Things to Do in Peoria

Though the name is new, the fundamentals remain unchanged at Octane Raceway. The roar of Honda GLX 270cc engines still rises to the rafters in a 113,000-square-foot indoor space as European Sodi RX7 go-karts reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour on the same two quarter-mile tracks that won four Best Go Kart Racing awards from the Phoenix New Times' under their former name. After a short safety briefing and proving their eligibility with a valid driver’s license and hip-hop interpretation of the Rules of the Road, racers don a head sock, full face helmet, and optional driving suit before jumping into their appointed vehicle for a 14- to 16-lap race against up to nine opponents. Surrounding television screens display each driver’s finishing place, and best and average lap time, which also appear online.

In addition to playing arcade games, billiards, and practicing drive-by high-fives on a Segway performance course, off-track activities include watching ongoing races from more than 40 TV screens at the Trackside Bar and Grill.

Though a pilot mans each of Hot Air Expeditions balloon flights, the excursions are really guided by Mother Nature. The colorful balloons simply follow the wind, hovering above the cacti and coyote that call the Sonoran desert home before gently climbing breezes to give passengers a full view of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Groups can take morning flights year-round or afternoon flights from November through March, both of which offer spectacular photo opportunities, as well as time-sensitive challenges to any still-life painters on board.

The mutable nature of the flights mean they last anywhere from 45–90 minutes, after which, passengers will enjoy sparkling beverages and catered snacks, such as pastries. Each guest is awarded an official flight certificate as a memento of their aerial journey before boarding a courtesy van that returns them to the launch point. Though the actual flights last up to 90 minutes, groups should allow up to four hours for the entire trip.

The ice rink at Arcadia Ice Arena invites bladed feet for a full calendar of public skate times, hockey leagues, and figure-skating lessons. For public skating sessions, skaters may bring their own skates or rent hockey or figure skates before carving figure eights and love notes to the zamboni into the ice. Beginners and Olympic hopefuls alike can improve their technique through the arena's Learn to Skate programs, complete with private or group lessons.

A flurry of paintballs whiz through the air, splattering their targets with brightly colored pigment. Players at Westworld Paintball Adventures explore either indoor or outdoor fields, where they can unleash a paintball-pelting fury, rain or shine. At Splatter Ranch’s outdoor enclave, paintballers find cover in gullies or clusters of shrubbery as majestic cacti stand guard a safe distance away. The field and on-site pro shop spread across 20 acres of terrain, which is peppered with a few buildings where players can duck into or play Rochambeau for decoy duty.

At the indoor arena, Xtreme Pursuit, players kick up clouds of dirt as they chase each other around a 33,000-square-foot facility and take shelter in bunkers and buildings amid specialized lighting, a sound system, and fog machines. The facility is air-conditioned and open year-round, with a pro shop supplying equipment to players.

John Flanders and Jeff Varner founded the Academy of Scuba to bring the magic of diving to the arid lands of the Southwest. They employ a team of PADI-certified instructors, who lead courses ranging from beginner and advanced open-water certification to more in-depth programs such as master diver, deep diver, underwater video and photography specialists, and professional shark imitator. Once certified, divers can stretch their new sea legs on diving excursions to exotic locales such as Belize, Mexico, and Bonaire through the academy’s partner and affiliate companies. Both of the Academy's locations rent, repair, and sell high-quality gear from reputable brands such as Sea Dive, Amphibious Outfitters, and H2Odyssey.

Owned by veteran coaches Julie and Dan Witenstein, Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics and Dance offers instruction in different types of kinesthetic coordination for beginning and intermediate performers age 6 months and up. Inside a 24,000-square-foot facility furnished with a range of equipment, students learn acrobatic fundamentals in a variety of gymnastics classes, 45–60 minutes each. Sessions range from the toddler-friendly Tumble Tots to the more advanced Dynamites, where pupils learn how to execute cartwheels while clutching sticks of TNT. Enroll budding Baryshnikovs in one of the studio's ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, or Broadway dance classes, and watch as they develop the twirling skills necessary to blend oversize smoothies. Check the schedule for a full list of course offerings. During Kids Night Out, parents drop their children off for an evening of supervised frolicking, freeing themselves for a night of relaxation and freely pronouncing the word D-E-N-T-I-S-T. Kids Night Out is for children age 3–13 and occurs on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 6–10 p.m. Children must be toilet trained.