Things to Do in Martinsville

Where prospectors once used the running waters of a river to search their hauls for gems and gold, Copperhead Creek Gem Mining Company employs a winding wooden sluice. Deputized geologists shovel scoops of raw material sourced from 12 mines into wire mesh sifters, allowing the current to carry off the dirt and reveal the colorful stones that lie within. The company also offers bags of mining rough that are likely to contain fossils and arrowheads, along with geodes that visitors can crack at home by using a hammer or throwing them really hard against a tree.

BounceSpot's pint-sized citizens romp through a colorful panorama of inflatable entertainment. With feet clad in socks or stuffed into willing sock puppets, kids can frolic through a labyrinth of inflatable moonwalks, slides, and obstacle courses. At the end of each day, the BounceSpot staff sanitizes every inch of the inflatable obstacle courses and ticket-arcade machines that span the 11,000-square-foot play space. These meticulous scrub-downs are part of BounceSpot’s policy to foster a safe, cheerful environment. Staffers also supervise bounce houses to ensure kids play gently and haven’t smuggled in performance-enhancing pogo sticks.

As kids clamber across colorful inflatables, parents can lounge at nearby tables and cruise complimentary WiFi or stop by the concession stand for pizza and ice cream.

At All Fired Up!, swirling murals of flowers and vines flow across lavender walls, and animal-print tablecloths cover long work tables. This cheerful backdrop makes the pale, unadorned plates, bowls, and vases lining the shop walls stand out in stark contrast. Fortunately, expert potters empower artists of all ages and skill levels to enliven these blank canvases, providing them not only with stamps, stickers, stencils, and paints, but with idea books and helpful tips. Once painters have added the last brushstroke, All Fired Up!’s potters whisk finished masterpieces away to the shop’s kiln where they'll fire and glaze them, just like Donald Trump does to dissidents on his resident staff of Pillsbury doughboys. If patrons can’t drop in to retrieve their wares in one week’s time, staff members can carefully pack them up and ship them at a flat rate across the country.

There's something in the air in downtown Lafayette. Not the aromatic pheromones of trees trying to send mankind a message, but rather, the energy generated by scores of revelers. This is Dancing in the Streets, a festival that fills roadways with three separate stages boasting country, indie-rock, blues, and swing performances. As the night stretches on, youngsters can take to the kids' corner to partake of rides, moonwalks, and activities. Guests of all ages snack on portable eats while enjoying dancing and DJ-spun tunes, and a 45-minute cruise parade shows off classic cars and freshly polished roller skates.

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.