Things to Do in Connersville

Tucked away near the banks of the Ohio River stands the other Sin City. Or at least it used to be, during the days when bootlegging formed a powerful underground economy. When a group of teachers and history buffs needed money for school service projects in Central America, they decided to raise funds by starting tours that explored this seamy history, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. A few years and many local accolades later, knowledgeable guides continue expounding upon the town’s rich history of mobsters, gamblers, and ladies of the night.

Tours stroll down Newport blocks littered with buildings once occupied by speakeasies, brothels, and the site of Al Capone’s failed early restaurant career, Al Calzone. Along the way, guides tie the rich past to the rise of the modern-day gaming industry and Newport’s connections to famous crime figures.

Under the guidance of founder Chad Fath, the licensed helicopter pilots and instructors at Higher Ground Helicopters take visitors on scenic 'copter rides above the city as well as train students to become full-fledged pilots. Flight training lessons take place in the evenings to accommodate busy adult schedules, with the goal of turning inexperienced students into certified professionals within 10 to 18 months. For guests on the fence about flying, Higher Ground offers hands-on demos, which consist of 30 minutes of ground training, 30 minutes of piloting in the air, and 30 minutes of watching The A-Team reruns. For guests who simply wish to enjoy the scenery, Higher Ground's expert pilots host scenic tours that showcase the Cincinnati skyline.

Despite an inherent awareness of its artifice, live theater's in-room presence creates an immersive experience that can feel more real than the most subtly acted film or actually happening work day. None of the Above introduces audiences to Jamie, a 17-year-old private-school student living the high life in New York City. When she answers the door expecting her drug dealer, it turns out to be Clark, her SAT tutor. The play follows the clash of their personalities, a meeting like unto Gore Vidal confronting Kelly Bundy. As the story progresses, Jamie and Clark negotiate an unusual pact over their contradictory worlds of multiple choices and socialite flight. You get one general-admission ticket to witness the Protean intellectual battle, though you can purchase up to four and make an outing for friends and family.

The instructors at Bodyblast Studio wrap fitness, personal growth, and entertainment into tidy one-hour classes centered on pole fitness, Latin-inspired dance moves, or competitive martial arts. Ladies-only pole-fitness classes utilize poles for leverage and stability as bodies swing and slide their way to a healthy sweat in routines designed to strengthen the core and upper body. Exercisers teach imaginary rivals a lesson they won’t soon forget as they pummel the air with swift kicks and punches in tae kwon do classes, and hearts race through the hip-churning steps of Latin-inspired Zumba dance classes. For a more calming exercise, balance a lopsided aura with a Vinyasa flow yoga class that links mind and body with conscious breathing.

A spring-loaded hardwood aerobic floor keeps steps peppy and reduces strain on joints during all-out workouts or dance sessions. Brass poles and glossy kettlebells reflect the colorful lights flashing overhead as hit dance tunes blast through the speakers of a full sound system.

More than 50 years old and 8,500 members strong, the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) strives to promote percussion through education, research, and performances across the world. To carry out this mission, the organization includes more than 50 chapters in the US and 28 chapters abroad, all of which communicate online via resources such as lessons, free practice exercises, and annual events. Each year PAS hosts the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention—the largest of its kind in the world—in which exhibitors convene to showcase the newest developments in percussion technology, instruments, and publications. The convention also includes over 120 clinics and performances with lauded artists covering all genres and styles of music.

Founded by a group of friends who created the acclaimed Newport Gangster Tour as a fundraiser in 2008, American Legacy Tours blossomed into a full-fledged tour company two years later. Participants choose from seven distinct tours that traverse cities as guides share fascinating and sometimes seedy history. The Queen City Underground Tour ventures beneath the city’s streets into a hidden burial vault and long-forgotten tunnels, and the Newport Gangster Tour delves into a scandalous past by visiting the sites of former brothels and speakeasies. Elsewhere, on the Haunted Covington Tour, guests feed their thirst for fright and their hunger for candy handouts from amiable apparitions.