Things to Do in Hudson

Nature Coast SUP Stand-up Paddleboarding arms wave navigators with the paddles, vessels, and skills necessary to have safe and inspiring paddling experiences. Riders learn the basics of paddling in introductory classes before taking their boards out for peaceful traverses about the waters of Crystal River and Pine Island. Seasoned surf-goers can rent paddleboards for solo jaunts along the water's surface. While darting about, paddlers will be able to look down through the clear waters and see the local wildlife, including the possible chance to spot some of the Florida manatees that flock to the area's temperate weather and all-inclusive reef resorts during the winter.

When youngsters from a nearby school for disabled children visited his old Halloween store in Indianapolis, Don Surenkamp happily walked and wheeled them through the aisles and explained the holiday's traditions. After he relocated to Florida, Don remember those children and created a handicap-accessible haunted house whose proceeds support The Angelus, a group home for cerebral palsy, reports the Tampa Bay Times. What began with a dozen spooky rooms now lures intrepid guests with 25 rooms occupied by skeletons and demons. Spines continue tingling on a haunted hayride down a 1-mile haunted trail and through the outdoor pirated-themed haunt, which includes a spooky 40-foot pirate ship. Don lets the fainter hearted pass through until 8 p.m. with glow sticks in hand to keep away scary monsters, pirates, and photocopies of failed spelling quizzes.

The Show Palace Dinner Theatre piles plates high with cuisine from an endless buffet and salad bar while also sating cravings for entertainment. Their productions range from musical revues such as Swing! and New York Nights to more traditional musicals like The Sound of Music. Prior to the show, audiences mingle at a brief cocktail reception before taking their seats at linen-draped tables. A spread of comfort food fills stomachs with the fuel necessary to give a standing ovation, shout for encores, and scream at pet falcons to get down from the rafters.

The roar of falling pins, the sight of fist-bumping teammates, the aroma of bubbling pizzas. These stimuli greet the senses of visitors crossing the threshold into Mariner Lanes. A haven for family fun, the alley has all the necessary equipment to provide hours of bonding, including soda and snacks, arcade games, and bowling leagues.

Stretching across two of the vessel's three decks, Sun Cruz Port Richey Casino offers its visitors something other casinos can't—stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. Aboard the flotilla, game lovers square off against more than 325 slot machines as the calm waters carry them along on a smooth jaunt. After a spirited round of roulette, gamblers can gambol around the decks for roulette and craps, or consult pods of dolphins for advice on winning three-card poker.

When Brian McInerney reflects on the humble beginnings of Wheel Fun Rentals, he points to his childhood passion for bikes. "As far back as I can remember, I had a real love affair with bicycles," he recalls. During a trip to Italy in 1987, Brian's affinity for cycling blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when he spotted locals' transporter of choice, the surrey. Inspired, he began importing the Italian four-wheelers to a rental business in the U.S. that eventually expanded into Wheel Fun Rentals, now a nationwide web of shops that also loans out bikes, electric cars and mopeds, and man-powered watercraft. Adventuresome athletes can also compete in activities such as surrey scavenger hunts and blindfold obstacle courses navigated via shouted instructions from a seeing teammate or exceptionally long rounds of trial and error.