Things to Do in Fairfield

Founder Sarah Rose McGuire dedicates her stable to rescuing and rehabilitating horses that may have been neglected or abused by a former owner. During lessons for children 3–12, both horse and child benefit from gentle interspecies interaction: the rescued horses learn to trust their pint-sized human partners and the children enjoy themselves or overcome their fears of riding or being recruited as a jockey. The 60-minute sessions illuminate the subtleties of equine grooming, tack, and proper riding form, with new riders leashed on a lead line until they demonstrate mounted mastery. An experienced trainer with a class A show pedigree conducts each lesson in a private one-on-one format, though two siblings may take their lessons together.

Flushed from his position, a player dashes from behind a tree and toward a bridge. Just as he reaches the opposite side, he hears "Dead man!" as an opponent pops up from underneath. Paintball Country's outdoor fields—which include a scenario field, speedball and hyperball fields, trailer field, and a woods field—present combatants with loads of such tactic-testing terrain. As referees maintain house rules to keep players safe, teams navigate obstacles such as two-story tower buildings, upturned cable spools, and corrugated tubing. Between firefights, Paintball Country's staff serves refreshments such as pizza, nachos, and victory-flavored energy drinks. An onsite pro shop also caters to guests with advice and equipment sales.

At Neusole Glassworks, gurus of all stripes and skill levels come together to fuse, blow, and mold glass both for independent projects and classes that explore the art form. The nonprofit facility sets the stage for inspired creation with flame-working, hotshop, and fusing studios that help the crew and their pupils transform raw materials into polished paperweights, unique pendants, and colorful new windshields. Upstairs, Neusole Glassworks invites browsers to tote pieces home from the gift shop or let their eyes feast on the myriad colors and textures at Atmosphere @ Neusole—a gallery for emerging artists and the facility’s students. In addition to welcoming anyone into its facility, Neusole Glassworks dispatches a mobile glassblowing studio to enliven street fairs and churn out slippers for palace dance parties.

The Drake Planetarium & Science Center captivates young minds with educational shows as well as after-school programs that teach creative problem solving and teamwork. Planetarium shows cover a wide range of topics and teach audiences to recognize seasonally changing constellations, planets, and lunar foliage. Starry Nights at the Cincinnati Astronomical Society invite stargazers to peep into the universe through the facility's powerful telescopes or highly magnified monocles, and laser light shows also grace the planetarium dome with 2-D, 3-D, and abstract animations choreographed to classic rock and holiday-theme recordings.

Inspired by their training with Swami Rama—the founder of the Himalayan Institute—Carol and Charles Crenshaw motivate students to deepen the connection between their bodies and minds at Inner Peace Yoga Center. At their nonprofit studio, Carol and Charles strive to honor Swami Rama by cultivating a sanctuary for relaxation and self-discovery through meditation and yoga classes. Six levels of yoga classes help beginners and experienced yogis alike to build strength and relieve tension, encouraging them to work at their own pace. During meditation classes, the focus is solely on the mind. Patrons drift into a meditative state to quiet anxiety over the day’s tasks or worries about dinosaurs re-emerging from extinction. A core focus on community drives the center, with community-centered events bringing people together for pasta cookouts, in-depth workshops, and community-service initiatives.

Helping a friend move. Spryly climbing stairs. Jogging with the dog. The team at CrossFit Anax believes physical fitness is all about increasing your day-to-day functionality. So, they lead a daily-changing regimen of CrossFit classes that focus on workouts to strengthen everyday movements, such as running, lifting, pushing, and waving away pollsters on the street. Instead of overseeing armadas of elliptical machines or treadmills, they engage patrons in games of toss with medicine balls and send them sprinting, heaving kettlebells, and dropping for push-ups. They mix up activities each session to stave off the boredom of repetition, keeping everyone involved and meeting their fitness goals. CrossFit Anax’s trainers know, though, that total body fitness is only possible with a nutritious diet, so they also educate their monthly members and guide them to better eating habits with monthly check-ins.