Things to Do in Clawson

Planet Rock challenges novice and experienced climbers to discover the depth of their willpower in order to conquer their ever-changing collection of routes. The gym's two locations each host more than 50 top-roping routes and more than 15 lead-roping paths for experienced indoor mountaineers, as well as lower-hanging bouldering paths and caverns. Climbers better themselves using 21st-century technology such as a rotating treadmill climbing wall with adjustable speeds, angles, and frequency of charging mountain goats. Staff members keep extensive and updated guidebooks for both the Ann Arbor and Pontiac locations and can point guests toward quality gear sold at the in-house pro shop. Planet Rock also works one-on-one by appointment with climbers who have special needs, assisting individuals with hearing, visual, or physical impairments, and the climbing gym has hosted the climbing portion of the Extremity Games for individuals with amputations.

Over his 30-year tenure teaching golf, founder Mark Reason has established Reason's Golf Academy locations in Michigan and Florida to spread the wisdom of his Ferris-wheel-swing technique. This coaching philosophy—designed to build swings that travel on a controlled, vertical axis rather than in a less-dependable merry-go-round motion—serves as the unifying force in all of the academy's instructional programs and as the building block for the development of a consistent, correctable, and windshield-friendly swing. Instructors use golf-simulator and swing-analyzer technology to scrutinize imperfect motions and weighted, molded-grip clubs and other training aids to guide clients toward proper technique. To further optimize patrons' pin-hunting prowess, the Academy offers club-fitting services, which pair clients with the clubs or modified pool noodles that best fit their unique swing profile.

A lap around Skateland West’s sea-foam-green floor transports inline skaters back in time with psychedelic rainbow lights, arcade games, and music. Despite the retro-chic atmosphere, Skateland West keeps things modern with activities such as freestyle-skating sessions and inline-skating lessons. The center also has a staff of fitness instructors who run patrons through fun and challenging Zumba, kickboxing, kids’ dance classes, and yoga workouts to help patrons stay in better shape than a buff geometry teacher. The skating rink also hosts kids’ birthday parties and has a snack bar where skaters can refuel with sodas and pizza.

Vibrant colors coat walls surrounding the glossy rinks at ERDU Skate-A-Rama , where experienced staff members monitor skaters of all ages in a family-friendly environment. Equipped with rented wheels, skaters glide along smooth surfaces under colorful lights to the beat of lively music. Their family members, perched along the rink's perimeter, watch or take bets on who can do a figure eight the fastest.

Skaters can take a break from four-wheeled footwear to play arcade games at some locations or silence rumbling stomachs with bites of pizza or other snacks, such as cones from the ice-cream shop, at ERDU Skate-a-Rama, which serves up swirls of soft serve doused with fudge.

BodyPure Studio owner Tina Boos, who’s accrued more than two decades of fitness-industry know-how, centers BodyPure Studio around a medley of Pilates, body-sculpting, and cardio classes. Earning her Pilates certification has enabled her to stock the studio with every available apparatus, ranging from mats to the Reformer, Wunda Chair, Cadillac, and Ladder Barrel—the latter of which should only be reserved by registered Donkey Kongs. As a barre instructor, Boos leads the studio's signature BodyPure class, a fluid workout for limbs and seats that also levels out tummies. Each of her fellow instructors upholds her fitness expertise, possessing at least one certification in Pilates, barre, or group fitness.

BodyPure's combination of professional tutelage and state-of-the-art equipment earned it a top-five spot among CityVoter finalists for Detroit's Best Pilates Studio of 2011. Its facility houses workout rooms for both group and private training sessions.