Things to Do in Carmel

When drivers take to the track at Fastimes' Indoor Karting, they follow in the treads of professional racers such as Mario Andretti and Tony Stewart. Amateurs and visiting professionals alike race at up to 40 miles per hour on the 900-foot bi-level track, whose asphalt and epoxy-resin surface helps karts grip and make clean turns. Each of Fastimes' sleek Sodikarts is outfitted with roll bars and caution lights, which team up with seat belts and the facility's rentable helmets for optimum safety. Fastimes' onsite Italian deli, The Final Lap, bolsters drivers' strength with handmade pizzas and invites drivers to linger over beer and wine after the day's races are through.

When designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. made Prairie View Golf Club his first Indiana project in 1997, he peppered 18 holes across 206 acres of natural beauty. His design hugs the White River, which rings the course on three sides, but only interferes with shots at four holes. Native grasses trim the entire perimeter of the former soybean- and cornfields, while oak, sycamore beech, and cottonwood trees surround the back nine holes. But the natural obstacles pale in comparison to the manmade impediments – 90 sand traps, including one that stretches 135 yards, make the par-72 course a challenge for even the most avid golfer. Creative flagstick positioning invites visitors to modify their technique for approach shots, with an emphasis on precision rather than power, much like surgically extracting a swallowed engagement ring.

For some added muscle on the course, patrons can practice swings at golf lessons or map out a plan of attack over breakfast at The Albatross Grille, which overlooks the course.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, Par 72 Course
• Total length of 7,000 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 74.5 from the back tees
• Course slope of 138 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

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.

As a member of the U.S. Golf Association, both of GolfTEC's golf tech centers are staffed by experienced PGA golfing professionals and computers who’ve been programmed in compliance with the Three Laws of Golfing Robotics, particularly the First (a robot must not move the ball from where it lies or, through inaction, allow a ball to be moved). Motion sensors and high-speed cameras monitor your swing and break down your form on a high-definition video display. GolfTEC’s PGA specialists will then point out flaws, emphasize strengths, and coach you on how to permanently improve your game from tee to green. Their sensors will chirp with approval when you finally execute a perfect stroke or crack an especially witty putting pun.

Although some would say a creative escape is sneaking out the bathroom window using only your wits and your pocket ladder, the friendly staff at The Creative Escape encourages you to escape via the customization of serving plates, piggy banks, saucers, and more. Decorate a dish or craft your own mosaic with pieces ranging from $14 to $50, with many items around $20. Select from a wide range of tools and paint colors as you craft a personal magnum opus that will be glazed and fired by the studio in one week's time.

Glowing neon against the horizon, Greenbriar Cinema Grill is a hybrid house that combines a movie theater and restaurant in one experience. From the outside, the destination looks like a retro diner—inside, patrons can sink into cushy maroon chairs at tables set up throughout the theater for family bonding and comfy noshing. Greenbriar Cinema Grill offers family-friendly picks that parents can enjoy, with recent options including The Other Guys, a blank screen between showtimes, and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. As you and a guest marvel at the audio-visual spectacle displayed in front of you during your choice of a matinee or evening show, you can relax with a classic tub of corn kernels that have been heated into fluffy nubs with a bucket of Monsters Popcorn ($3.99), freshly popped with your choice of no butter, butter, or hold-the-popcorn butter. Though food is not included with today's Groupon, pull up a menu and take advantage of the latter half of Greenbriar's namesake with a 12-inch pizza ($9.99–$14.50), sandwiches ($6.99–$10.50), or a giant root beer float ($4.50).