From city addresses to lakefront escapes, the right home sets the tone. Fire on the grill. A pour at the end of the day. A space that’s yours. Kristie Lohmann brings sharp local knowledge, strong negotiation, and a no-nonsense approach—connecting you to homes that deliver, and positioning your offer to win.
Hello, my friends,
I didn’t expect to be moved during a photoshoot—but then something small happened that said everything.
During our cover shoot, I watched John Emerson and John Cline—two men recently honored with the Local Treasure Award by the City of Mount Clemens— do something simple, and yet unforgettable.
Standing wasn’t easy. Time has a way of humbling even the strongest among us. But without hesitation, John Cline reached for John Emerson’s hand. They steadied each other. They leaned in—literally and figuratively.
And there it was.
Not just a photo. A legacy.
A lifetime of service, leadership, friendship, and impact… captured in one quiet, powerful moment. These are the men who built the kind of community we all want to live in—and the kind we’re now responsible to carry forward.
On a lighter note, Father’s Day gave me a reason to revisit something equally meaningful—my dad’s sense of humor. He was the king of the classic one-liner. The kind that made you groan, roll your eyes, and laugh anyway. I wish I had written them all down, but thankfully, friends and family helped me rebuild a pretty solid collection. I hope you share them, repeat them, and maybe even embarrass your own kids a little. That’s part of the job, right?
We’ve also got a little adventure waiting for you with a trip down the Bourbon Trail—because sometimes the best stories are found on the road. And if you’re staying closer to home, don’t miss the pickle-brined chicken wings with Alabama White Sauce. Trust me—it’s next level!
Enjoy the beginning of summer. And if your dad is still on this side of eternity, make the time. Take the photo. Tell the story. Laugh a little louder. Because one day, those ordinary moments will be the ones that mattered most. With appreciation for this community,
June 2026
PUBLISHER
Kimberly Janowicz | kimberly.janowicz@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Marshall Zweig | marshall.zweig@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Marshall Zweig, Kimberly Janowicz, Nicci Lavine, Eve Bushman, Pauli Reep, Kim Hill
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kevin Shea, Jacob Lund, Brittany Dawn Short
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
3:5-6
Looking for something different to do this summer? Visit the Crocker House Museum & Gardens and learn Mount Clemens’ story inside a real Victorian home. It’s a great outing for families, friends, or senior groups—and yes, the kids will enjoy it too. Tours are by appointment. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and kids, and free for children under five. Call (586) 465-2488 to schedule or for more information visit CrockerHouseMuseum.org
We are excited to partner with Motor City Shower and Bath, your trusted local expert for bathroom remodeling. Specializing in tub-to-shower conversions, walk-in tubs, and custom shower replacements, they deliver high-quality upgrades across Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair counties. Their team combines craftsmanship with convenience to transform your space with ease. Schedule your FREE in-home consultation at motorcityshowerandbath.com or call (586) 842-BATH
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We are excited to partner with Next Heating and Cooling and recommend them as our trusted partner for all your heating and cooling needs. Based on Church Street in Mount Clemens, they bring 35 years of experience delivering reliable service, expert installation, and efficient repairs for homes and businesses. Their Next Care Plan simplifies maintenance, helping prevent breakdowns and extend system life—keeping our community comfortable yearround. Learn more at nextheatcool.com or call (844) 279-HVAC.
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We invite you to reap the health benefits of Halo Therapy and Infrared Sauna in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere at Salt Spa.
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HONORING LOCAL TREASURE AWARD WINNERS JOHN EMERSON AND JOHN CLINE, WHO MAKE MOUNT CLEMENS BETTER
John Emerson spent decades showing up for Mount Clemens: city council meetings, Juneteenth celebrations (organized before the holiday existed), black history presentations at the Mount Clemens Public Library, contributions to a book on the city’s history.
Ask him what kept him coming back year after year, and John will talk about his wife.
Loretta Jean Morlet Emerson died shortly after giving birth to their son Patrick. She had been told there were risks. She chose Patrick.
John pushed through, while also raising his three older sons.
“Every time I go out there,” Emerson says, “I’m honoring her memory.”
Emerson’s scholarship in her name carries that same logic: her life given forward, in perpetuity.
Emerson’s grandfather was enslaved. His father was born in the first generation after abolition. That didn’t hold him back: John became a Mount Clemens Local Treasure.
That arc belongs to our city.
John Cline makes a room feel better just by being in it. “I can get people laughing in a funeral home,” he says.
Retirement hasn’t slowed John down. He stays involved in Mount Clemens Optimist Club, Friends of Mount Clemens, Soap Box Derby, and OATS, a therapeutic horsemanship organization where he helps autistic children bond with horses.
At OATS, John treats the kids like kids. He playfully chased one girl around the observation room, threatening to pull her ponytail— much to the discomfort of the other volunteers. But by session’s end, this autistic little girl drew him a picture, signed her name… and hugged him on the way out.
A nonverbal autistic child was initially frightened by John’s loud voice. After several sessions, the little girl left her mom’s side to follow John. One afternoon she began talking, so much she ran out of things to say. “I had tears in my eyes,” John recalls.
No matter the challenge, Cline gets involved. First on the scene of a car accident, Cline saw a nineteen-year-old dying inside. He climbed in and held the young man while he passed, not letting go until the officers arrived.
What drives him to step in? “Because others won’t,” he says.
He grew up without much. Didn’t know people kept food in the refrigerator until he was nine. “I know what it’s like to have nothing,” he says. That’s why one of John’s favorite events is Fueling the Kids: the Mount Clemens Optimist Club packs bags of food and snacks for kids, so they’ll have something to eat on weekends.
If you want to help your community, Cline says, “Start with your neighbor who never says hi. Open a door. Say hello.”
Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp says the Local Treasures Awards boost everyone’s morale. “We feel like sometimes we’re like a bank,” she says, “with a lot of withdrawals and not a lot of deposits. Local Treasures is a deposit.”
City Manager Gregg Shipman agrees. “What people like these two gentlemen do,” Shipman says, “is bridge the gap between the city and its residents.” Shipman’s executive assistant Elaine VanHuyse adds, “A lot of people work quietly here, anonymously. They don’t want to be acknowledged. You wouldn’t even know the things they’ve done unless you’d been touched by them yourself. These things are just done.”
There’s something universal about a dad joke. It’s not just the punchline—it’s the delivery. Slightly offbeat. Perfectly timed. And often followed by a grin that says, “I know that was bad.”
My dad was always ready with a joke. I’d say, “I’m hungry,” and without missing a beat he’d reply, “Hi Hungry, I’m Ed—nice to meet you.” Sometimes his jokes landed. Other times, they earned the kind of eye roll only a child can deliver. Dad jokes aren’t about being clever. They’re about connection. They break the tension, fill quiet moments, and turn ordinary days into memories.
I wish I had written them down. But what I remember most isn’t whether the jokes were funny—it was the warmth behind them. The sparkle in his eyes. The laughter we shared, even when I pretended not to laugh at all.
Because one day, you realize those “terrible” jokes were actually some of the very best parts of growing up.
A tribute to fathers, their unforgettable humor, and the groan-worthy jokes that somehow always made us laugh anyway
ARTICLE BY KIMBERLY JANOWICZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACOB LUND
Q: What is the best part about living in Switzerland?
A: I’m not sure, but the flag is a big plus.
Q: Who do you call to take care of a mosquito infestation?
A: The swat team.
I had to bury my batteries. They were dead.
Q: What did everyone call the teacher who carried a textbook in her pocket?
A: Smarty pants.
A word of dating advice: If he doesn’t appreciate your fruit jokes, you need to let that mango.
Q: What did one toilet say to the other?
A: “You look flushed.”
Yesterday I gave up my seat on the bus for a child.
Today, I lost my job as a bus driver.
A woman fainted and fell onto the baggage carousel at the airport. But she’s slowly coming around.
My friends threw me a housewarming party when I moved into my igloo. Now I’m homeless.
Q: Why do seagulls live by the sea?
A: Because if they lived by the bay, they’d be bagels.
Q: What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo?
A: One’s pretty heavy, and the other’s a little lighter.
Someone glued my deck of cards together. I don’t know how to deal with it.
Q: Why did the jaguar eat the tightrope walker?
A: It was craving a well-balanced meal.
And just like that, somewhere, a dad is smiling—already preparing the next one.
AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST
Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short
Creative Director: Jen Birn
Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill
Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX
MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.
Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”
“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson
Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?
A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”
Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?
A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”
This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.
The bluegrass state of Kentucky with the Appalachian Mountains is indisputably known as the Mecca of bourbon and the location of America’s only Bourbon Trail.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, established in 1999, is dotted with a total of 37 distilleries scattered throughout the regions of Louisville, Western Kentucky, Bardstown, Lexington and North Kentucky.
For bourbon aficionados and road trip lovers alike, the trail promises scenic country drives, historic architecture, and an abundance of restaurants and tasting rooms with some distilleries spanning more than 100 miles apart.
The name
“bourbon” hails from the original
Bourbon County,
which
was a region carved from a portion of the Fayette County of Virginia in 1785.
The most popular bourbon distillery locations one might expect to see along the trail are: Angel’s Envy, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill, Lux Row, Old Forester, Four Roses, Evan Williams, Bulleit, and Jim Beam.
Within each distillery and on its grounds, bourbon lovers can expect to find a variety of bourbon price points, flavor profiles, distilling and aging techniques, and historical points of interest. Each location offers a variety of tour options: some focusing on the chemistry of bourbon distillation, the art of tasting, the barrel charring process, or the rich (and checkered) history of bourbon’s origins.
One constant seems to remain—most Kentucky distilleries cannot broach the topic of their favorite drink without also offering a glimpse of its history. The name “bourbon” hails from the original Bourbon County, which was a region carved from a portion of the Fayette County of Virginia in 1785. The county, which belonged to the then-brand-new state of Kentucky, was named in honor of the French House of Bourbon to show gratitude to King Louis XVI for his vital assistance during the American Revolutionary War.
Prior to its exodus from the region, loads of white oak barrels cut from the forests of Arkansas were first branded with the Bourbon County label. The county logo branded on the barrels soon gave way to its shorthand references: Bourbon. The rest is, quite literally, history.
The oldest operational distillery in Kentucky is Maker’s Mark, which began distilling in 1805 and has since been recognized as a National Historic Landmark. In 1964, a Congressional Resolution declared bourbon to be an indigenous product of the United States. This distinction renders bourbon as the official American Spirit. To be recognized as a bourbon, a spirit must meet specific and strict requirements set forth by law. In fact, bourbon distillation marks one of America’s very first examples of a consumer protection law with the establishment of the “Bottled-in-Bond” Act in 1897 (The Bottled-in-Bond designation has bourbon standards which supersede those of single-malt Scotch).
All bourbon starts as what distillers refer to as White Lightning—an uncolored, unaged, and unflavored whiskey. Whiskey functions as the stem cell of bourbon—it’s the bare bones and the foundation. This whiskey must be made with mash consisting of at least 51% corn. As long as that ratio is met, the mash may also include other grains such as rye and barley. During the distillation process, the liquid must not supersede a proof of
160, and must not supersede a proof of 125 at the time it’s poured into barrels to begin the aging process. All bourbon must be aged in new, charred, white oak barrels for a minimum of two years before it is finally bottled at 80 proof or higher. No other dyes or flavors may be introduced into the distilling or aging process if a bourbon is to retain its namesake.
Even though 95% of bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, bourbon does not need to be distilled in the state to be considered authentic. Most bourbon was historically made in Kentucky due to its geography. The rich source of limestone in Kentucky earth acts as a natural aquifer, purifying the water and removing the more peaty flavors one would find in spirits distilled with earthier water quality, such as Scotch. The varied temperatures, humidity levels, and weather patterns in the Kentucky region cause the white oak barrels to contract and swell. This unique aging process gives bourbon its signature amber hue as well as its sweet and dynamic flavor.
While the tour itinerary is flexible enough to have many starting points, the official “start” of the trail can be found at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome
established in 1999, is dotted with a total of 37 distilleries.
Center located at the Frazier Museum on Historic Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville. The destinations along the trail can be planned a number of ways: by distillery, by region, or by organized tour itinerary. Some distillery locations are packed as tightly as an 8-mile radius, with the average tour lasting about 90 minutes.
Guests who schedule an official KBT tour receive a Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport at the beginning of their journey and have the pleasure of watching stamps fill their pages as they makes their way through the Kentucky countryside. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Passports do not expire, so travelers may rest assured that they can complete any unfinished portions of their tours at a later date if the tastings become too rigorous. Each distillery along the trail has its own admission fee for tours but offers more than one tour option at each location. Some Distilleries, such as Four Roses and Jim Beam, offer two distillery tour locations. Guests are welcome to visit both locations if they desire but will receive only one stamp in their Bourbon Trail passports.
For those who want to travel off the beaten path, several famous distilleries in the area do not appear on the official Kentucky Bourbon Trail list. One of the more famous of these is the Buffalo Trace Distillery, responsible for distilling bourbon of that name as well as the more rare and sought-after bottles of Blanton’s and E.H. Taylor. The Buffalo Trace distillery is located on a national landmark and offers free tastings, as well as Ghost tours for those who are interested in a different kind of spirit.
For a complete list of distilleries, tour schedules, tour booking details, and frequently asked questions, visit KYBourbonTrail.com
BY EVE BUSHMAN
In speaking to Whiskey lovers (most happen to be men, but do accept me in their brethren as a fellow enthusiast, writer, and educator), I’ve learned a great many opinions on how to drink Whiskey. Specifically, preferences on adding water and ice vary greatly.
A brand ambassador that I had the privilege of listening to recently said the obvious: both dilution and temperature change when you add ice, so if you are going to add something, a little water is best. I personally prefer to use a water dropper, so I can add one drop at a time until I get to the desired taste.
THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY YOUR WHISKEY: ON THE ROCKS, ROCK, NEAT, OR WITH WATER
HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES:
Rocks: Provides the highest rate of dilution as a lot of ice melts quickly. If you are drinking a barrel proof Whiskey, it kind of defeats the purpose as the distiller didn’t add water as they do in every other type of finished Whiskey.
On the Rock: The single rock, cube, or sphere is the slowest to melt and thought to be the most aesthetic. It’s nice if you want to stretch out your tasting. I often order on the rock if I want my drink to last longer.
Neat: This is the way single malt Scotch is served at a tasting event, in a branded Glencairn or Neat glass so that proper nosing for aromas can be achieved - and a dram of Scotch, smaller than an ounce, fits in them perfectly.
Water: As I mentioned above, quoting the brand ambassador, a little water is better for a fine Whiskey over any kind of ice. Often, if ordered with water, the water is served in a separate vessel on the side so you can add in as much as you want.
Quoting another expert on the subject, Richard Paterson of The Dalmore famously and enthusiastically demonstrates in his Scotch classes how to drink single malt Scotch Whiskey: Paterson fills a lowball glass to the rim with ice, adds Scotch and then ceremoniously throws it over his shoulder onto the carpet of the classroom – because that much ice makes the drink worthless. One more quote, never “add green tea or milk to Whiskey. You can add a little water, but not a lot of ice.”
Ultimately, the reason we add ice can be for aesthetics, to stretch out the time spent on one glass, for cooling, and for dilution. However, the number one reason enthusiasts add water is … drumroll please … because adding a little water actually opens up a Whiskey to show more aromas and flavors.
ARTICLE BY PAULI REEP
PICKLE-BRINED CHICKEN WINGS SOAR TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH ALABAMA WHITE SAUCE.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds chicken wings (flats and drummettes)
• Pickle juice - enough to cover wings
• 1 – 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 6 tablespoons butter
• A few dashes of hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
I’ve spent years searching for the perfect wing flavor, never quite satisfied, until I heard a podcast suggestion: brining chicken wings in pickle juice. It sounded strange at first, but it yields incredibly tender and flavorful wings! Since then, I save pickle juice from every jar I buy just to recreate these beloved wings. If I run out of pickle juice, olive juice works too. I air fry mine, but if you don’t have an air fryer, cook them as you normally would. Don’t forget to toss them in a buttery dill sauce and try the Alabama white BBQ sauce for an extra layer of goodness!
1. Place chicken wings in a non-reactive container and pour pickle juice over chicken wings until completely covered.
2. Place it in the fridge and let it marinate, covered, for at least 8 hours.
3. Drain wings, discard pickle juice, and completely pat wings dry.
4. Put dried wings in a bowl and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Mix well.
5. Place wings in an air fryer basket, being careful not to crowd. Cook at 400 degrees for 28 minutes, turning every 8 minutes until crispy. If you don’t have an air fryer, bake them in the oven for 35 - 40 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping halfway through.
6. Melt the butter and add a few splashes of hot sauce of your choice and mix in a bowl. Add wings and completely cover with butter mixture. Sprinkle with fresh dill and toss a few times, and serve with my white barbeque sauce.
• 1 ½ cups mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s)
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pepper, coarsely ground
• 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk all ingredients together until blended. Dip your pickle juice-brined wings in this sauce and taste the joy! Store in the refrigerator for 1 - 2 weeks.
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JUNE 2026
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JUNE 5TH THROUGH 6TH
34th Annual Cruisin'
The Clem - Hot Rod City!
Main Street & Market Street in Downtown Mount Clemens
There’s something about a warm June evening, the hum of engines, and chrome catching the light that brings everyone together. June 5–6, 2026, downtown Mount Clemens comes alive with the beloved Cruise—Friday’s laidback pre-cruise (5–9pm) and Saturday’s full show (8am–8pm). Stay for the stories, the nostalgia, and a shot at the $500 Best in Show prize. Learn more at mountclemenscruise.com
FRIDAYS, JUNE 5TH - 19TH
The Oasis Summer Concert Series
Cherry Street Mall, Downtown Mount Clemens, MI | 7:00 PM Dine at our outdoor patios, then grab a cool beverage from participating bars in The Oasis Social District to sip outside. Our free outdoor concert series is in the Cherry Street Mall. Bring a chair and enjoy the lineup: 6/5 Kathleen Murray (Rock, Soul, Blues), 6/12 Spooky Sterling (Blues, Classic Rock), 6/19 Brendon Linsley Band (Modern Country, Country Rock, Pop).
JUNE 13TH THROUGH JULY 18TH
Art,
Here
The Anton Art Center, 125 Macomb Place, Mount Clemens, MI
Step into a rare collection of original 1994 World Cup paintings by featured artist Chazz Miller, presented by Detroit City FC. On view June 13–July 18 in the First Floor Gallery. Join the opening reception and artist talk June 20, 1–3PM, with refreshments, and experience the energy, culture, and global spirit behind
this one-of-a-kind exhibition. For more information visit theartcenter.org
JUNE 13TH
Fill the Streets Downtown
69 North Walnut Street, Mount Clemens, MI | 11:00 AM
It’s a Whole Vibe. Downtown transforms into a lively 4th Annual Urban Street Fair with 5+ musical performers, 75+ vendors, food trucks, and a juried art show. Hosted by Stephanie Bennett and Giselle Godin, the creative force behind The Bohemian Goat, this nature-inspired experience invites you to explore, shop, and stay awhile. Free. 11AM - 7PM. Learn more at thebohemiangoat.com
JUNE 20TH
Cherry Street Mall Parking Lot, Downtown Mount Clemens, MI | 5:00 PM
Get ready to toss some bags in the Oasis Social District. Big Shots Cornhole takes over Cherry Street Mall parking lot with warmups at 5PM and tournament play at 6PM. Two divisions: $20 per team (trophies + custom bags) or $40 per team (trophies + cash prizes). Search “Big Shots Social” on the Scoreholio app to register.
JUNE 26TH
Fireworks Over the River— Celebrating 250 Years of American Freedom
Clinton River Park, downtown Mount Clemens, MI | 7:00 PM
Mark Independence Day along the Clinton River banks in downtown Mount Clemens, commemorating 250 years of American freedom. Enjoy high-energy live music from Five Second Fuse, packed with crowd-favorite hits you’ll know by heart. Picnic on the lawn or dock your boat (first-come). Dine in or grab takeout from local restaurants, then look skyward for a spectacular fireworks finale.
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ARTICLE BY KIM HILL
Has it been too long since your tribe gathered to rib and one-up each other as only guys can do? To help plan a getaway for just the guys, City Lifestyle gathered an eclectic list of locations offering tons of things to see, do and experience. Here’s hoping the only ribs one will get on this guys’ getaway are the kind to hold in hands while barbecue sauce drips onto shirts.
Scottsdale/Phoenix
There’s no other tournament on the PGA Tour like the Waste Management Phoenix Open and no hole like the legendary 16th, where 20,000 boisterous fans boo the tee shots that miss the green. The other 51 weeks of the year, golfers can play TPC Scottsdale or try one of more than 200 courses in the Scottsdale area, a top golf destination. Another winter event is the BarrettJackson Collector Car Auction. Even if one’s only collector car was a Hot Wheels, it’s a blast to peruse the acres of autos for sale before heading inside to watch the unique or renowned cars crossing the auction block. When it’s time to get moving, the strenuous hike up Camelback Mountain in nearby Phoenix is a bucket-list item. Need a more moderate trail? Experience the same magic of the majestic saguaro cactus in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
It’s always a party in New Orleans (NOLA), especially when it comes to festivals, many of them centered around music. Folk to funk, gospel to jazz, zydeco, blues, African and other musical styles are celebrated on the Jazz and Heritage Festival’s 12 stages. If free admission is more desired, don’t miss the French Quarter Festival featuring local musicians and food vendors representing
dozens of New Orleans restaurants. Part of the fun of Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is admiring revelers’ watercraft, some of them homemade just for this festival on the banks of Bayou Saint John. If one of the festivals can’t be attended, there’s still plenty of NOLA live music, particularly the jazz clubs on Frenchmen Street. And when a break from crowds is needed, take a guided swamp tour. Kitschy, yes, but it’s a hoot to cruise around on a swamp buggy while looking for alligators.
Bowling Green, Kentucky
“America’s Sports Car” is produced at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where visitors can join guided tours to observe Corvettes being built and learn the fascinating history of these sexy autos. See examples of all Corvette generations at the National Corvette Museum. And if the need for speed is still felt, a few times a year Xtreme Experience offers driving or ride-along events in exotics like Ferraris or Lamborghinis at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park. After getting all revved up, cool down at Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world and a World Heritage Site, where guided tours take participants through tunnels humans have used for thousands of years. And after all this touring, the Bowling Green area is the southernmost point in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail of distilleries.
Austin
Live music rules here, with iconic venues such as Antone’s, The Continental Club, the White Horse and hundreds of other locations, from dive bars to big stages. From rock and blues to country and urban, music is heard every night of the week (and many afternoons as well). When guys are hungry, there are tons of barbeque and Tex-Mex joints. Unique food trucks are truly a thing here, with nearly 2,000 food trailers in town. Burn some calories biking or running the Southern Walnut Creek Trail or one of many paved paths. Get out on the water in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard on Lake Travis or Lady Bird Lake. Take a dip in the historic Barton Springs Pool, where the underground springs keep the water around 68 degrees all year.
