Things To Do in New Baltimore

As the sun rises and sets on the shore of Lake St. Clair, it illuminates a historic mansion surrounded by 87 acres of gardens, meadows, and lagoons. The light catches the elm and sugar maple trees, blue lilacs, and other local florae, treating guests to the same idyllic views that Edsel Ford—the only son of Henry Ford—used to enjoy with his wife, Eleanor Clay Ford, and their children. Built in 1929 and now open to the general public, this historic house and its surrounding grounds give visitors a glimpse into the everyday lives of one of America's most prominent families.

Edsel and Eleanor Ford were renowned for their progressive design tastes and support of the arts, and these forward-thinking sensibilities are readily apparent throughout their Gaukler Point home. Detroit architect Albert Kahn chose to characterize it as a cozy escape from city life by recreating the aesthetic of a Cotswold village cottage, complete with stone roofs, vine-covered walls, and lead-paned windows. But the Ford's decidedly modern style is still visible—for every antique and stuffed and mounted Model T, guests can also spot the sleek, custom-made furnishings and leather-paneled walls recommended by interior designer Walter Teague. The acres outside those walls were shaped with equal care by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, who chose to accentuate the area's natural beauty without giving any indication of manmade interference.

Of course, the Ford House would be incomplete without the invention that made the Ford name—the automobile. Reflecting that legacy and Edsel's own passion for designing vehicles, the garage houses a 1934 Brewster Town Car, a 1938 Lincoln K Brunn Brougham, and a 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet, each of which was customized to Edsel's specifications. The crown jewel of the exhibited collection—when it is not being displayed at car shows and museums across the country—is Edsel's treasured 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster, a vehicle that he personally spent years conceptualizing and then refining into a sleek, aluminum-bodied roadster.

After a briefing and ammo check in the armory, players storm the field to fight through the fog, black lights, and pylons of the laser-tag arena during 20-minute sessions. The arcade gathers 140 different games under the same roof, ranging from basketball and big bass to skee-ball and a claw machine that dispenses love. Games dispense tickets that can be redeemed for prizes, including stuffed TV characters and games.

Initially conceived of in 1987 as a way for an avid paintball player and his friends to acquire discounted merchandise, Lone Wolf Paintball swiftly evolved into a multi-location business throughout Michigan. One year after opening, Bristol Apple Orchard in Almont accommodated the budding business with its first playing field. These days, Mount Clemens' Lone Wolf East locale serves as home to six fields spread across more than 40 acres of varied terrain. The field's designers make it possible for players to blast at opponents hiding behind inflatables, dive behind barrels or wooden spools to escape enemy fire, or find shelter atop a two-level structure deep in the woods. Referees ensure that each player competes safely in scenarios such as Capture the Flag and Return the Flag to Avoid Library Fines.

A nonprofit organization, Midwest Freefall Sport Parachute Club aims to instill a love for skydiving in each person who steps into its 17-place Jet-Prop Cessna Grand Caravan, which elevates jumpers to more than 13,000 feet above the southeast Michigan countryside. Tandem jumps allow thrill-seekers to harvest cotton candy from clouds as seasoned instructors take care of dive essentials, including parachute deployment. For those who want to learn more, seven levels of free-fall training transform novices into experienced jumpers who can take solo dives. Before their second jump, skydivers become members of Midwest's club, which hosts social gatherings that debate the merits of traveling down stairs by parachute. Midwest Freefall Sport Parachute Club embraces the standards and procedures established by the United States Parachute Association to help ensure safety during all of its dives.

An award-winning special-event venue, Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters ushers guests across the waters of Lake St. Clair aboard the 138-foot, three-decked Ovation yacht. At 7 p.m., partiers climb onto the watercraft to enjoy a menu of gourmet edibles and DJ-spun sounds. As eyes feast on the bobbing Detroit skyline and watch the orange sky drench ripply waters in its juicy rays, stomachs stuff themselves with an array of edibles and two complimentary drinks, with more available from a full-service cash bar. Engage in friendly dinner conversation while relaxing on the ship’s imported Italian furniture, or devise a plan with friends to stage a UFO hoax with life preservers. After dinner, cruisers are invited to kick off their sea legs and engage in hearty fun-having at the no-cover, no-line after-party on the boat’s very own dance floor, accommodating numerous dancers or a few big, red Clifford dogs.

The collection of ramps and half pipes inside Landslide Skate Park's 22,000-square-foot indoor skate facility offers a year-round haven for skaters of all skill levels. During private, group, or open-skate lessons, students master the nuances of kick-flips as experienced skaters demonstrate tricks and retired skateboards deliver instructive lectures. The park's foam pit provides a soft, cushy landing for skaters to practice aerial maneuvers without fear of injury, and a slew of private party rooms, flush with snacks and foosball, host birthday celebrations. Serious skaters can purchase top-of-the-line gear and apparel from brands such as Zero, Habitat, and Alien Workshop in the pro shop, or invest in a park membership for discounted access to the park and lessons without having to disguise yourself as Tony Hawk's legal guardian.