Things to Do in Florence

Amid leafy branches and between gently swaying trees, human beings soar through the air. Dagaz Acres' eco-adventure zipline course lets children, adults, and adult-size children explore woodland canopies up to 70 feet high, and staff ensures that participants glide snugly in their half-body swing harnesses. Adventurers plunge through seven dual ziplines strung over 23 acres of ground and ravines, three canopy-level ziplines, and two bridges. One bridge is a Burma bridge built with varying types of rope, and the other is a plank construction pirate bridge that stretches 90 feet and swings over a ravine to discourage motorcycle-chase sequences. Dagaz Acres' staff members spread their love of outdoors learning to team-building and leadership exercises held in single-day and overnight programs. They train athletic teams and office groups through ground exercises and on a low-challenge ropes course, which allows participants to engage in physical challenges without the added risk of a bird nesting in their hair. The company reflects this passion in its name, Dagaz, which is derived from a Nordic rune meaning "transformational breakthrough change." Staffers enable others to change through adventure as they design, build, and maintain zipline and ropes courses elsewhere through Dagaz Acres Management Inc. construction division.

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.

Tommy Evans, who has been diving since 1983, shares the beauty of the underwater world through his hobby—aquatic photography—and his business: Central Coast Dive Center. At the PADI-award-winning center, dive instructors can introduce students to diving basics, such as operating the air tank and making sure its full of laughing gas. They also can prepare them for PADI-open-water certification and other more advanced certificates.

Students can practice in the onsite heated pool, or in natural waters on the center’s trips to Little Cayman, Cabo San Lucas, and other tropical locales. To complement its classes and trips, the center stocks gear from high-end brands, such as Atomic Aquatics, Zeagle, and Henderson.

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.

Flying Hoofs Stables’ head trainers, Jessica and Asha, dedicate its 19-acre plot of Kentucky land to instruction in proper horsemanship. A surrounding network of trails and an outdoor arena provide ample space for catching wind in the hair during summer camps and trail rides, whereas a second indoor arena sets the stage for the stable’s lessons. Here, beginners get a first taste of proper horsemanship and tack fundamentals, and advanced riders receive customized instruction in a choice of styles including Hunter, the classic English riding style, or Jumper, a prerequisite for learning horse hopscotch.