Latest news with #WendyAltschuler
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Forbes
Summer Celebrations Have Begun At This Indelible Inn On Michigan's Mackinac Island
Horse drawn carriages are the only forms of transportation on historic island community in Northern Michigan. getty Between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas sits one of the most beautiful destinations: Mackinac Island. Full of fudge shops—10 tons of sugar are transported here each week, horses and carriages, and bicycles, this car-free island is the perfect summer vacation for families. Spend time biking around the island, an easy eight-mile ride; shopping and dining in town; and learning about the history at Fort Mackinac, a constellation of military buildings perched on a hill. Fragrant forests and sweet-smelling lilacs abound in the state park that covers over 80% of the island. The Inn at Stonecliff is a summer retreat like no other. Wendy Altschuler With no chain hotels, a stay on Mackinac Island feels distinctive and special. The Inn at Stonecliffe, built in 1904, is indelible for not only its history, but also, its location. Removed from the vibrant-yet-chaotic downtown, this hotel is a verdant oasis with an expansive lawn and views of the grand Mackinac Bridge, also known as the "Mighty Mac'. Once a residence and the island's largest private estate, accommodations here feel homelike yet with an elevated flair. Complete with a chicken coop, apple orchard, two swimming pools, a wellness center, bicycles for hire, and nearby hiking trails, there's plenty to do here. In the summer of 2024, the Inn at Stonecliffe completed a $40 million renovation, which included upgraded rooms, dining options, and outdoor spaces. A true beauty, this hotel, owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, is also a Humanitarian Hotel, where giving back to the community is a major part the ethos. Amazingly, net profits are all donated to charitable causes. Seasonal Summer Events Beauty abounds at this inn by the lake. Wendy Altschuler With dining at The Straits, The Backyard, Horsey's Pub, and other nearby options, you might find little need to venture too far away from the inn, especially with the lineup of seasonal activities and special events. Enjoy the Sounds of Summer Benefit Concert Series July 17 and September 11 for live music and a fun atmosphere, kicking off at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening for VIP guests at 6:30 p.m. All ticket proceeds are donated to charity—artists' choices. Open to guests as well as locals, these events bring everyone together, serving the established community as well as those just passing through. Registration is required, as well as a donation of $15. And, on the 4th of July weekend, there's no better place to be than at the inn. Celebrate our country's independence with delectable food, live music, lawn games, big views, and a watermelon eating contest at the Red, White, & Brew with Short's Brewing Co, July 4 from 12:00—8:00 p.m. All ticket proceeds for this event will be donated to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that supports military families. Partnering with Short's Brewing Company, this fourth of July event is sure to delight all partygoers. And, yes, there will be fireworks.
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Flavors Without Borders: International Cooking Classes For Young Chefs
Cooking and baking lessons give kids a confidence that expands far beyond the classroom. Wendy Altschuler Parents who are looking to enroll their kids in a summer camp that is both educational and fun can choose from a variety of cooking and baking classes at select Sur La Table locations. Available for two age groups, kids ages 7—11 and teens ages 12—17, this summer cooking series is perfect for budding chefs who want to learn about global cuisine and baked goods in a lively and communal environment. Sur la Table's Kids & Teens Summer Series is the ultimate passport to the kitchen with hands-on instruction. Catering to a diverse range of abilities and palates, these lessons are immersive and engaging. Choose from a variety of courses, each up to five consecutive days long, which take place during May—August. You can be sure that your kid will gain useful skills in a positive environment, with direct instruction from amiable professional chefs with teaching experience. "My son just finished his 4th Summer Series with Sur La Table and loved it once again,' says parent, Erica M. 'Over the years, he's learned so much from these chefs! From their exploration of different cuisines to their patience and guidance, we're so thankful for the heart and expertise they put into their teaching." Last year, in 2024, the Kids & Teens Summer Series had over 20,000 participants at 55 different locations, according to a press release. Over 100 recipes were taught by professional chefs and educators in small class sizes, expanding the types of foods that kids had previously been exposed to. From inspiring healthy eating habits to improving math skills, these classes made a lasting impact on students and their families. Weekly classes that inspire kids to taste flavors from around the world include dynamic programs like Global Flavors, Taste the World, Sweet & Savory Baking, and Ambitious Recipes. Small group class sizes ensure that your kids will be able to do their best in a helpful and entertaining environment. During each session, kids and teens will learn about kitchen safety, food preparation, recipe development, and more. "Our daughter had a blast in the Teens Baking Summer Series program at Sur La Table,' says parent, Jeanine S. 'We've loved seeing the way her confidence in cooking has transformed!" Ideal for fastidious eaters, these classes do more than just teach children the basics. Expert instruction in a specialized group setting also encourages young ones to try new flavors, pushing their creativity, ambition, and ingenuity to the forefront. You might just find that your child cooks and bakes more at home and not only attempts new recipes, but also, tastes new flavors. When the camp is over, young participants will receive 10% off in-store purchases, a special apron, a graduate certificate of completion, and printed menus so that they can recreate all of their delicious creations at home. Most of all, however, kids will have made new friends and learned newfangled proficiencies, giving them confidence in the kitchen and abroad as they move forward into the new school year.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Trying to convince my husband and 3 teenagers to go backpacking was exhausting. I left them behind instead.
Wendy Altschuler left her husband and three teenagers at home to hike through Death Valley National Park. She went backpacking for three nights with strangers. The trip left her feeling more in control and aware that it's not the type of trip for everyone. It was 3 a.m. and I was awake not only because of the cold weather but because of a delight fizzing in my chest like Pop Rocks candy. Outside my tent, which was pitched on the desert floor in California's Death Valley National Park, I heard a faint stomping in the backcountry. Wild horses. I grabbed my headlamp, unzipped my tent, and poked my head out, fully expecting to marvel at stallions. That's the thing about silent spaces, remote locales with such little noise pollution that you almost feel like you have a superhero-level hearing. The horses had already run past, so I looked up at an expansive sky filled with stars and planets, bright enough that I abandoned my headlamp. This is the sensation I was seeking — the seemingly contrastive awareness of feeling itty bitty in a grand ole world, vulnerable and exposed to the elements, while at the same time, powerful and at the helm of my own life full of adventures. Many of my past family holidays involved hiking and backpacking. But my three sons are now teenagers, and they don't have the same enthusiasm for challenging page-turners in the outdoors as I do. When not with my kids, as an adventure writer, I also travel alongside other writers on media trips. This is why, during my visit to Death Valley earlier this month, I was excited to trek alongside everyday folks, plain clothes philosophers who had all chosen and paid to go on this adventure. An adventure company, Wildland Trekking, covered the costs of my trip. At Death Valley National Park, I backpacked for three nights on the Cottonwood Marble Canyon Loop — a 30-mile trek through steep climbs, bushwhacking trails, windy strolls in painted canyons, rocky creeks, nearly invisible paths, and moon-like landscapes where I felt my most authentic self. When day broke on that first morning in the park, shades of light blanketed massive boulders in a diagonal pattern. I shook out and packed up my belongings — everything I needed and nothing I didn't — and took one more glance around. And there they stood. Having grown up in Montana with horses and cowboy culture, witnessing untamed equine wandering freely in the most inhospitable milieu — the hottest, driest, and lowest national park — was a breath-caught-in-throat moment for me. How rare to find time suspended. I found my voice and bellowed, "Horses!" to the others, my new backpacking friends who were camped out nearby. Like a country song, or the setup to a riddle: "A farmer from Nebraska, a nurse from Georgia, and a newly empty nester couple from Colorado walk into the land of extremes…" Strangers from all over the country, with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lifestyles, had come together to sojourn in one of the most underrated national parks in the US — along with a capable guide to lead the way. Every decision each one of us had made in our lives up until that point — every path that flowed toward heartbreaks, career changes, dramatic births, painful losses, marriages, and love affairs — joined our journeys to this very experience. "Nebraska has the best tourism slogan," I said at camp one morning, remembering that parts of Nebraska join Death Valley in the Dark Sky Park designation. Grinning, the fellow Nebraskan and I parroted: "Nebraska, honestly it's not for everyone." I later learned that Nebraska's tourism director announced the end of the five-year-old tagline last year, but it had clearly left an impression on both of us. In the land of imposing contrasts, we protected our packs with rain covers, secured the hoods on our jackets during the wild wind atop peaks, and pulled our sun hoodies over our lids during long stretches trekking through infertile treeless land where we were fully exposed to the sun. Death Valley has few maintained trails and no established campsites in the wilderness. We only saw a few other people on the trail. After days of hiking through formidable terrain, full of awe-inspiring wonders like zebra-striped rock walls and theatrical canyons, we reached the end, which was also the beginning, and we did it together. I celebrated by taking the longest and hottest shower in my bathroom at The Inn at Death Valley. I had booked the hotel for my last night before heading home, an Old Hollywood oasis in the desert that once provided refuge for Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard. My phone vibrated, and I saw several messages, photographs of the farmer's family, beloved pets in front of a fireplace, the nurse bandaging a blister on her foot, and group shots of all of us with tents in the background. Was it worth it to leave my family behind and backpack solo in the desert with a party of strangers? Honestly, it's not for everyone. Read the original article on Business Insider
