Things to Do in Hickory

Located in the gorgeous High Country outside of Boone, Scream Time lets the average individual fulfill superhero fantasies and practice extreme vertigo therapy soaring above the forest floor at speeds up to 50 mph. Led by a team of rigorously certified guides trained by a band of hyperintelligent flying squirrels, patrons will float, fly, and glide from treetop to treetop on zip lines that stretch from 450 to 800 feet. Scream Time makes for a memorable first date or dynamic game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and those not satisfied with the two-and-a-half-hour tour can book an extra ride on the Super Zip (an additional $29), a triple-wide line woven from fibers harvested from Odin’s beard and chest hair that stretches almost half a mile toward the horizon.

Jewelology puts beauty into the hands of the beholder, leading to a sense of accomplishment rivaling that of a financially successful mime. Jewelry parties require four participants or more, and each Groupon entitles one partygoer to $15 worth of jewelry-making materials such as natural gemstones, Swarovski crystals, Czech cut-glass beads, sterling silver, and freshwater pearls (it is not required that all partygoers have a Groupon in order to attend). Or, if you don't want your firefighting buddies know you're a jewelryholic, reserve a spot in any class offered except the lampwork class and the hammered-silver class. Learn techniques such as wire ring wrapping, chain-and-stone necklace making, or chandelier-earring construction ($15 worth of class-specific materials will be provided).

At Our Paintin' Place, bouquets of paintbrushes, a palate of bright paints, and a crafty staff inspire customers to bedeck vases, mugs, and decorative ceramics in fire-glazed designs. Prior to painting, artists browse blank ceramics, ranging from functional chopstick holders ($4) to a plethora of decorative items such as a miniature owl ($14), cocktail-party plate ($18), or a figurine of Rutherford B. Hayes' beard. Pottery Picassos get full access to the studio, including supplies, inspiring samples, stencils, tracing paper, and stamps. After four or five days, painters can collect their pieces, fired and glazed to a professional gloss.

In a handful of studios scattered between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Springfield, Missouri, kids express their artistic creativity under the friendly supervision of Noah’s Art instructors. Classes cover a wide variety of topics—from painting and clay sculpture to vocals-based Song Art—and are arranged by age group, allowing children to interact with peers of a similar developmental stage while engaging in philosophical musings on the meaning of parent-enforced time-outs. Instructors also teach basic art tools and techniques, such as how to properly hold a paintbrush or sculpt clay using only your mind.