Wholesome guys' weekend suggestions, please.
March 14, 2007 8:58 AM Subscribe
Guys' Weekend Filter: Two guys, 35ish, need ideas for a fun, wholesome, testosterone-filled weekend, anywhere in the 48 contiguous states.
Flashback 15 years: Mr. Orangemiles and best friend, Guyfriend, are in college together in Indiana. Mr. O borrows $10 from Guyfriend to buy a t-shirt at a basketball game. T-shirt comes with a raffle ticket for a one-day trip for two to Washington D.C. Mr. O wins the raffle... but doesn't take Guyfriend. (Ouch.) Guyfriend has forgiven Mr. O, but now Mr. O wants to make it up to Guyfriend.
I'm thinking about $1000 budget for airfare, hotel for two nights, and activities. And it has to happen in the next month or two. Skydiving at Mount Rushmore? Snorkeling in Florida? Both guys are conservative/straightlaced/whatever non-offensive way of saying that, hence the "wholesome". Both are married, Guyfriend has children, so nothing involving other women. No "strip clubs in Vegas" suggestions, please.
Extra points for creativity and outdoorsy stuff.
Flashback 15 years: Mr. Orangemiles and best friend, Guyfriend, are in college together in Indiana. Mr. O borrows $10 from Guyfriend to buy a t-shirt at a basketball game. T-shirt comes with a raffle ticket for a one-day trip for two to Washington D.C. Mr. O wins the raffle... but doesn't take Guyfriend. (Ouch.) Guyfriend has forgiven Mr. O, but now Mr. O wants to make it up to Guyfriend.
I'm thinking about $1000 budget for airfare, hotel for two nights, and activities. And it has to happen in the next month or two. Skydiving at Mount Rushmore? Snorkeling in Florida? Both guys are conservative/straightlaced/whatever non-offensive way of saying that, hence the "wholesome". Both are married, Guyfriend has children, so nothing involving other women. No "strip clubs in Vegas" suggestions, please.
Extra points for creativity and outdoorsy stuff.
Since you're already in Florida, how about a cruise? Surely there are more exotic places to snorkel! There are always insane deals to be found here and there, especially if you're so flexible on the time.
posted by hermitosis at 9:08 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by hermitosis at 9:08 AM on March 14, 2007
universal studios and islands of adventures in orlando...lots of exciting rides, lots of walking...lots of time to talk and build memories with your friend.
posted by mmascolino at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by mmascolino at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2007
Why not Vegas? It's not all strip clubs out there. Lots of outdoorsy stuff in the area.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2007
I suggest a chartered fishing expedition - maybe bonefishing down in the Florida Keys or head north for Bass (check when the season opens). Go the extra mile and get a guide so that your odds are improved of landing the classic photo opportunity.
posted by greedo at 9:13 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by greedo at 9:13 AM on March 14, 2007
It's not too late to go skiing somewhere out west.
posted by PhatLobley at 9:35 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by PhatLobley at 9:35 AM on March 14, 2007
I don't have any web resources for this, but one thing I've always wanted to do is to go to Jeep School or Hummer School in Utah, Nevada or Colorado.
You get to ride a Jeep or H2 in conditions that you would never take your daily driver into - steeps, ravines, rivers. These weekends teach you good defensive driving skills, keep you outdoors, help you bond with other people.
Or you could take a race car down a track - Seattle International Raceway and Portland International Raceway (one of the two might be defunct now) or go autocrossing. Look up your local or national car clubs for more information
You could go Ziplining in Whistler (in a province that is contiguous to the 48 contiguous states) explore tree canopies in a safe roped up environment
And if there are Zorbing attractions in a hilly area in the states, give it a go - it's yet another crazy trend from New Zealand (the same folks who brought us bungee jumping some years ago)
posted by seawallrunner at 9:35 AM on March 14, 2007
You get to ride a Jeep or H2 in conditions that you would never take your daily driver into - steeps, ravines, rivers. These weekends teach you good defensive driving skills, keep you outdoors, help you bond with other people.
Or you could take a race car down a track - Seattle International Raceway and Portland International Raceway (one of the two might be defunct now) or go autocrossing. Look up your local or national car clubs for more information
You could go Ziplining in Whistler (in a province that is contiguous to the 48 contiguous states) explore tree canopies in a safe roped up environment
And if there are Zorbing attractions in a hilly area in the states, give it a go - it's yet another crazy trend from New Zealand (the same folks who brought us bungee jumping some years ago)
posted by seawallrunner at 9:35 AM on March 14, 2007
The folks over at Outside magazine have done some of your research for you. Try flipping through their:
North American "Trips of a lifetime."
United States vacations.
Best trips 2005: North America.
Many of these are longer than your timeframe and/or outside your budget, but its a place to start.
Personally, I would recommend finding an interesting urban center relatively close to something amazing outdoors. For example, flying in to Seattle and going for a two day, one night hike in the North Cascades. Alternatively, you could go camping in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. I've done this, its spectacular, and you don't need to be in pristine shape to get a lot out of it. Might be a bit chilly if you're serious about going in the next couple of months (I went in August).
posted by googly at 9:47 AM on March 14, 2007
North American "Trips of a lifetime."
United States vacations.
Best trips 2005: North America.
Many of these are longer than your timeframe and/or outside your budget, but its a place to start.
Personally, I would recommend finding an interesting urban center relatively close to something amazing outdoors. For example, flying in to Seattle and going for a two day, one night hike in the North Cascades. Alternatively, you could go camping in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. I've done this, its spectacular, and you don't need to be in pristine shape to get a lot out of it. Might be a bit chilly if you're serious about going in the next couple of months (I went in August).
posted by googly at 9:47 AM on March 14, 2007
Hike a mountain. I've done Pikes Peak and Mt. Elbert, both in Colorado. Takes a day if your fast. Two or three if you bring a little gear.
posted by kc0dxh at 9:55 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by kc0dxh at 9:55 AM on March 14, 2007
Skiing out west is a great idea.
posted by mmascolino at 10:06 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by mmascolino at 10:06 AM on March 14, 2007
Rally Car Driving classes. (Or any other performance driving school)
posted by tumble at 10:10 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by tumble at 10:10 AM on March 14, 2007
Whitewater Rafting is fun, wholesome, and many outfitters offer housing and food as part of the package, so the planning can be really easy.
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 10:16 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by Sprout the Vulgarian at 10:16 AM on March 14, 2007
Adding on to Sprout's comment: there are a number of rafting trips (at least in California; may be different in your neck of the woods) that only take one or two days. The American River and the Tuolumne are good examples. I did the Tuolumne with ARTA on a two-day, and it was really good, with some time to do other stuff besides rafting. With higher water levels in the early part of the rafting season, it's possible to do the Tuolumne in one day, but I think it'd be a day full of just paddling. Note that on some trips, they'll be paddling the boats themselves, which can be a bit strenuous.
posted by LionIndex at 10:30 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by LionIndex at 10:30 AM on March 14, 2007
Have you ever seriously taken a bus or train across the country? It's a pretty wonderful experience, and would be an awesome thing to share with your guyfriends.
Wait, wait, wait... okay! I've got it. Take the Amtrak to Bakersfield, California, where it all started. Hear some awesome country music and eat some big steaks at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, and then fly home.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:36 AM on March 14, 2007
Wait, wait, wait... okay! I've got it. Take the Amtrak to Bakersfield, California, where it all started. Hear some awesome country music and eat some big steaks at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, and then fly home.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:36 AM on March 14, 2007
Oh... I just reread your question and realized that you're Mr. O, so it's just one guyfriend.
Another thing about trains... they go through areas far, far away from the interstates, that you'd never see any other way. It's pretty great.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:41 AM on March 14, 2007
Another thing about trains... they go through areas far, far away from the interstates, that you'd never see any other way. It's pretty great.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:41 AM on March 14, 2007
Response by poster: No, I'm not Mr. O. I'm orangemiles, Mr. O's wife. Unfortunately, Mr. O doesn't like country music. But thanks, roll truck roll!
posted by orangemiles at 10:52 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by orangemiles at 10:52 AM on March 14, 2007
Although the travel will blow your budget, maybe a day of Race the Skip Barber Driving School (or a closer equivalent) would be the thing to do.
posted by plinth at 10:54 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by plinth at 10:54 AM on March 14, 2007
How about something like this?
More more more
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 11:04 AM on March 14, 2007
More more more
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 11:04 AM on March 14, 2007
Astronaut training? (pdf) Looks like it runs $250 ea.
posted by grateful at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by grateful at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2007
Go to Vegas. Stay in a nice hotel. Do the whole rat-pack thing -- go to a couple of clubs, drink some fancy Scotch or a martini, maybe smoke a nice cee-gar.
Then go to a gun range and shoot machine guns until your shoulders ache. What the fuck could be more wholesome and testerone-filled than FIRING FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, for Pete's sake? ISTR that there are several ranges at Vegas with machine-gun rental.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:18 AM on March 14, 2007
Then go to a gun range and shoot machine guns until your shoulders ache. What the fuck could be more wholesome and testerone-filled than FIRING FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, for Pete's sake? ISTR that there are several ranges at Vegas with machine-gun rental.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:18 AM on March 14, 2007
Just riffin' off your user name, orangemiles, but if your hubby and buddy like jazz, the Jacksonville Jazz Fest is coming up April 13-15.
posted by paulsc at 11:28 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by paulsc at 11:28 AM on March 14, 2007
Another non-strip club Vegas suggestion. Ride some ATVs through the Valley of Fire. I've done this and it was absolutely macho and super fun.
At least it was till my ATV broke down and I had to ride pillion all the way back. That part sucked.
posted by chairface at 11:39 AM on March 14, 2007
At least it was till my ATV broke down and I had to ride pillion all the way back. That part sucked.
posted by chairface at 11:39 AM on March 14, 2007
Rafting down the Green River! or down the Kern River! or down the Colorado! These should all be sufficiently warm enough to handle given your time constraints. I'd suggest the Kennebec River in Maine, but I suspect it would still be a bit too cold.
I've been on several rafting trips that were short in duration, but MASSIVE in amount of fun. It is especially fun if you enjoy fly-fishing, as you can use float tubes to float independently at calmer stretches of the river.
Getting out of the hustle and bustle of city life always seems to distinguish a trip as somehow more special/memorable to me. I really connect to nature, and it's a blast sharing the experience with friends!
posted by numinous at 11:42 AM on March 14, 2007
I've been on several rafting trips that were short in duration, but MASSIVE in amount of fun. It is especially fun if you enjoy fly-fishing, as you can use float tubes to float independently at calmer stretches of the river.
Getting out of the hustle and bustle of city life always seems to distinguish a trip as somehow more special/memorable to me. I really connect to nature, and it's a blast sharing the experience with friends!
posted by numinous at 11:42 AM on March 14, 2007
Oh yeah, Vegas also has indoor skydiving for that macho yet not at all macho experience. It's sort of a short experience though.
posted by chairface at 11:43 AM on March 14, 2007
posted by chairface at 11:43 AM on March 14, 2007
Cue my fail to Preview:
It looks like Sprout the Vulgarian and LionIndex beat me to it. Consider the suggested thirded!
posted by numinous at 11:47 AM on March 14, 2007
It looks like Sprout the Vulgarian and LionIndex beat me to it. Consider the suggested thirded!
posted by numinous at 11:47 AM on March 14, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Gungho at 9:04 AM on March 14, 2007