Some Adventures Don’t Look Like Adventures at First

I didn’t expect a shooting range to become an Adult Play Adventures episode but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

When I was in my early twenties, I had shot a few times with friends when we’d go out into the woods. We’d shoot at cans and fruit, hang out, laugh and have a good time. It was never something I did regularly and after some experiences later in life, my relationship with guns changed completely. I hadn’t shot in almost eight years.

So getting back on a range after all that time was definitely an experience.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the actual process of learning and getting comfortable again. What surprised me even more, though, was the environment at Midwest Shooting Center in Taylor.

I’ll be honest, I had some expectations about what a shooting range might feel like, and the staff completely changed that for me. Everyone I interacted with was incredibly kind, patient and informative. Two of the guys I spoke with had previously been educators, and you could absolutely tell in the way they explained things. I never felt like I was supposed to already know something or that asking questions would make me look dumb or inexperienced.

Then I met one of the women who works there who used to be a powerlifter and even though our conversation was brief, it made the place feel even more familiar. It was one of those quick interactions where I thought, okay, I could actually see myself coming back here.

And that’s when I really started thinking about why this belongs on Adult Play Adventures.

Shooting isn’t necessarily what comes to mind when you think about movement, but there is a physical side to it that I hadn’t really considered before. Your stance, grip, balance, posture, coordination and ability to control your body all matter. There’s also a lot of focus involved, and I found myself paying much more attention to how I was positioning and controlling my body than I expected.

Midwest Shooting Center’s Detroit location is open to the public and currently has 18 indoor 25-yard lanes and 12 indoor 15-yard lanes. They offer rentals, personalized training and classes, with certified Range Safety Officers onsite. Their training program is built around safety, consistency, control and helping people progress at their own pace.

I also really liked seeing that women aren’t an afterthought there. Midwest Shooting Center has specifically highlighted women at the range and offers training designed to help people become more comfortable and confident with firearms. I believe those meetings are held on Tuesdays)

And I think that’s worth talking about.

I’m not saying every woman needs to pick up a gun, and I don’t think shooting has to be your idea of a fun Saturday. But I do think there is something empowering about learning a skill in an environment where you feel safe, respected and comfortable enough to ask questions.

So for me, this wasn’t about becoming a “gun girl” or suddenly making shooting my new personality. It was about trying something different, reconnecting with an experience from a very different part of my life and realizing I could actually enjoy it again.

That’s what I love about Adult Play Adventures.

Sometimes the adventure is exactly what you expected.

And sometimes it’s the thing you never would have thought to put on the list.

This one just happened to be both unexpected and really damn fun.

📍 Location: Midwest Shooting Center, Taylor, Michigan
💰 Cost: Membership
🎯 Difficulty: Beginner-friendly
👤 Solo Friendly: Yes for range access, but rentals require a second person
👥 Group Friendly: Yes
⏱️ Time Needed: 1–2 Hours
🎒 What to Bring: Valid ID, comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes

This episode will drop 9/18.