Things To Do in Poughkeepsie

The mirth-mages at The Sports Place blend mini golf, batting cages, basketball courts, inflatable playgrounds, and frozen treats into an eldritch brew of family-friendly fun. The GloPutt mini-golf course comes packed with motorized obstacles designed to light up the faces and giggleplexes of any child. Tiny Ted Williamses can test their mettle in one of 17 hardball and softball batting cages, while dribbling kings can preside over two full basketball courts. With no limit on the number of players, the entire family can partake in games of P.I.G., H.O.R.S.E., or B.L.U.E.-F.O.O.T.E.D. B.O.O.B.Y. Meanwhile, the inflatable playground, open Tuesday through Sunday, provides amateur acrobats with space to flip and tumble, dive down mega-slides, and scale slumbering dragons.

Celebrating its grand opening, the phosphorescent indoor landscape at Monster Mini Golf immerses putters in an eerie universe that inverts the sun-soaked cheer of conventional courses. 1Rimmed in glowing green barriers, 18 holes lure swingers of all sizes to challenge their coordination and resolve in the face of winged monsters, scowling animated trees, a creepy clown, and their opponents' shockingly dazzling smiles. Sheltered from searing rain and howling wind, the indoor course enables play around hazards such as a spell well and luminous, ghostly windmill at any time of the year. An in-house radio station and DJ mask the sound of pounding hearts with lively beats and course commentary, and golfers looking for additional glory can win prizes by participating in regular contests or at the onsite arcade (arcade games not covered by this Groupon).

Situated at the foot of the Ellenville Mountain site, Mountain Wings has readied students for safe, engine-free flying since 1981. A staff of USHPA-certified instructors shares much of its knowledge on the facility's two training hills—a grassy, gently sloped concave for beginners, and a 180-foot hill used by intermediate gliders and a handful of pretty insane paper-airplane competitors. Sprinting, stumbling, and hovering across those hills, groups practice with Condors—slow-flying, easy-to-handle training gliders that work in zero-wind zones. Upon ascending to greater heights and skill levels, students can also snag their own equipment at Mountain Wings' full-service aero-sports shop.

The two-level Pride of the Hudson rewards sightseers with glimpses of idyllic shorescapes lining the waters of the Hudson River during narrated tours. Gaze upon the lush silhouette of Storm King Mountain and the anachronistic battlements of Bannerman Island's Scottish castle as you heed the insightful tales of the region and vague warnings about red-colored suns. The two-hour cruise also ferries passengers past World's End, the river's deepest point, and the historic campus of West Point Academy. Though not included in today's Groupon, voyagers can visit the cash bar for a chilly libation before proceeding toward the open-air top and bow decks or the climate-controlled main deck, which offers panoramic views from wraparound windows. Tours take place throughout the week and, due to its enclosed main deck, the Pride of the Hudson will slosh on during inclement weather, through guests are free to bring umbrellas and cloudglasses to enjoy the elements.

A veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, NRA-certified instructor William Reed drew upon his experiences in the field to teach range safety and marksmanship to U.S. Army trainees at Fort Jackson. Now, along with fellow NRA-certified instructor Kyle Pritz—a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan—William imparts firearm handling and safely techniques to students of all skill sets at Connecticut Firearms Training.

The duo's primary class prepares students for their pistol permit application with one-on-one or small group sessions that cover subjects such as gun laws, loading and unloading, shooting fundamentals, and safe gun storage. Their other courses emphasize personal protection techniques including defensive shooting skills and strategies for avoiding dangerous confrontations, such as never leaving the attic. William and Kyle hold sessions at two locations, including Shooters Pistol Range, where students gain live fire experience in a climate-controlled, 12-station indoor facility whose automatic retrieval systems supports shooting between 12 and 50 feet.

In the past 40 years, the Southern Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut have seldom stood without an echo of laughter or music. That's because Woodbury Ski Area keeps them pulsing with skiers and snowboarders during winter months and warm-weather revelers and concertgoers throughout the summer. Tubing slides run down the hills throughout the summer, along with zorb balls—inflatable spheres that carry passengers to the bottom in 45 seconds.

Woodbury Ski Area's president Rod Taylor, who competed as a member of the U.S. Ski Team, maintains the facility with the same drive he used to become the national downhill ski champion and record holder for clearing 222 feet in the Glendale Jump contest. While helping to keep adrenaline levels high, Rod ensures the facility hosts more laid-back cultural events with concerts on the Woodbury stage. Past shows have featured legends including The Wailers, Fela Kuti, and UB40, as well as Muddy Waters, The Band, Bonnie Raitt, and Earl Scruggs.