Things to Do in Hendersonville

Families and friends romp in playful competition through Cedar Creek Sports Center's 16.5 acres of activities. Two 18-hole putt-putt courses give miniature linksmen room to roam, and the 12-acre driving range provides a scenic exile for underperforming golf balls. Karts roar around the hairpin turns and speedy straightaways of the 1,100-foot go-kart track and bumper boats build up ramming speed while spraying each other with aqua artillery. Prepare for invasions of giant locusts by swatting away at one of 10 fully automatic ABC pitching machines, which hurtle softballs or baseballs at a choice of sphere-slinging speeds.

Cedar Creek Sports Center helps sportsmen find their stride on the fairways or between the base-paths with baseball and golf lessons. At the indoor game room, guests can determine who has the better hand-eye-coordination in air hockey or hoop shot stations, or settle longstanding arguments about who has a brighter career path as a heavy machine operator while using a tiny crane to snatch prizes.

When Nashville Demo Studio speaks of its team of hit songwriters and industry professionals, it is no idle boast. Company president and showbiz veteran Jimi Whitelaw oversees a staff that includes Will Rambeaux—who has worked for Faith Hill, Trick Pony, and American Idol—and Billy Montana, whose recent collaborators include Lee Greenwood, Kenny Chesney, and Martina McBride. The studio also supplies instrumentation, vocals, and recording opportunities while leaving copyright ownership and distribution rights firmly in their clients’ hands. Though the stable of musicians skews to Southern-fried genres, they can also ably handle pop, R & B, and countrified interpretations of whale calls. All services are available both in person and online via Skype.

Josh knew the first treasure hunt he set up was a success when he saw the happy look in his three younger brothers’ eyes as they uncovered the final treasure chest. Based on Josh's clues, the younger Schwabs had just gleefully trekked across Warrenton, Virginia, and into the Shenandoah Mountains in search of their goal. But the event was more than just a fun way to spend the day: it also gave them inspiration at a time when the future felt grim, as their mother was undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Although that has since become a fond memory of a good day, it’s also warmly remembered by the family as the catalyst that led Josh to establish Ravenchase Adventures, where he now sets up just such engaging hunts for the public.

Now Ravenchase is an event company that offers pre-set and custom treasure hunts and adventure races. As the company has grown, Josh's team has even set up events for a variety of well-known clients, from DreamWorks Studios to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. But regardless of who participates, he and his dedicated staff ensure each two- to three-hour adventure is filled with brainteasers, mysterious clues, and baffling ciphers. Each solved clue leads the groups across town with treasure maps. Fun prizes await at their final destination. In an effort to give back to the community, the company also set up the nonprofit Ravenchase Foundation, which supports organizations that inspire and teach tolerance for history, logic, and the arts.

Minty-green and cool-blue walls set off by polished hardwood floors create a serene setting for reformer- and mat-based workouts led by Pilates instructor Shana Wilson Doyle, who spent nearly a decade honing her Stott Pilates skills. Group mat classes vary in difficulty to help practitioners of all fitness levels protect their precious caramel centers by building tough abdominal shells. Specialty Pilates equipment, such as the reformer and the tower, enhance private and semi-private sessions, where Shana guides students through efficient resistance moves and can provide clients with more personalized attention.

Calico Jacks Boat & RV Rentals supplies pontoons that skitter across Old Hickory Lake as well as motorboats and RVs that up the entertainment and convenience ante of outdoor getaways. The stable of land and water vehicles, available to rent or to buy, suits day trippers and serious boaters combing the water’s depths for first-edition copies of Moby Dick. After collaring a seaworthy boat, customers can venture out with a professional fishing guide to find an ideal angling spot.