Top 10 Trips for Just the Guys!
Bachelor parties, Father’s Day, or a big birthday celebration — there’s no shortage of reasons to get away with the guys.
The next time you boys need some time off from the girls, skip the afternoon outing in favor of a full-blown guy trip.
We’ve rounded up the 10 best activities and destinations where you can bond with your buds — whether watching baseball, drinking beer, or a getting a back rub — on a guys-only getaway.
1. Catch a baseball game in Boston
Even a die-hard Yankees fan can’t deny Boston’s place in baseball history. The beloved Boston Red Sox (known locally as the Sawx) are such an integral part of the city’s identity that even ambivalence is considered blasphemy. Their fans are fanatical and their home, Fenway Park, looks very much like it did when the first game was played there in 1912. The best time for a guy trip to see the boys of summer in action is – well, the summer – but no matter what time of year you visit Boston, you can always take a tour of Fenway Park for a behind-the-scenes look at one of baseball’s most famous franchises.
2. Cook in Napa
Guys who think cooking is “woman’s work” obviously missed the memo, because the majority of the world’s top-rated chefs are men. You may never own a Michelin-starred restaurant, but there’s no better place to learn the basics than the Culinary Institute of America in Northern California’s Napa Valley. The CIA offers very masculine grilling classes – you’ll be the ultimate barbecue man on the block in no time. If it gets too hot in the kitchen, steer your guy trip towards one of Napa Valley’s superb restaurants, where you can sit back and let someone else do the cooking, or enjoy the fruit of the vine at one of the Valley’s 400-plus wineries.
3. Drink beer in Bavaria
There may be no better place on earth for beer lovers than Bavaria, Germany’s largest state. The capital city of Munich is home to the world-famous Oktoberfest, but there’s plenty of sud-sipping to be done in Bavaria all year long. Beer gardens and beer halls abound, as do centuries-old breweries whose output adheres to the strict standards set forth in 1516. With so many places to lift a glass and say prost!, you won’t have much time for sightseeing; if you need a break from imbibing however, there are plenty of castles, monasteries, medieval villages, lakes, and mountains to explore. For more great guy trip destinations to throw back a few, check out our Top 10 Cities for Beer Lovers.
4. Golf in San Diego at Torrey Pines.
Enjoy One Complimentary Round of Golf on the Torrey Pines Golf
Course for Any Qualifying 4 Night Stay at The Lodge at Torrey Pines!
between June 5 and August 31, 2010. The Lodge at
Torrey Pines, is located in La Jolla, California overlooking the Pacific
Ocean, immediately adjacent to the 18th green of the Torrey Pines Golf
Course. The Craftsman-style resort features 170 spacious guest rooms
and suites, more than 13,000 square feet of meeting and banquet
space, a 9,500 square-foot full-service spa and two restaurants,
including a signature dining room serving contemporary California
cuisine. Hotel guests can take advantage of a guaranteed tee time program exclusive for lodge guests.
5. Off-road in Death Valley
Former boy scouts looking for a wilderness camping adventure should plan their guys’ trip to Death Valley, California, where deep-rock canyons, old mining camps, and the arid Panamint Mountains beg to be explored. See it all via 4×4 – and if you’re feeling really adventurous, spin your wheels in the sand of the Dumont Dunes (www.blm.gov), some of the tallest dunes open for off-road riding. Set up camp under the stars and test your survival skills, because you’ll be sharing the land with wild donkeys, coyotes, and snakes. Pack plenty of drinking water – about 2 gallons per person, per day – if you don’t want the park’s name to predict the outcome of your trip.
6. Party in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the ultimate spot for excess, a place where boys can be boys and indulge in the activities guys love: gambling, girls, and nightlife. The Hardwood Suite at the Palms Casino Resort is tailor-made for the ultimate guys’ trip – think a basketball half-court and scoreboard, a massive hot tub, a full bar, and a pool table. More basketball touches like a lavish locker room and jerseys are courtesy of Palms owner George Maloof, who also owns the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Models wearing cheerleader and referee uniforms will even act as hosts for your special night. If you’re looking for ladies, we’ve got you covered – we recommended Vegas as a top girls getaway, too.
7. Do the Grand Canyon!
Tom Smith has rafted his own boat down the Grand Canyon 4 times, each time for 20 days on the river. He has hiked the trails, rowed the rapids and experienced the awe of this place. Tom recommends OARS for a great trip down the canyon in smaller boats and small groups. Perfect for families or a reunion of your fraternity brothers! When it comes to experiencing – not just seeing – the Grand Canyon, no one does it better than the Adventure Collection’s Grand Canyon specialists. George Wendt, founder of AC member company O.A.R.S., first rafted through this legendary American heartland four decades ago. Back in 1969, George was granted one of the first non-motorized Grand Canyon river rafting outfitting licenses. Since then, OARS has gained unparallelled experience conducting non-motorized trips down the canyon’s lifeblood, the Colorado River. OARS offers the option of long itineraries and a laid-back pace that allows time to soak up the enormity of the canyon’s character. And we strictly limit the number of travelers on Grand Canyon trips to ensure that passengers enjoy the best possible, least crowded river adventure. What’s more, OARS offers two means to these incredible ends: 18’ neoprene rafts and 17’ hard-hulled dories. Because rafts are inflatable, they ride on top of the water and have a certain amount of give to them; therefore, when a large wave hits them, they tend to flex a little and roll over the rapids. The dories are sleek, elegant boats made of fiberglass, wood and foam; as a hard-hulled boat, it has no give, so when a large wave hits it, the dory is lifted, providing a more pronounced, up-and-down ride through the whitewater. Whichever way you choose, journeying through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado is an experience you’ll never forget.
8. Spa in Chicago
Cubs-crazed Chicago is tailor-made for guy trips; but after you’ve had your fill of sports, pizza, and jazz, head out for a relaxing day at the spa. If you secretly love to be pampered, you’re not alone – about a third of U.S. spa-goers are men. Get your back massaged (or waxed) in masculine surroundings – think pool tables, brown leather chairs, and ’40s pin-up-girl posters – at the 316 Club Barber Spa (www.316barberspa.com). Don’t worry: If you have to miss the Cubs game because your skin is still exfoliating, you can catch it one of the numerous flat-screen TVs in the lounge and treatment “cabanas.”
9. Sport fish in Panama
If the only thing you know about Panama is that is has a famous canal, it’s time for a trip to Central America. Panama is full of surprises; that it’s an excellent spot for sport fishing is one of many. Grab the guys and head south for a “reel” good catch – Panama’s waters are home to swordfish, marlin, and even some shark species. Even if the fish aren’t biting, the landscapes alone are worth a guys’ trip trek – exploring the country’s tropical rain forests and untouched beaches isn’t a bad way to spend a weekend with the boys, either.
10. Surf in Sydney
The “Man” in Manly Beach isn’t the only reason for its guys’ trip allure. Known as the Bondi Beach of the north, this strip of Sydney sand attracts hordes of visitors looking to kick back and ride the waves (and perhaps steal a glance at topless sunbathers, a regular sighting on local Australian beaches). Bikinis (or lack thereof) aside, men who’d rather focus on the water can master killer waves by enrolling in a local surf school and learning from the pros. Plus, once the sun goes down, you can head out and enjoy Sydney’s legendary nightlife.
Tom Smith Travel has incredible packages and value rates, including exclusive Virtuoso pricing and upgrades for all of the above destinations!
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