Whether it's a weekend escape for a bachelor party or just an afternoon with the guys, Butler County residents don't have to go far.

From beer to baseball and golf to guns, there is something for anyone who may be looking to get outside and be active this summer.

Butler County Beer Circuit

The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau has its self-guided Butler County Beer Circuit, showcasing the county's blossoming craft beer industry.

The circuit takes travelers on a self-guided tour throughout the county, showcasing the wide variety of beers and breweries the area has to offer.

“We launched it this spring,” said Tiffany Hernandez, bureau communications and marketing coordinator. “It's been going really well. We will be launching another aspect to the beer circuit pretty soon.”

On its website, www.visitbutlercounty.com, the bureau says it is working to bring more features including transportation for circuit-goers, overnight options and group tours.

Participants in the circuit can go to the bureau's website and follow the beer circuit tab to find a map which will lead them on to each brewery on their tour, allowing the participants to schedule the route as they see fit.

“Each one offers something different and unique in the Butler County Beer Circuit,” Hernandez said. “You go on the website and we have a map on there and you can go to a variety (of breweries) and make your own tour.”

A full list of breweries on the circuit and their locations can be found on the website.

Keystone Shooting Center

A recent addition to the area's offerings is the Keystone Shooting Center, 925 Sheraton Drive, Mars.

The center opened late last year and features a shooting range, hundreds of firearms to buy or rent, firearms classes and more.

“We have probably the nicest shooting range, we're told anyway, in the entire country,” said Ty Eggemeyer, one of the owners of the company. “We have 24 lanes climate controlled; they're all 25-yard lanes and you can shoot rifle or pistol up to 50 cal (ilber).”

The center goes to great lengths, he said, to keep the building and shooting bays clean and eliminate any health risks for both customers and employees, from using a steel bullet containment system to collect bullets without exposing employees to the lead, to installing an air filtration system to maximize cleanliness for shooters.

“The air, coming into those bays, it pushes all the smoke and residue away from the shooter, is cleaner than in your kitchen,” Eggemeyer said.

The range also comes with video targets and a simulation room where customers can shoot at moving targets on a screen.

Customers can also participate in firearms training to learn to better handle firearms at the range as well as in self-defense.

“We offer a full schedule of classes, and we have professionals that have been in either law enforcement, military or government or they're well-trained,” Eggemeyer said. “And they're all also hired for their interpersonal skills. We don't like the in-your-face approach to training. We firmly believe in teaching people to defend themselves.”

While shooting at the range or training to better handle a weapon, customers can also patronize the store's selection of firearms, accessories and other inventory.

Eggemeyer emphasized the company's commitment quality in their offerings.

“We don't carry any super low-end brands,” he said. “We will not carry a $200 gun. As Mike (Carlson, co-owner) says, we will not carry a gun that we wouldn't carry ourselves.”

The Center plans to run specials and events throughout the summer, including a current deal for 25 percent off a shooting session with an automatic weapon and Tuesday night specials for women to shoot and train at discounted rates.

More information about the range or upcoming specials and events can be found at the center's website, keystoneshootingcenter.com.

Golf

Butler County is awash in opportunities for golfers to go out swinging this summer.

The county is host to an inordinate amount of courses per capita according to the tourism bureau.

The bureau lists: Aubrey's Dubbs Dred Golf Course, Buffalo Golf Course, Conley Resort & Golf Club, Lake Arthur Golf Club, Cranberry Highlands Golf Course, Hiland Golf Course, Strawberry Ridge Golf Course and Restaurant, Rowan Road Driving Range and Golf Shop, Oakview Golf Club and Suncrest Golf Course

Blue Sox

Nothing says summer like than a day spent at a baseball game supporting your local team as it marks a decade of play in Butler County.

The Butler Blue Sox season is in full swing, celebrating 10 years serving as Butler County's collegiate summer baseball team with several home games scheduled to end with a round of fireworks at home games throughout the summer.

Fireworks will be June 30, July 7, July 27, July 28 and Aug. 3.

A fireworks display by the City of Butler is scheduled to follow the BlueSox game July 4. That game will start at 6:35 p.m.

For more information or for a full season schedule visit the team's website at butlerbluesox.net.