Things to Do in South Portland

The karts at Maine Indoor Karting definitely aren’t of the amateur variety. The center maintains a fleet of European racing karts that balance the power of 200 CC, 6.5-hp Honda engines and wet clutch drive systems with the comfort of adjustable padded seats. Before climbing into these speed machines, adults must first attend safety briefings, suit up in provided uniforms, and strap on helmets. Drivers younger than 15 must complete an intensive safety course on how to steer safely, increase speed, and ramp over oncoming fruit carts. But all that prep proves to be worth it when drivers squeal out onto the newly renovated serpentine track and motion-blur their way through 1,200 feet of narrow stretches and sharp switchbacks.

The family-fun center also houses an indoor 18-hole miniature golf course and an arcade filled with video games. An on-site café serves casual fare such as hot-dogs, hand-made pizza, and root beer floats.

Inside a mint-green Victorian Home, the experienced artists at Artascope Studios share their expertise in various mediums with adults and teenagers of all skill levels. Throughout a schedule of workshops, instructors provide all the necessary supplies as they teach groups how to craft jewelry out of wire, beads, or metal, arrange glass bits into colorful mosaics, and use paint to expressively capture a mountain landscape's majesty or a urban wilderness's hidden Waldos. They also lead three-hour intensive Art Night Out sessions that focus on specific projects such as crocheting wire or setting a resin pendant. Through reservation, Artascope's experts can host private parties and one-on-one lessons.

At Glazey Days, shelves upon shelves of unembellished ceramic pieces await colorful brushstrokes to help them reach their aesthetic potential. The robust collection ranges from bowls, plates, and mugs to picture frames and vases. Free to follow their own creative instincts, the shop's visitors personalize and decorate chosen pieces using an arsenal of painting tools, such as stencils, brushes, and sponges. Afterward, the Glazey Days staff finalizes the process by firing and glazing finished pieces and has them ready for pickup within a week. For further inspiration, Glazey Days keeps its selection stocked with themed pieces for different seasons and holidays and hosts special events, such as couples nights and BYOB nights.

A coach at the first Equine Special Olympics in 1999 and again in 2011, North American Riding for the Handicapped–certified trainer Kathleen Gallant possesses a deep, long-lasting love for horses and their ability to help others. After attending equestrian vocational school as a teenager and working at several race tracks, Kathleen developed her passion for jumping and dressage and began teaching others, which she has been doing for more than two decades. Today, English riding lessons are the focus at Chiron Equestrian Services, as well as therapeutic riding for children and adults with special needs. Both private and group lessons begin with the establishment of a balanced, centered riding style and, once these basics are mastered, move on to more advanced riding techniques such as hunt seat, jumping, and dressage.

Throughout the skating season from July to April, more than 60,000 people visit Portland Ice Arena for open-skate sessions, to play hockey, or watch an event. Public sessions during those months send skaters of all ages gliding across the rink. The arena also plays host to a number of other icy scenes, including learn-to-skate classes and practices for the AHL's Portland Pirates. Away from the 750-seat arena, the facility provides sharpening services, rentals, and a concession area.

Studio 59 Pilates Fitness’s owner Stacy Darkis has dedicated her life to helping others. She began her career as a clinical medical assistant, but changed course after discovering Pilates and realizing how many more people she’d be able to help by opening her own studio. Today, she helps her students control their muscles and sharpen their bodily awareness in both mat Pilates classes and on Pilates reformers, moving equipment that uses springs to add tension and thus enhance the effectiveness of moves. Her supporting staff of instructors helps fill a robust schedule that also features yoga classes.