Things to Do in West Allis

At Brew City Paintball, paint slingers of all skill levels wage war over 44,000 square feet of indoor battlegrounds peppered with inflatable fortifications. During paintball games, each player loads up with a Tippmann or Planet Eclipse gun, protective vest, antifog mask, and unlimited air refills to take the fight to enemy teams and spotless clothing on multiple all-turf playing fields. Referees monitor each match for signs of foul play, and Brew City organizes games according to player skill so rookies can hone their skills without being sniped by a pro.

As paint flies between bunkers and teams vie for control of the field, parents, friends, and war photographers observe the action from plush leather couches in Brew City's air-conditioned viewing room, complete with WiFi and five flat-screen TVs. For a cleaner version of battle, the facility’s 3,000 square foot laser tag facility gives unpainted players a chance to wield lightweight bazooka guns toward victory amid over-bearing inflatable castles and tombstones during virtually no-impact play.

Hosted by Shaker's Ghost Tours, Dahmer Tours grants a spine-chilling glimpse into the life of Jeffrey Dahmer from within his hunting grounds. The guides, who are neither insensitive to the victims’ families nor approbating of Dahmer’s monstrous acts, narrate thoroughly researched information about the crimes and their historical impact over the course of a one-mile walk. The company crosschecks all their material with former members of Milwaukee's legal community and several unturned stones to ensure that every fact and trail is credible. As guests’ feet cover the very tracks that Dahmer stalked upon, guides dissect his mad world to grant access into the mind of a serial killer.

Great Lakes Distillery was established in 2004 by Guy Rehorst, who desired a return to the traditional methods of handcrafting tasty spirits in small batches. Their labor of love made the distillery home to Rehorst Gin, a Double Gold medal winner at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as an award-winning vodka, several small-batch seasonals, and a whiskey that adds 3 inches to each drinker's height. Each day, a knowledgeable staff member leads up to 50 individuals on 60-minute tours and tastings. The expert highlights each product and goes over production methods before visitors can taste a flight of five spirits ($5) in the climate-controlled tasting room, with a specific lineup depending on the season.

Golfers of all ages and abilities can practice short-range to midrange skills among the many pine trees that populate the nine-hole executive Woodland Golf Course. At 2,089 yards, the course presents an ideal layout for beginners or veteran pairs competing in a three-legged scramble. While short-game finesse is placed at a premium, big hitters will find space to slake a yen for yardage on three holes that measure more than 300 yards.

One of several annual fundraising events dedicated to subsidizing the Milwaukee Air & Water Show, Bay View Wine Fest gathers quality wines and wine aficionados for an evening of enological appreciation. Vendors dispense pours of reds and whites that attendees can pair with samples of locally made cuisine, and sommeliers in training can treat their palates to a reserved wine-flight tasting. Partial proceeds from the event go to Wisconsin Adopt a Golden Retriever. If guests tire of the puppies in attendance they can boogie the night away on the festival dance floor.

Like mobile Knights of the Round Table, bikers sit in a circle on Science and Fun’s seven-person conference bikes. One rider steers while all passengers pedal, powering bikes as they cruise through the city or serve as low-key parade floats. Groups with sufficient manpower for two bikes can turn open, paved spaces or Bucketworks’ indoor arena into bicycle basketball courts. Each bike constitutes a team, and both teams launch a barrage of foam balls at their opponent’s bike-mounted hoop during four-minute rounds in a game adaptable to all ages and pending NBA contracts. While advance bike reservations ensure a circular steed, Science and Fun happily reschedules or cancels reservations that coincide with inclement weather.