Things to Do in Rancho Cordova

Upon arrival at Alpha Fired Arts, commence the creative process by selecting a ceramic bisque piece from the studio's extensive collection of ready-to-paint artifacts, including plates, platters, cookie jars, and flower pots perfect for storing secret cookies. Next, dig into the depths of your thinker to come up with a design, sketch it out with pencil, and select your glaze colors. If your creativity gets hit with a ceramic block, draw on Alpha's collection of stamps and stencils for inspiration as you craft your masterpiece. When you've finished applying pigment, leave your work behind for a final firing in the kiln. After applying the first part of this Groupon to Alpha Fired Arts' studio fee ($9/adults, $7/kids), which includes the use of brushes, underglaze colors, stamps, and stencils, you can use the remaining value toward up to two ready-to-paint bisque pieces (many cost $5–$20).

RPM Indoor Kart Racing indulges a driver's need for speed with two connectable indoor racecourses, refereed by staff members during high-octane heats. After stepping into the spacious lobby with high ceilings and a two-story window overlooking the track, adult drivers slap down a valid driver's license and sign a liability form in exchange for a racing suit and helmet. Once suited up, they climb into a 9-horsepower race kart that reaches speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, roughly the speed of an ostrich riding a moped.

The raceway's two sweeping thoroughfares—the Monster Energy Track and the Unbound Energy Track—send amateur IndyCar drivers zooming around adrenaline-filled turns. On Mondays, the two courses unfurl into one gargantuan raceway—the Lost Big Gun Track. Races include sprint and grand prix competitions with 8–10 racers, or Hot Laps that pit drivers against the clock, which despite one hand being smaller than the other, is actually a pretty good driver.

Guaranteeing maximum safety, referees keep their eagle eyes peeled during every race to enforce the courses' rules of the road. After heated competitions, former enemies bury the hatchet and become lifelong frenemies over refreshments in the Skybox, a windowed lounge that overlooks the tracks.

Fright Planet's outdoor theme park acts as a library of the world's most potent phobias. Every year, cast members reimagines its catalog of haunted environs, crafting new sets, props, and characters to prey on guests. Its dedication to genuine scares calls for only the best actors and the most grisly scenery, which is constructed with the help of a former Disneyland artist and a bulldozer possessed by the soul of a 1700s architect.

The 2012 lineup has expanded to include nine attractions—up from last year’s five—in addition to the ScreamMax 3-D movie theater. Though the houses all have distinct themes and decor, they share two factors: a richly painted backstory and a population of live, ghoulish denizens. Staring toys line the shelves at Höbart's Doll Factory, 3-D visuals bring corpses to life in Dead Man's Lagoon, and cornstalks bear bloodstains on Podunk Farms. Other experiences play on claustrophobic fears—Blackout! fills its ghostly halls with complete darkness, and Buried Alive: The Ride shuts patrons into a coffin where they endure a simulated hearse ride, burial, and the chilling sound of worms calling dibs on their body parts.

Mike Johnson started at Dolphin Scuba Center & Swim School as an entry-level staffer but soon turned his lifelong passion for water into a promising career. Quickly, he became the manager and, at the tender age of 21, the owner of the store—a water-exploration supplier originally founded as a swim school almost 40 years ago.

Today, the PADI five-star facility boasts one of the largest selections of underwater gear in North America, including top brands of scuba, swimming, and snorkeling equipment. Johnson and his team still offer private, one-on-one swimming lessons with certified lifeguard instructors but have branched out into scuba classes. Introductory courses work their way up to professional-level training, all within a pool heated to 92 degrees—the exact temperature of the president’s nightly bath. Students can even test out their newfound skills during scuba-diving trips to the likes of Mexico, the Philippines, and Fiji.

In 1997, Dave Haness and his team didn’t want to just add a laser arena to Country Club Lanes as a way to cash in on a fad. They wanted to make the best facility possible, so they went on a cross-country road trip to see some of the best facilities in the country and find out how they ticked, beeped, whirred, and sounded klaxons before alien assaults. They made it all the way to Buffalo, New York, and back, and now, their 3,500-square-foot laser-tag complex stands as a testament to their work. Within this multitiered arena, no player is too young, as long as they can wear the lightweight combat vest comfortably. Green laser beams pierce the low-hanging fog and ricochet off mirrored walls in the black-lit room as squads face off in 20-minute games. Each matchup begins with a quick orientation before sharpshooters head in, and music pumped through speakers provides a powerful, driving beat that inspires players to move faster, shoot quicker, and confound their opponents by stopping to do the cha-cha.

Colorful lights glide across the glossy floor at The Rink alongside the spinning wheels of roller skates and roller blades. To set the pace, the DJ at The Rink spins upbeat hits, often selecting tunes from a specific era, such as dance pop from the 1980's or Russian turbo-folk from the 1880's. When not skating, guests can refuel with nachos, pizza, and popcorn at the snack bar, or embark on virtual adventures in the video arcade. Several of the games reward winners with tickets, which can be traded in at the prize counter for toys, bracelets, and novelties.