Things to Do in Franklin

There's no speed requirement on the Little Miami River—drifting leisurely on a tube is just as respectable as cutting through the water in a sleek kayak. Both vehicles afford scenic views, as well as opportunities to rest and swim. Of course, there's always the canoe to consider. The large boats fit up to three people, making them the most social of the three options at Bellbrook Canoe Rental. Pairs and trios can take them on one of two jaunts down the river's path: a 3-mile trip beginning at Bellbrook Bridge, or a 5.2-mile trip that departs from Narrows Reserve in Beavercreek.

Regardless of the route, each adventure satisfies first-time paddlers and expert boaters alike. The family-owned rental company has 160 canoes and kayaks that they lend to small groups as well as schools, scouting organizations, and astronauts who would prefer to ease into the water portion of their weightlessness training. For gatherings off the water, there's also three shelter houses available to customers free of charge.

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.

Sprawled across Ed Martinek's 63-acre family farm, Adventure Acres cultivates a wholesome harvest of activities for pintsize and full-size visitors alike. Five corn mazes snake across a combined 11-plus miles of land, challenging navigators with twists and turns as onlookers and overly concerned scarecrows shout directions from an elevated watchtower. Scenic 30-minute hayrides explore the winding creeks and wildlife that meander peacefully across the grounds, and air-powered corn cannons equip trigger fingers with the power to launch ears up to 500 feet. After scouting the farm's outlying features, guests wrap back around to the petting zoo, where they can play with or try to elicit stock advice from tightlipped goats, horses, and cows.

Start Skydiving owes its ranking as the number-one skydiving location on dropzone.com to its staff of master skydivers, pilots, and instructors. The team navigates its aircraft thousands of feet in the air for tandem or AFF solo skydives, and the jumpers help novices in obtaining their own USPA B, C, or D licenses. Newly inducted divers can gear up with Start Skydiving’s online store, which carries everything from altimeters and flight-specific shirts to tickets for rides on hot-air balloons or twin-engine pterodactyls.

At Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Co., a team of commercially rated, FAA-certified pilots whisk passengers skyward on journeys over southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. One-hour flights take off from Warren County Airport and travel as high as to 2,000 feet, where visitors can take in panoramic views and snap pictures. Retrieval crews track each trek from the ground and transport guests back to their meeting location.

Along with standard flights, Gentle Breeze’s team hosts specialties such as private couples flights followed by champagne toasts, Hummer or Escalade limo rides to launch sites, and voyages over Cincinnati and Dayton’s metro areas. The captains also lead balloon rides over passengers’ houses and the homes of their enemies, and enliven soirees with brief sightseeing rides that reach 100 feet.