Things To Do In Olive Branch

Wedgewood Golfers' Club and North Creek Golf Course integrate the scenic landscapes of northern Mississippi into their par 72 layouts, taking golfers across rolling hills and rippling waterways.

The North Creek course's bermuda-grass fairways weave along the edges of Horn Lake Creek with a relatively open layout and mounded terrain that channels the links-style charm of golf's Scotch-Irish forebears. Slightly easier than its counterpart, North Creek caters to clubbers of all stripes with four tee options and optional bumper greens.

North Creek Golf Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,433 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.2 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 125 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options

Cleaved through a combination of dense tree lines and intervening ponds, The Wedgewood course's bermuda-grass fairways sprawl across 6,863 yards of arduous terrain. With trees hugging most holes, and water hazards kissed against the underside of two doglegged fairways, the course frequently forces players into tough course-management decisions, such as when to smash a driver, when to play lay-up with a three-wood, and how to coerce fellow golfers into giving you unlimited mulligans. Though challenging from the back tees, the course's inventive layout is forgiving enough for players of all abilities.

Wedgewood Golfers' Club at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,863 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 127 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

Mid-South Ice House sparks heated competition amid icy environs by hosting hockey, curling, and broomball teams. The center also caters to figure skaters with regular freestyle sessions. In addition to athletic endeavors, it supports family-friendly revelry with regular open skates, lessons for ages 2 to adult, and a private party room. Cosmic Skate sessions every Saturday night capture the dazzle of the northern lights, sending a multihued glow over glinting ice.

There are no roads in the sky—just clouds and the floating mansions of America's billionaires. Similarly, Downtown Aviation's flying lessons don't follow one set pathway to pilot certification. Using FAA-approved materials, the school's certified flight instructors can teach a fast-paced course or follow a more casual lesson plan. But the endpoint remains the same: a student, private, or sport certificate.

One of the most exciting moments during training occurs approximately 20–25 hours into instruction, when students take the controls for their first solo flight. As they soar over Memphis or Olive Branch, taking in bird's eye views through the cockpit windshield, some may feel inspired to pursue flying as a career. Luckily, they won't have to look for a new school. Downtown Aviation's faculty trains pilots for their commercial certificates and airline transport pilot licenses. The staff can also maintain pilots' aircrafts at their Cessna-certified service center.

As the head trainer at Raintree Equestrian Center—and in previous roles—Shannyn Welsh has worked in riding disciplines including Western pleasure, hunter/jumper, and barrel racing with horse breeds ranging from all types of top-bred warmbloods to arabians, andalusians, and tennessee walkers. Equestrians from all over the country and from Europe trust Shannyn’s experience so much that they routinely send her their own horses to help with problem solving, preparation, and training. Students of all riding levels also seek out Shannyn’s expertise to improve their skills. While practicing within the 60-foot round pen or the 100’x200’ lighted arena, or experimenting with a Fosbury flop on the full-jump course, students learn to exhibit the hallmarks of good riding technique, including center balance, soft hands, and firm legs.

Each year, The Mid-South Wedding Show invites brides-to-be and grooms-in-waiting to peruse dozens of vendors plying their wedding wares. Attendees can network with professional coordinators, sample cakes from various bakeries, and compare financial planners by making them guess at the number of jellybeans in a jar. Live fashion shows and seminars highlight the latest fashions and advancements in the union universe, and lucky attendees leave each show with free giveaways that can include trips, invitations, and fitness passes.

Oak View Stables is a family-owned operation set up to share the skills and experiences of the saddle with riders of all ages and experience levels. Head trainer and instructor Rose Marie Lawson founded the stables with husband Wes, and has dedicated herself to horse riding for more than 35 years. With two private lessons in these esteemed environs, riders can grasp the basics with newly strengthened flanks or brush up on preexisting skills. The Oak View Stables facilities surround equine and rider with more than 60 acres of broad greens and scenic copses of sugar-cube-sprouting trees. Gallopers can while away their resting time in a 40-stall barn or trot amid an indoor riding area.