BOUTIQUE BUSINESSES

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March, we’re giving a shout out to six of the USA’s leading ladies who are at the peak of their game, from independent business owners to craft beer connoisseurs. Across the states, these women are giving the men a run for their money.

Portland, Oregon: Upcycled skateboards

Lindsay Jo Holmes is the founder and owner of Maple XO, an independent jewellery store making jewellery and accessories out of recycled skateboards. “Skateboarding helps you look at the world differently. Suddenly, parking curbs and empty pools are treasures, and a piece of plywood on wheels is your diary. We take pride in being the original creators of recycled skateboard jewellery, but at the end of the day, we owe all the credit back to skateboarding for the way it has opened our eyes to potential in what others consider garbage.” Lindsay’s workshop and store can be found in Kerns neighbourhood, where visitors can watch the team at work and pick up a colourful treat. www.travelportland.com

Golden, Colorado: Handmade skis

Annelise Loevlie is the CEO of Golden-based Icelantic Skis. Born and raised in Colorado, Annelise has spent her life exploring all corners of the world. All of Icelantic’s products are handmade and the brands core values reflect artistic expression, exploration and fun, encouraging customers to ‘Return to Nature’ with every product. www.colorado.com

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Greater Palm Springs, California: Art in the desert

Susan Davis is the founder and president of Desert X, a biennial, contemporary art exhibition that brings the California’s desert landscape alive through site-specific installations by renowned, international, contemporary artists. The second edition launched on 9 February 2019 with 19 installations spanning the nine cities of Greater Palm Spring, from Palm Springs city to the Salton Sea and across the border into Mexico. Prior to launching Desert X, Susan was the editorial direct of The Anneberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage. www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

SPORTS WITH SASS

San Diego, California: USA’s first female surf school

Twin sisters Izzy Tihanyi and Coco Tihanyi founded Surf Divain 1996 as the first all-female surf school in the USA. Since its launch in the picturesque, coastal region of La Jolla, San Diego, Surf Diva has expanded to offer a range of lessons, from traditional surfing to stand-up paddle boarding lessons, camps and clinics for all ages, abilities and both genders. www.sandiego.org

BITES AND BEVERAGES

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: First post-Prohibition distillery

Meredith Meyer Grelli is the co-founder and co-owner of Wigle Whiskey, Pittsburgh’s first distillery since Prohibition. Since beginning distilling in December 2011, Wigle Whiskey has worked to restore Pittsburgh’s legacy as the Birthplace of American Whiskey and the epicentre of Rye. Tours and tastings are available throughout the year and there are special edition bottles to purchase each season. www.visitpittsburgh.com

Santa Cruz, California: Brew cruise

Santa Cruz native, Annie Pautsch, shuttles an intimate group of 15 guests to local craft beer spots around town in a refurbished, vintage school bus called Brew Cruz. Converting the interior into a comfortable, mobile living room with maple floors, Doug Fir benches, mounted vintage chairs and hanging succulents, Annie highlights points of interest — like the site of an old beer garden with subterranean caves — as the bus skirts the scenic coastline of the Pacific and Monterey Bay. www.santacruz.org