Things to Do in Lebanon

Twenty-five-year-old Jamie Stevenson has been working her entire life toward making horses the focus of her career. When she was just knee-high to a pony’s tail, Jamie started saving her pennies inside her "horse money box." Though this fund never got big enough to help Jamie buy her own horse, she was eventually able to achieve this goal and more thanks to the engineering degree she earned at Purdue University. Jamie’s day job as an operations process engineer bankrolls her equine interests and makes it possible for her to maintain the riding facility where she first learned how to ride—and where she met the four-legged love of her life. Today, Jamie and her trusty sidekick, Dart, help riders of all ages and abilities overcome their fears, fine-tune their riding techniques, and succeed in riding competitions.

Sunshine Party Charters takes the stress out of organizing a day on the water by providing luxurious boats and qualified captains for tours throughout the greater Indianapolis area. After showing up at the marina, boaters can kick back on the deck, working on tans or impishly trying to reflect light back in the sun's eyes as the captain tools around the lake or ferries passengers to distant destinations.

One quarter-inch of armor plating divides the six lanes at Family Indoor Shooting Range, where bullets fly down 48-inch-deep panels toward targets in a temperature-controlled range with a three-stage air-filtration system. At the 3,000-square-foot pro shop, staffers hawk new and used firearms and outfit patrons with accessories such as ammo, holsters, cleaning kits, and scopes. Along with practice time on the range and gear, instructors assist students in mastering firearm basics during 60- to 90-minute range lessons, which are available after pupils complete an online-training course.

Sharon Owens lowers the bulb of an ornament into the sharp blue flame of her workstation’s torch, heating the glass until it glows a vibrant yellow. Applying the skills she learned in her schooling at Purdue University, her three-year apprenticeship, and her studies with a host of artisan glassworkers, she presses her mouth to the piece’s hollow stem. Whatever shape it will take, only she knows.

This scene has been a regular occurrence at Inspired Fire since 2002, when Sharon founded her studio in her hometown of Lafayette. The workshop is equipped for all manners of projects, including 4 kilns, 12 torches, and, most importantly, air conditioning. The shop’s staff oversees classes for beginners and advanced glassworkers, as well as offering the space for crafters unable to find the “glass” setting on their microwaves.

After donning absurd costumes and slathering on ample amounts of wet earth, runners at the 5K Disaster Dash take on an exhilarating series of mud-slickened obstacles. Waves of runners are released onto the course every 30 minutes to dance between spare tires, slide down mudslides, and crawl through mud bogs. Climbing walls, rope ladders, and balance beams also await, intimidating runners with treacherous names including Tornado Alley, Crater Climb, and Hail Storm. After making it through the course, runners enjoy a post-race party with beer, food, and music at the Survivor's Saloon.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, whose volunteers often rush through harsh, dirty conditions of their own to deliver food, clothing, shelter, and comfort to those in need.

Whether it be the sophistication exuded by traditional, sleek, black limo or the idiosyncrasy advertised by the original Indy chicken limo, Circle City Transportation's vehicles make statements about the passengers riding inside them. The latter—ideal for a ride on the town that's guaranteed to turn heads—slides down the street with a fierce-looking fowl perched on the roof, glowering with electrified eyes from under a wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Tail plumage peeks out of the back half of the vehicle to threaten potential tailgaters with the laying of an enormous egg. Drivers ensure guests make an indelible statement when arriving at prom, a concert, or an elegant dinner reservation. Circle City Transportation also offers traditional limo rentals, chartering sleek land submarines for a girls' night out, bachelorette party, or excursion to an elegant ball benefitting tofu-awareness.