Things to Do in Nixa

Inside the more than 8,700 square feet of space, Jump Mania offers dual slides, obstacle courses, and a 31-foot tall basketball bounce house. Elsewhere, a toddler area enthralls little kids with age-appropriate attractions such as a farm-themed inflatable play area. Apart from inflatables, the facility houses a concession stand replete with snacks, beverages, National Geographic back issues, and free WiFi for parents. The staff also hosts birthday parties alongside open-jump sessions. Its soirees even earned Jump Mania a runner-up spot on 417 Magazine's 2011 list of Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party.

Despite his migraines, Obi Simpson's doctors finally cleared him to fulfill his lifelong dream and serve in the military. It was then he made a surprising discovery: ballroom dancing. His newfound passion outweighed his desire to suit up with the armed forces, and he was inspired to open Take The Lead. At his studio– which features a sprung floor, reducing the impact on joints and bones– Simpson blends relationships, confidence, fun, stress relief, and physical fitness to form his unique approach to a variety of styles such as country, Latin, and swing. He treats each session as a chance to connect with others, from custom choreography for altar-bound duos to group classes that implore students to dance until cows have returned home, emptied the recycling, and retired to bed.

Zip Line USA’s steel cables carve more than three miles of winding trails through Ozark Mountain treetops, all ripe for exploration by guests. Designed by the respected brains at Universal Zipline Technology, the ziplines soar higher than 350 feet in the air at some points—just high enough to make eye contact with low-flying spaceships—and are dissected into chunks as long as 3,250 feet. Between each section stands a sky bridge or platform, where guides securely hitch tourgoers to cables, which they inspect each morning. Patrons zoom through the open skies for up to two hours during the day or 90 minutes at night, when only the soft glow of lanterns beckons them to the next platform like a lightning-bug mother welcoming its family home at night.

Equipped with likenesses of military-issue firearms, masked marksmen maneuver throughout a 10,000-square-foot warehouse, pelting each another with plastic BBs as they strafe down halls and overtake rooms. This is the home base of So Go Airsoft, where team members welcome combatants of all skill levels into 20- to 25-minute games that range from classics such as Capture the Flag to scenario matches such as VIP Escort, Hostage Rescue, and Car-Key Find. The facility also organizes at least one scenario event each month—designed for beginners, but challenging for experienced players as well—plus a twice-monthly pistol and shotgun night. So Go Airsoft also engages large groups by opening up their spacious arena to private parties.