on to win the Mid-American Conference tournament as an individual while playing at Ohio's Miami University. After competing on several professional mini tours, Mark has returned to the Indianapolis area to help other golfers fine-tune their games. During lessons, golfers correct any flaws in their swings from Mark’s feedback, aided with V1 Pro video swing analysis and the trackman launch monitor . His lessons put to use all of the amenities at Zionsville Golf Practice Center, which has a driving range with heated stalls, a wedge range for short-game practice, and a plane board—a training device that helps golfers break the habit of slicing a shot into another dimension.

After a day of tending to his biotechnology company, Todd Bracken relaxes the way many CEOs do: by diving into another business venture. For Todd, that means sharing his passion for sailing and windblown hairstyles through Dauntless Sailing School, where he imparts his more than 20 years of experience to students of all experience levels. Docked at Geist Lake Marina, his 28-foot performance cruiser comfortably holds up to ten with a full galley and private bathroom. Eschewing classroom instruction, Todd prefers to give each student as much hands-on experience as possible, teaching them how to navigate the winds blowing across Geist Reservoir. In addition to beginner through advanced lessons, the captain also leads more adventurous outings that include multi-day sails on the Great Lakes, regattas, and coastal cruises around the Florida Keys.