Things to Do in Windsor Locks

Recently appointed as the World Scholar-Athlete Games' 2011 Deputy Commissioner of Equestrian Activities by the Institute for International Sport, professional horsewoman Holly Thompson lends riders and their maned compatriots a wealth of stallion savvy on Equine Boulevard's sprawling 16-acre estate. Thompson and her staff provide a hay-scented potpourri of services, including riding lessons, training, equine appraisals, and witty narrations of The Lone Ranger screenplays. Equine Boulevard's facilities shelter four-legged clients in a barn replete with 12 climate-controlled stalls before hooves boisterously navigate indoor arenas, outdoor riding rings, and picturesque trails leading into nearby state forests.

Life Dance Studios’ founder Sanaa Amel finds solace in sharing her passion for the ancient art of belly dance with patrons of all fitness backgrounds, offering a schedule of classes for various skill levels. A team of dedicated instructors also helms yoga-fusion sessions that meld traditional Vinyasa poses with Pilates strength-training, as well as calorie-burning Zumba classes that incorporate fun, Latin-inspired dance workouts. Life Dance Studios boasts a kid's activity room that diverts young ones while grown-ups work out or transform into crime-fighting alter egos.

At Agawam Municipal Golf Course, an American flag billows high above the pristine white clubhouse's back porch, where players can quaff postround drinks as they watch their peers hole out and head in for the day. The 18-hole course drapes over rolling hills marked by dense forest along each fairway, forcing players to keep their drives straight or risk having their golf balls snatched by hungry Sasquatches.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course

• Total length of 6,099 yards from the back tees

• Course rating of 67 from the back tees

• Course slope of 110 from the back tees

• Two sets of tees per hole

Since 1962, the experienced and USPA-certified instructors at Connecticut Parachutists, Inc have helped new and experienced skydivers foster a love for skydiving. Two miles above the plush green landing area, the professionals harness themselves to novice divers for tandem jumps, and then leap from the bellies of prop planes as spectators and envious penguins look on from an open landing area. The instructors can also help their students obtain skydiving certification, learn to perform accelerated free falls, and make solo dives.

In addition to training new cloud kickers, Connecticut Parachutists, Inc also accommodates seasoned skydivers with facilities for members. Their turbine Twin Otter elevates members for as many jumps as possible, and a clubhouse helps jumpers wind down with a shower and video debriefing area. The skydiving haven also plays host to special events such as jump nights and Q&As with famous parachutes.

Xtreme Paintball's speckled warzone stretches across five playing fields, where marker-toting combatants engage in colorful crossfire during a variety of paintballing matches. A natural canopy blocks the sun from the eyes of snipers throughout the battle zone, and manmade obstacles, such as ditches and sandbag bunkers, conceal sharpshooters and bottles of Wite-Out for healing wounds. A Wild West–themed village situated at the center of Xtreme Paintball's paint-strewn landscape inspires players to reenact their favorite cowboy movies, and a netted viewing area allows parents and friends to peek in on the action at a safe distance.