Things To Do In Monroe

As a boy, Aerowood Aviation president Roger Wood idolized planes, trading labor for rides at his local airport. After his first ultralight flight in a muddy cow pasture at age 13, he was hooked. He eventually sought out his pilot license and bought his own Cessna. Roger now shares his passion and 3,800+ hours of flight experience with aspiring pilots looking to achieve their own childhood dreams. Students work toward a sport or private flight certification by burrowing their way through a syllabus in aerodynamics and a structured training program. A staff of seasoned pilots lead each ascent above the horizon line, while certified pilots can rent aircraft at an hourly rate.

Happy Hills Alpaca Farm celebrates all aspects of the furry alpaca, from its fleece to its general cuteness. The farm serves as a one-stop shop for people looking to purchase alpacas, pick up hypoallergenic alpaca-fleece socks or scarves, or simply watch and feed the animals. The farm holds regular events to better acquaint the public with these useful creatures, whose warm, soft, and durable coats form the basis of jewelry and clothing including baby products. Tours provide a close-up view of the alpacas and the fleece-spinning process, so visitors can learn more about sustainable farming.

James Pugliese founded Better Golf Academy with a straightforward premise: simplify the golf swing for children of all ages. This approach, he knew, would help to grow the game, not only allowing current junior golfers to more thoroughly enjoy it, but also helping beginning youngsters stick with it through the inevitable frustrations. Through an array of lessons and multiday camps, the academy teaches young clubbers the entire game of golf, from proper full swing mechanics to short-game practice to proper etiquette and safety. Students will be tested for both strengths and weaknesses in their games, and prescribed drills and practice techniques to help them shore up those areas in need of attention.

The sound of feet slapping on the padded ground and little voices twisted by constant motion fill Xtreme Play. Jeff and Julie Austin, owners of the play center, have five children, so they are familiar with the busy chorus. The duo and its staff are also well prepared to keep an eye on youngsters as they bounce from inflatable obstacles or squeal down slides. At a miniature arcade, small hands grab Wii and PlayStation controllers, simulating adventures through castles and the civil-service tests to become a castle inspector. The babble of special events drifts from private party rooms, where pizzas fuel fetes.

Turn & Burn Lacrosse’s coterie of former and current collegiate lacrosse players and coaches lavishes hard-won lax learnings onto pupils of all skill levels during training clinics and league play. During the clinic, trainees can marinate raw skills in a two-hour medley of position-based instruction, with particular attention to proper techniques, fundamental play, and safely liberating butterflies from stick nets. The clinic, open to players of all abilities, includes a Turn & Burn T-shirt and sticker. Alternately, league play fosters the development of junior lacrosse lovers with weekly 90-minute sessions that combine skill drills, positional strategies, and live games. Grouped by age and ability, stick wielders can reap the fruits of valuable, expert-led practice in an encouraging environment that emphasizes on-field skills such as shooting, passing, and defense, as well as a commitment to lacrosse's time-honored traditions of good sportsmanship, character, and intimidating shoulder-pad graphics.

At Curves, exercisers of all fitness levels move around a circuit of hydraulic-resistance machines that have been designed to work with women's bodies and promote weight loss, protect against osteoporosis, and deal with arthritis. An experienced trainer is always nearby to help manage machine-maneuvering and muscle making. Instead of fiddling with weight stacks, filling medicine balls with medicine, and losing your momentum, the hydraulic machines account for different body weights and fitness levels to create resistance that matches one's abilities, which thereby decreases the risk of soreness or injury. Because traditional lift-and-lower motions create bulky muscles, each machine uses push-and-pull motions to create toned, lean muscles perfect for crushing a grapefruit without looking like you can.