Things To Do In Peru

A public course complete with tree-lined fairways and pristine greens, Hunter’s Ridge Golf Course challenges paired players with a set of 18 holes as well-rounded as the dimpled spheres that speckle its ridges. Captain your cart over an expansive range of well-manicured landscapes dotted with majestic woodlands and enough sand and water hazards to evoke a horror-movie set at an island resort. This par 72 course strikes an exceptionally balanced level of difficulty, appealing to seasoned swingers as well as active younger players with freshly acquired driver's licenses.

Dirt Runner races don't just challenge athletes—they push them to their limits. Set on rough terrain with a more than 1,200-foot change in elevation, the roughly 5K course is rife with agility and strength-testing obstacles. Those range from complex military-style structures to towering fences that require scaling. After completing the course, participants unwind at post-race festivities with food and music.

Joe Montalto was riding high after his first-place finish in the Illinois state wakeboarding championship. It was one step away from national recognition and sponsorship, and he hit the water hard to prepare. Joe was mastering a front flip 180 when he missed the wake and landed in the flat water, tearing his ACL and ending any chance he had at competing professionally. After such a career-altering accident, no one would have blamed him for leaving the sport, but he defied expectation. After years of rehabilitation with his wakeboard, Joe still rides the water regularly and spends each summer inducting new riders into the sport he loves with his company, Ride Lab Wakeboard School. He and his cousin, Cody Jarosch, lead groups onto the water to catch their first jump inside the wake. He also coaches competitive boarders for more serious competition, hosts summer camps, coaches collegiate clubs in between private lessons, and demos Ronix gear for anyone. In addition to his wakeboard lessons, Joe designs clothing bearing Ride Lab's insignia and shoots and edits film for his riders.

Located on the shores of the Fox River, Fox Paintball has numerous fields suited for chromatic combat, along with a fully stocked pro shop. The Stonehenge field is comprised of a wooded area marked with ancient-styled barriers—ideal for both close exchanges and long shots—and is inhabited by a druid who officiates each match. The new Gauntlet field puts players among wrecked cars, a trench, sandbag bunkers, and a makeshift "power plant" building. Bunkers and two-story structures dot the other woods fields, and geometric inflatables provide protection from pigment projectiles and low-flying pigeons on the regulation XBall! field. Offering a respite between operations, the pro shop and concessions booth are stocked with eats, drinks, markers, and equipment by makers such as Empire, Tippmann, and Kingman. The park plays host to numerous tournaments and scenario games throughout the year.

Designed in 1926 by Leonard MaComber, the nine holes of Cedardell Golf Club's par 70 course sit among lush, tree-lined fairways and well-kept greens. On weekdays (a $24 value/person with cart) or weekends (a $27 value/person with cart), golfers can sail their carts over fresh-cut fairways, following the fair winds that guide voyagers to their wayward shots, then playfully toss successive attempts straight into the sun. After playing a round, golfers can realize the peerless putts and crisp chips of their dreams on the course's practice green. Two players can use one Groupon per round, or groups of four can use two.

It was love at first sight between antique dealer Chuck Springob and a bench he found at the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington. But as the Daily Herald reports, it also turned out to be love at first sight between Chuck and the bench’s owner, Mary. Now married, the Springobs furnish their five-bedroom two-story home with antiques from their combined eight storage units; the remaining stock fills their backyard barn.

Along with fellow enthusiast Maureen Little, the couple shares its passion for antiques with Sunday at Sandwich Antiques, held at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. From May to October, dealers from four states gather one Sunday each month to sell their collectibles and crafts at an all-day festival with food and free parking.