Things to Do in Martinsville

Located in the beating heart of Brown County, Indiana, the Copperhead Creek Gem Mine and Rock Shop puts wannabe gem hoarders in the scraggly bearded prospector’s seat with buckets of mining rough to sift through using an old-fashioned water sluice. A guaranteed bounty of lauded geological finds, such as gemstones, arrowheads, and vitamin C tablets, comprises the 2-gallon buckets, a mixture gathered from more than 12 mines. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday–Saturday, diggers can match a bonanza of earthbound treasures to their names and histories with the stone-identifying information card grasped in their obsidian-flecked fingers. A crackable geode rewards patient panners with a sparkly and hypnotic center, perfect as the shiny crown jewel of an amateur geologist's rock collection or for pawning off as currency to gullible aliens in return for a case of their exotic freeze-dried ice cream.

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.

Hi-Way Lanes hosts pin-striking battles on 28 polished alleys equipped with automatic scoring and on-demand bumper gutters—this is the core of its business, but not its only allure. On Friday and Saturday nights, Hi-Way Lanes activates the black lights and cranks up the tunes for cosmic bowling, a late-night activity that pairs well with cold concoctions from the Hi-Way Sports Bar. Dart tournaments held Wednesday and Friday evenings can preview grudge matches at the indoor arcade, on the outdoor miniature-golf course, or for tire-changing races in the parking lot. A full-service pro shop purveys bowling balls, bags, and shoes, ensuring guests can partake in the full splendor of Hi-Way Lanes' allure.