Things to Do in Farmers Branch

Between all of the concrete walls, inflatable obstacles, and cleverly positioned barrels, it’s hard to get a good look at anyone at Reno Indoor Paintball. On any given day, the 27,000-square-foot facility hosts dozens of well-armored players, who sprint around the grounds and splatter their opponents until supplies run out or they accomplish their missions. During battles, the staff remains on hand to help players to gear up and to ensure things remain civil. And on select days, staffers also host training sessions or events for larger groups looking to celebrate occasions such as birthdays, bachelor parties, or a high-school graduate’s first successful load of laundry.

The art connoisseurs at Creative Hands guide patrons of all ages through the artistic process with a cache of ready-to-paint plaster and ceramic items. Equipped with provided paints and glazes, budding Picassos can transform bare figurines, plates, bowls, and goblets into masterpieces as personalized as the Mona Lisa's thumbprint. Guests can tote away freshly decorated plaster pieces after a 30- to 45-minute glazing-and-drying process or enlist the warming powers of a kiln to seal in a ceramic creation's luster and then pick up the fired work of art a week later. Creative Hands' roomy studio fosters a suitable space for large groups or birthday parties and houses a ladies' night on the first Thursday of every month.

Inside CooCoos, a spacious, color-splashed play area accommodates pintsize patrons with full-size servings of fun. Stretched across more than 20,000 square feet, the recently opened facility buzzes with the giggles and squeals emitted from kids as they scramble and spite gravity during birthday parties, field trips, and open-play sessions held Monday through Friday. A lineup of unique zones, such as those with UFO, jungle-course, and alligator themes, whisks adventurers to far-away worlds, and 3-D carpeting and black-light sections enable youngsters to accurately mimic their favorite Grateful Dead–concert moments. For an extra dose of amusement, guests can visit on Friday Night Fun Night, when 3-D glasses help to transform playtime into a multidimensional experience.

Boasting more than 26 years in the aviation industry, Breeze Balloons' pilots expertly harness the wind to soar riders over north and east Texas in multihued hot-air vehicles. Pilots helm various sized balloons, which accommodate twosomes or let groups as large as 30 high-five Texan clouds. Pilots also do double duty as safety-training instructors, helping other hot air balloon pilots maintain Breeze Balloons' zero-safety-issue record.