Things To Do In Verona

Marlene La Fleur’s equine epiphany struck in 1963, when an American Saddlebred steed named Mr. Sandman motivated her to open a stable and breed her own army of championship horses. Since then, Marlene and her husband’s stable has grown by leaps and bounds, with the rein-tuggers moving into an ultramodern barn and training facility in 2001 that allowed them to expand their English-style riding lessons. Placing an emphasis on horsemanship and equitation, Marlene’s daughter Neva leads hands-on lessons that cycle through proper grooming, tacking, and riding techniques catered to each student’s individual skill set. Pintsized riders may also celebrate birthdays or visits from John Wayne’s ghost during group parties replete with barn tours, breezy trots, and a party room that boasts a full kitchen. The stable’s stylish and well-mannered steeds kick up their hooves in spacious 144-square-foot stalls, which are built from southern yellow pine and equipped with individual windows overlooking the grounds’ picturesque rolling hills.

King Pin Management LLC nurtures and guides three restaurants and a dozen bowling centers all across Wisconsin, including King Pin Bowl. Their staff consultants and accountants track all these operations, tallying every penny while auditing employee performance. In addition, training instructors travel around to give employees refresher courses on proper workplace conduct, while menu developers help make restaurant offerings more taste bud-friendly. Not even pinsetters and floors escape the staff's attention—technicians comb every bowling lane and machine to root out faulty wiring and make sure new pin system computers know how to form a perfect triangle.

A nonprofit arts-education haven for the community, Rhapsody instructs budding virtuosos and aesthetes of all ages through programs in music, art, drama, and other distinctly cultured pursuits. The artistic equivalent of a superhero brigade, the roster of teachers includes many with master’s degrees in their specialty. Among the classes offered this summer, Songwriters Workshop teaches the basics of setting words to music and digging up repressed emotions about previous-life breakups (ages 13+, $75). Transformational Painting allows adults to conjure their inner oil painter (ages 18+, $115), and tenderfooted thespians can partake in Acting for Little Ones, a confidence-building primer designed to train the future cast of the impending Friends reboot (ages 4–6, $55).

Snap Fitness's easyFIT monitor is a small, clip-on accelerometer that helps keep track of daily exercise. Unlike pedometers that merely measure steps and spy on daydreams, the easyFIT monitor senses the intensity and duration of physical activity, transmogrifying those stats into simple, numerical points that help assess activity levels from sedentary to peak performance. In addition to tracking exercise in real time, easyFIT monitors can connect to the wearer's personal web portal to upload data and create fitness graphs that help show progress, snag exercise suggestions, and stave off the temptation of living next to a hamburger farm. Watch a video about the easyFit here.

Anytime Fitness, which boasts more than 1,800 clubs in North America, makes it easier for average folks to etch out time for exercise by doing one simple thing: staying open 24 hours a day for 365 days a year. As fitness seekers challenge themselves on cardio and Hammer Strength machines and hoist Iron Grip free weights in clean, well-stocked facilities, security monitoring ensures they’re safe and producing enough sweat to meet official government standards. Members can also ramp up their exercise regimens with the help of Anytime Fitness’s staff of personal trainers, who demonstrate moves and sling motivating tips. After workouts, guests can shower in the private restrooms or hop into one of the tanning booths available 24 hours a day.

Energy Center Fitness Club is manned by a staff of personal trainers, group instructors, lifestyle coaches, and massage therapists. Staffers keep the club open 24/7 to give members round-the-clock opportunities to lift free weights, climb aboard cardio and weight machines, and make saltwater taffy in the stretching area. The staff leads more than 20 group classes, whose curricula include boot camp, Zumba Toning, Pilates, and cycling. Owner, trainer, and lifestyle coach Shawn Bollig also discusses nutrition with guests, while the club's Thin & Healthy Total Solution offers clients a weight loss program aimed toward a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Free towel service keeps workouts hygienic, as do the private locker and shower areas. Massage therapy soothes peaked muscles, while Energy Center Fitness Club renders clients tan in lie-down and standup UV booths. A complimentary play area, meanwhile, keeps children entertained and prevents their imaginary friends from hogging the invisible elliptical machines.