Things To Do In Lansdale

Sportations connects amateur adrenaline jockeys to certified professional adventurers, drawing from a nationwide network of aeronauts and speed demons to introduce habitual pedestrians to the wonders of skydiving, ballooning, hang gliding, and stock-car racing. Thrill seekers can zipline across a forest canopy, hollering like Tarzan or taunting nearby birds until they agree to race. Helicopter tours ferry patrons skyward over landmarks and cityscapes, whereas paragliding adventures get up close and personal with blue skies and clouds. For most sports, Sportations accommodates groups of any size, from physics classes empirically proving gravity's existence to solo ballooning supervillains declaring dominion over all they see.

Attracting more than 170,000 art enthusiasts to its events in 2011, the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival showcases original work from hundreds of artisans showcasing everything from handcrafted pottery, sculpture, and metalwork to jewelry, fashion, décor, and photography. Audiences can witness art being made live during educational demonstrations as artisans sculpt clay, whittle wood, forge metals, and imbue baskets with the power of speech. Hungry crafters can also sniff out specialty food items to sample or purchase while dancing across the sprawling venue to live music.

Marsh Creek Lake, lined with verdant shores and rolling hills, bobs with fishing boats, kayaks, sailboats, and windsurfing boards. About 535 acres of azure waters bejewel the surrounding 1,705 acres of hiking trails and picnic areas. Throughout the day, Marsh Creek Watersports leads one-hour pontoon-boat excursions that take guests through a history lesson of the park and surrounding region, leaving time for peaceful moments spent gazing at the natural wildlife. During the summer months, Marsh Creek also hosts kids' sailing camps to acquaint young ones with the techniques and safe practices of aquatic navigation, such as defending against Peter Pan attacks.

Going against convention, the staff of Skydive Collegeville prioritize first-time jumpers over established divers. That's because their main focus is giving novices the best possible introduction to the sport, providing a laid-back atmosphere free from pressure or intimidation. During introductory lessons, their male and female certified tandem instructors walk clients through the basics of their jump on land before taking to the sky. Once they're harnessed into their parachute, the student and teacher duo both leap out of a plane for an exhilarating tandem free-fall, achieving speeds of up to 120 mph before leisurely drifting back to earth over suburban Collegeville. Guests can also request a record of their descent, which can be filmed with a camera on the instructor's wrist or captured by a videographer who skydives while simultaneously sitting in a director's chair.

What does it take to bring a 78,000-square-foot, climate-controlled, multi-sport recreational facility to fruition? The BucksMont Indoor Sports Center began with three sports-loving clans fueled by a desire to provide local athletes of all ages and skill levels a place to get their game on no matter the season. They devoted years of their time to researching, planning, and constructing a safe and comfortable facility that's open year-round.

Beyond being easily accessible, the center features the industry’s newest and safest playing surfaces, including turf that emulates real grass. Here, youth and adult leagues meet to play everything from flag football to street-style hockey. After rousing games of soccer or basketball, players can replenish energy stores with a health-conscious meal at Overtime Grill, which boasts 20 LCD TVs.

A tennis lesson is only as helpful as its instructor. Thankfully, Doylestown Tennis Club has a veteran staff of certified USPTA pros on hand to coach players of all experience levels. The club features eight indoor courts and four outdoor courts that are put to use during friendly games and competitive league matches, as well as a host of other amenities including a lounge, clubhouse, kitchen, nursery, and locker rooms.