Things To Do In Fort Knox

The Fern Valley Hotel’s top-notch accommodations ably ensconce festivalites, and a slew of local restaurants ensures ravenous culture-cravers don’t resort to licking the ink from their fingers. Check the fests' full schedule online.

The saga of the world-famous Putt-Putt chain dates back to 1954, when founder Don Clayton opened his first course in Fayetteville, North Carolina. After the hole-in-one, Don started selling franchises the next year, and now his miniature empire counts the Louisville Putt-Putt Fun Center among its ranks. Three 18-hole indoor courses test mini golfers' mettle with distinct challenges and themes. On one course, a waterfall scintillates soothingly, and on another, animals stand watch and try to store errant golf balls for winter's semipermanent nap. An arcade tests hand-eye-screen coordination, and an outdoor party pavilion hosts birthday parties and events.

Safety plating divides the six lanes in both of the indoor civilian ranges, where sound-absorbing material muffles the blast of bullets hurtling toward targets on a 25-yard journey. Visiting shooters can test their aim with a rental gun or purchase a new firearm from the showroom, which also stocks an array of holsters, spotting scopes, and replacement grips. Meanwhile, gunsmiths spruce up pistols with cleanings, coatings, and tiny top hats, while the staff's NRA-certified instructors enhance pupils' handgun knowledge, safety, and skills during private lessons and women's-only classes.

With thousands of successful jumps under their harness belts, Jumping for Fun’s certified instructors strive to provide thrill seekers with memorable sky-surfing experiences. After signing a waiver, aspiring altitude climbers will be zipped into their flight suits while receiving a tutorial on how to properly use the skydiving equipment. Then freefalling and landing protocol is reviewed on the ground before takeoff so jumpers don't freeze like a deer about to jump out of a plane. The plane takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the sky's sweet spot before flyers dance about the atmosphere with an experienced staff members strapped to their back. Once feet are back on solid ground, divers will be outfitted with a complimentary T-shirt, log-card certificate, and a dry pair of pants.

An 18-hole, par 72 golf course undulates across the grounds of Glenmary Country Club. The front nine showcase picturesque holes six and seven, both par 4 and nestled into woods with lush foliage framing each fairway like a leafy, squirrel-infested beard. With a large water hazard guarding the 12th hole, golfers aim to vault their shots over the water and onto the green using a 9-iron, wedge, or T-shirt cannon. Before hitting the links, warm up short games at the course's pitching and putting greens or at one of its two outdoor bays for driving.