Muncie, IN Outdoor Activities

When Brian McInerney reflects on the humble beginnings of Wheel Fun Rentals, he points to his childhood passion for bikes. "As far back as I can remember, I had a real love affair with bicycles," he recalls. During a trip to Italy in 1987, Brian's affinity for cycling blossomed into a full-fledged obsession when he spotted locals' transporter of choice, the surrey. Inspired, he began importing the Italian four-wheelers to a rental business in the U.S. that eventually expanded into Wheel Fun Rentals, now a nationwide web of shops that also loans out bikes, electric cars and mopeds, and man-powered watercraft.

Atop bicycles and surreys built for solo riders or entire families, patrons embark on self-guided tours of major U.S. cities. Led by maps and lists of nearby sites of historical or cultural significance, riders zoom down bike paths and safe, lightly trafficked streets. Adventuresome athletes can also compete in activities such as surrey scavenger hunts.

Under the guidance of founder Chad Fath, the licensed helicopter pilots and instructors at Higher Ground Helicopters take visitors on scenic 'copter rides above the city as well as train students to become full-fledged pilots. Flight training lessons take place in the evenings to accommodate busy adult schedules, with the goal of turning inexperienced students into certified professionals within 10 to 18 months. For guests on the fence about flying, Higher Ground offers hands-on demos, which consist of 30 minutes of ground training, 30 minutes of piloting in the air, and 30 minutes of watching The A-Team reruns. For guests who simply wish to enjoy the scenery, Higher Ground's expert pilots host scenic tours that showcase the Cincinnati skyline.

As a youth inseparable from his BMX bike, Scott Dunwoody dreamed of opening his own bike shop. Later, after honing his mechanic skills on his frat brothers’ bikes and later at local bike centers, Dunwoody opened DG Bicycles in 2009, the result of his longtime passion and childhood dream coming together.

Rather than forcing riders and bicycle renters to approach the shop from the open road with its blindfolded drivers, the shop nestles next to the Monon Bike Trail, which provides a scenic path for cyclists and other outdoorsmen to enjoy. The shop's wares fit many cyclists' passions, and Dunwoody showcases bikes and frames from brands such as Rocky Mountain Bicycles and 2Hip Bikes, and styles ranging from mountain to commuter. With a full line of gear, parts, and accessories, the shop's stock complements the diverse frame styles that come in, which are tended to by experienced bike mechanics who can fix two-wheelers or advise prospective buyers on a cycle that meets their needs. The crew supplies a fleet of rental adult, child, and tandem cycles for short-term jaunts, and also stocks inline skates and parts.:m]]

Plopped in downtown Indianapolis across from the Indiana Convention Center, Indiana/World Skating Academy fosters skills for winter sports on a pair of NHL-size rinks. I/WSA's coaches, whose instruction has helped produce regional, national, and world-class competitors, direct the facility's programs, including learn-to-skate courses designed for skaters with varying levels of experience. In addition to skating, the facility also offers private rink rentals as well as opportunities for speed skating, broomball, and adult hockey leagues. Off the ice, the academy offers less slippery activities, such as weight training, aerobics, jazz, and ballet. A rinkside deli open during public-skating hours keeps legs primed, and an onsite pro shop keeps equipment bags stuffed with the latest gear.

When drivers take to the track at Fastimes' Indoor Karting, they follow in the treads of professional racers such as Mario Andretti and Tony Stewart. Amateurs and visiting professionals alike race at up to 40 miles per hour on the 900-foot bi-level track, whose asphalt and epoxy-resin surface helps karts grip and make clean turns. Each of Fastimes' sleek Sodikarts is outfitted with roll bars and caution lights, which team up with seat belts and the facility's rentable helmets for optimum safety. Fastimes' onsite Italian deli, The Final Lap, bolsters drivers' strength with handmade pizzas and invites drivers to linger over beer and wine after the day's races are through.

Watch the Jaguars dribble, dunk, alley-oop, coup-fourre, shimmy-shammy, and Irish chowder. Today’s side deal gets you $7 tickets to an IUPUI men’s basketball game at Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers. See the Jags take on the Ohio Bobcats or catch one of the two conference games against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and in-state rival IPFW Mastodons. All tickets are for seats located in the lower-bowl, sideline-seating section and will be assigned at random. The Fieldhouse’s extra-wide special seating (20–22 inches wide or greater) is designed for optimal cheering, high-fiving, and close viewing of the action.