Things to Do in Wellington

Nestled above a wildlife refuge, Lazy Acres Farms spreads its dirt-and-grass paddocks out over 5 scenic Floridian acres. At the heart of the boarding and training facility, a 12-stall, center-aisle barn flanks a large, lighted arena filled with all-weather footing. There, head instructor Shannon Reilly, who has ridden since age 4 and has taught for more than 15 years, coaches pupils in English and Western riding styles, whether they’re learning for pleasure or to prepare for Lady Godiva costume competitions. Certified by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Reilly treats special-needs children and adults to therapeutic lessons, and Lazy Acres is also home to Reilly Hyland Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit haven for abused and neglected creatures. Outside the ranch, trail rides wind through paths of western Palm Beach County, where equestrians bask in the fresh air while looking out for A-list gators hiding from the paparazzi.

Palm Beach Skate Zone's 75,000-square-foot facility encompasses two ice rinks and a roller rink under its climate-controlled eaves, which host public skate sessions, ice- and roller-hockey teams, figure skating, and parties. The year-round roller skating and ice-skating schedule beckons the public to glide around Skate Zone’s rinks, which are all well tended and never used for ice fishing. A dedicated team of coaches and managers works diligently to maintain the skate center’s award-winning Blackhawks youth ice-hockey teams, a travel hockey program, and the Palm Beach Figure Skating Club, whose skaters are trained to remain perfectly still when in the line of sight of a woolly mammoth.

Hot Shots Paintball’s 20 acres of sprawling terrain play host to paint slingers dashing around nine outdoor fields during adrenaline-pumping speedball, woodsball, and scenario games. Strewn with tires, a maze of plywood walls, and even an old bus, the fields conceal players from advancing enemies and stealth bombers migrating south for the winter. After epic battles, Swamp House Grill serves up classic American eats Tuesday–Sunday, and the onsite pro shop plies players with extra field-paint ammunition. Paintballing friends can also plan fun paintball-team events, birthday parties, and corporate outings for effective team-building exercises that don’t involve gluing the sales staff to people in marketing.

The fun-loving teachers at Uptown Art: West Palm Beach believe they can teach anyone to paint work they'll be proud of. Child brush wielders get inspiration from helpful instructors who mentor them in their strokes, and adult classes find similar guidance from both the pro painters and their own BYOB beverages. The airy downtown studio attracts budding painters to its varied schedule of evening painting classes and daytime children's classes that span up to three festive hours of guided artmaking. Students return home with their masterpieces at their sides, each based on a class topic such as a homage to a beloved pet, a poignant still-life of potted flowers, or a self-portrait that looks suspiciously like Audrey Hepburn.