I took our foreign exchange students, Marie and Alvaro, and two of their friends, one of whom is also a foreign exchange student, to Slingshot Bar in West Allis, Wisconsin. I had come across the place and immediately thought it sounded like something we should try. I should also mention that they claim to be the first slingshot bar in America! What could go wrong?

We checked in and received our slingshots and clay ammunition. We were given a safety lesson and sent to our bay. And then something went wrong—they dropped their bucket of ammunition, and those little orbs went flying everywhere. But after we cleaned that up, we were finally able to begin!

You stand in front of a range with all sorts of things to shoot at. Simple! There are stationary targets, moving targets, and even some that give you a little bit of music, at least to my ears. We found a bell and quickly turned it into a competition to see who could hit it the most.

The kids seemed to enjoy it, especially when it was paired with some great pizza and pretzel bites. I enjoyed it too, although I will admit that the assortment of locally brewed beers certainly helped.

I sometimes forget how many interesting, and often strange, places there are within a short drive of Oak Creek. When we think about traveling, our minds naturally wander much farther away. We, or at least I do, think about road trips, airplanes, hotels, and destinations that require days of planning, often months in advance. But a journey does not necessarily need to take you very far from home.

I highly recommend Slingshot Bar as a great activity on a rainy or winter day. It is an escape from the weather, a fun environment, and a chance to do something you would probably never think to try otherwise.