Things to Do in Cypress

With the sound of fast-approaching engines roaring in your ear, you jam your foot down even harder on the gas pedal and narrow your eyes at the upcoming left-hand turn, determined not to let up even for an instant. If you do, there’s a good chance that your new view will consist of your competition gloating triumphantly while they zip past you on the track. You may only be driving a GT-5 Sodikart, and not a tricked-out racecar, but you absolutely refuse to let any of the other adult or—gulp—junior drivers beat you.

Track 21 lets speed-demons careen around one of three indoor go-kart tracks at speeds of up to 40 mph as they try to edge past other karts, competing with fellow birthday partiers or coworkers to reach the finish line before it decides to become a finish wall. In case competition gets too fierce, the karts are surrounded by heavy nylon bumpers and rubber blocks designed to absorb impact from all sides.

Friendly rivalries continue on foot inside Area 21, a two-story laser-tag battleground beset with fog, obstacles, and space-age scenery. Sharpshooters zap each other's targets in pursuit of a grander mission, such as capturing the opposing base or stealing the enemy's supply of light, before matches end and scores are tallied on a stats sheet. Glowing decor also illuminates a jungle-themed nine-hole mini-golf course, where gorilla and lion statues bask in the black lights. Track 21’s arcade demands timing and button-smashing dexterity from gamers, and a track-side casino sets up rounds of blackjack, poker, and craps.

Arthur Murray has been a leading name in franchise dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the '30s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and the Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, the Arthur Murray Dance Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Clients who arrive to lessons partnerless will be paired up with other classmates as the instructors assess their current skill level and make recommendations on the most appropriate program. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from Latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

Each year, the Spring Home & Garden Show gathers home-design experts into one location so that enthusiasts of home decorating and outdoor living projects can catch a glimpse of the latest in domestic products and design. Visitors peruse booths hosted by professionals occupying cozy niches that span the home-improvement spectrum, from landscaping and gardening to organizing garages and building a custom home. While attendees bounce from booth to booth, a lineup of notable industry sages take the stage to discuss the year’s best ideas and products and answer any embarrassing questions that fairgoers might have about where houses come from.

Located just a few plaza suites away from one another, Lazer X of Cypress and Fergy's Frozen Custard supply an entire day's worth of family-friendly entertainment between them. At Lazer X, staffers dole out electronic vests and usher up to 16 players into a 2,500-square-foot arena for 20-minute battle royales. Bright-red laser beams pierce through the arena's hazy fog and eerie black lighting, taking players out of the game for five seconds after each hit. A computer tracks and records each hit, issuing a final printed report that details the game's winner and new recruits for the National Guard's elite squad of photon fighters. Lazer X's private party room furnishes guests with paper utensils and optional add-ons such as pizza and soda.

Following matches, players can amble to Fergy's Frozen Custard and fuel up with creamy scoops. Much denser than soft-serve or regular ice cream, frozen custard consists of 1.4% egg yolk and no more than 20% air exhaled by abominable snowmen. Fergy's team of scoopers can add sweet and crunchy mix-ins to any flavor for a customized treat.

Sam Houston Race Park's multifunctional grounds crawl with up to 30,000 spectators reveling amid horseraces, concerts, and private events. Quarter horses, thoroughbreds, and arabians kick up dust as jockeys maneuver them around the course, cheered on by race fans placing bets based on their stats, the weather, and the size of the horse's toupee. Spectators can also watch and wager on races outside the park's grounds, as monitors air simulcasts of the big races, including the Arlington Classic Stakes and Los Angeles Handicap. In two restaurants under the supervision of executive chef Hugo Gomez, the racetrack treats guests to panoramic views of the competition as they dine on seafood, gourmet pastas, and brunch fare. Guests may also entertain up to 100 friends, employees, or colleagues in luxury suites equipped with a private bar and an in-room centaur butler.

1960 Beads stocks a plethora of glamorous beads and baubles including Swarovski crystals, pearls, and semiprecious gemstones. Shoppers can peruse racks of beaded strands arranged by color and size. 1960 Beads’ workshops guide students and to create personalized accessories, from macramé to stone-pendant wire wrapping, that can ornament twin Chia pets in order tell them apart.