Things to Do in Olathe

Zonkers enchants youngsters and guardians alike with its gargantuan indoor amusement park and arcade. Rides abound, including the Python Pit roller coaster and the Banana Squadron—a fleet of small, controllable planes in the shape of bananas, just like Pan Am’s aircraft in the 1970s. The bustling activity center makes a fun destination for field trips and birthday parties.

In 1988, potter Michael Smith invited a small group of peers to his home to share ideas and further explore the art of clay manipulation. After just a few meetings, the group quickly grew to include around 70 craftspeople, who started meeting at the Kansas City Art Institute instead of inside Smith's giant conch shell. These regular get-togethers laid the groundwork for the initial incarnation of KC Clay Guild, a place where artists could socialize, buy materials in bulk, and learn from one another.

Now, the volunteer-run co-op is even larger. It occupies its own facility and has vastly expanded the number of services it provides. Amidst the changes, KC Clay Guild has remained true to its initial goals, guided by a mission statement to support the clay community. Artists of all skill levels enroll in classes that cover an array of techniques, such as wheel throwing, hand building, and slip casting. Members take part in regular meetings, open-studio time, and monthly shows, and visiting artists stop by to lead workshops and repair their ceramic automobiles. The guild even offers a scholarship to high-school seniors and hosts birthday parties, team-building exercises, and family-fun nights for casual potters.

Overland Park Racquet Club lets members play tennis year-round with 14 courts inside a climate-controlled facility and eight out in the sun. A staff of experienced instructors—including former collegians and top-ranked amateur players—imparts skills and fundamentals during clinics, lessons, and Quickstart programs, which feature a scaled-down version of tennis for racketeers younger than 10. Off the courts, the club offers a full set of amenities including a fitness room, full-service restaurant and bar, and Olympic-sized outdoor pool where you can test out the buoyancy of your new suit sewn from tennis balls.

During birthday parties at Pump It Up of Shawnee Mission, a white T-shirt is more than a fashion staple—it’s a beacon of light. The indoor play center, outfitted with bounce houses and inflatable slides, switches on LED lighting and black lights during its Glo in the Dark parties, turning outfits luminous without the hassle of a chandelier necklace. Customizable birthday parties can also adhere to pirate or superhero themes. Alternatively, sock-clad youngsters can bounce on the inflatables during open-play sessions, supervised by trained staffers and safeguarded by rigorous safety and cleanliness regulations.

At Brazil Academy, Ninja Pinto fulfills his lifelong dream of bringing the martial arts capoeira and jujitsu to American audiences from his native Brazil, where he spent his formative years training in these fighting techniques. Now a contra-mestre with more than a decade of teaching experience, Ninja leads instructors who, in addition to martial arts, guide groups of all ages and fitness levels through foot-spicing Latin dances, yoga, and cardio workouts. Students in need of more focused attention can opt for private lessons, during which instructors teach skills and fitness techniques on a one-on-one basis.

Founded in 1994, Hickory Creek Ranch immerses riders and horses in an idyllic natural landscape, further solidifying the bond between man and animal on the trails and pastures. During trail rides, visitors set off across more than 40 acres of grassy pasture in the early morning or early evening—the time when the sun streaks brilliant colors across the sky, fauna roam the woods, and horses won't miss their favorite mounted-police show, CLOPS. After setting out, steeds meander through regions of dense forest home to wild flowers and trees as well as blue heron, red-tailed hawks, and wild turkey. Along the route, white-tailed deer may even bound across the fields as frogs croak improvised jazz melodies at the pond.

Back at the ranch, students of all experience levels learn horsemanship or improve their skills with private and group lessons or summer camps. Collectively, the trainers and instructors at Hickory Creek have amassed more than 30 years of teaching, showing, and breeding experience—a pedigree that has spawned numerous regional and national champions from past protégés.