Things to Do in Springboro

The history at Victoria Theatre stretches back to 1866, when the "Magnificent Edifice" was first built at First and Main Streets. Its halls have hosted entertainment luminaries of many eras, including Harry Houdini, Mark Twain, and Socrates during his I Know That I Know Nothing comeback tour. After becoming the victim of two fires (1869 and 1918) and a flood (1913), the theater avoided man-hurled wrecking balls in 1975 when it was named to the National Register of Historic Places, a list where the Italianate structure still resides well into the 21st century.

Easy as A-B-C, the artists behind Life in Letters craft custom photographic gifts available both in their shop and online. Over the years, they've amassed a vast collection of black-and-white photos of common objects and sights that resemble letters—such as arches, golf balls, fences, and palm trees—which they assemble into meaningful words, such as love, laugh, family, and nihilism. Once customers have chosen their word and selected each letter, they can have their piece matted and framed to suit their own decor or that of a loved one. The photographers also share their skills with aspiring shutterbugs during regular introductory photography classes.

Sarah Wartell, a trained practitioner in thai-yoga bodywork, yoga, and Japanese reiki therapy, helms a studio in which she calls on all three holistic modalities to achieve optimal physical and mental healing. During yoga classes for all abilities, the studio fills with the sounds of controlled breathing, stretch-induced groans, and high-pitched yelps of contentment from downward-facing dogs. Agency shifts to the therapist during thai-yoga bodywork sessions that achieve heightened states of relaxation with a blend of focused compression and assisted poses. To practice their similarly holistic art, reiki therapists draw on ancient Japanese techniques designed to shuffle life-force energies around the body. Sarah’s mission to relax bodies and minds simultaneously is reflected in her studio’s décor, which features artwork depicting peace signs and leafy trees.

There's no speed requirement on the Little Miami River—drifting leisurely on a tube is just as respectable as cutting through the water in a sleek kayak. Both vehicles afford scenic views, as well as opportunities to rest and swim. Of course, there's always the canoe to consider. The large boats fit up to three people, making them the most social of the three options at Bellbrook Canoe Rental. Pairs and trios can take them on one of two jaunts down the river's path: a 3-mile trip beginning at Bellbrook Bridge, or a 5.2-mile trip that departs from Narrows Reserve in Beavercreek.

Regardless of the route, each adventure satisfies first-time paddlers and expert boaters alike. The family-owned rental company has 160 canoes and kayaks that they lend to small groups as well as schools, scouting organizations, and astronauts who would prefer to ease into the water portion of their weightlessness training. For gatherings off the water, there's also three shelter houses available to customers free of charge.

Sprawled across Ed Martinek's 63-acre family farm, Adventure Acres cultivates a wholesome harvest of activities for pintsize and full-size visitors alike. Five corn mazes snake across a combined 11-plus miles of land, challenging navigators with twists and turns as onlookers and overly concerned scarecrows shout directions from an elevated watchtower. Scenic 30-minute hayrides explore the winding creeks and wildlife that meander peacefully across the grounds, and air-powered corn cannons equip trigger fingers with the power to launch ears up to 500 feet. After scouting the farm's outlying features, guests wrap back around to the petting zoo, where they can play with or try to elicit stock advice from tightlipped goats, horses, and cows.

At Gentle Breeze Hot Air Balloon Co., a team of commercially rated, FAA-certified pilots whisk passengers skyward on journeys over southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. One-hour flights take off from Warren County Airport and travel as high as to 2,000 feet, where visitors can take in panoramic views and snap pictures. Retrieval crews track each trek from the ground and transport guests back to their meeting location.

Along with standard flights, Gentle Breeze’s team hosts specialties such as private couples flights followed by champagne toasts, Hummer or Escalade limo rides to launch sites, and voyages over Cincinnati and Dayton’s metro areas. The captains also lead balloon rides over passengers’ houses and the homes of their enemies, and enliven soirees with brief sightseeing rides that reach 100 feet.