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Father's Day Travel: Last-Minute Mancations

If you're anything like us, you usually forget Father's Day until the reminder call from Mom on Sunday morning. Since you surely didn't get around to planning that golf trip to St. Andrew's or the Alaska fishing expedition, here are some Father's Day trips you can actually pull off at the last minute.

For the Jazzhead: The JVC Jazz Festival kicks off in New York on Sunday. Please your dad by declaring a newfound appreciation for Herbie Hancock. (He doesn't have to know you're going for Mos Def.)

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Mancations / Active Travel / Biking / Summer Travel / → All Tags

Urban Travel: Bike Nuts Headed to Toronto

You've seen the crazy bike messengers racing through your city ten times faster than cars, effortlessly dodging people, taxis and anything else that gets in their way. Now imagine them all getting together, meeting up with the daredevil messengers from every other city in the world and holding one giant, rules-free race. That's the concept behind the 16th Annual Cycle Messenger World Championships, taking off in Toronto June 13-16.

The three-hour, fast-paced road race replicates the route of an urban bike messenger, while additional events include bike polo (with wheels instead of horses), the bunnyhop (high-jumping with bikes), and skids (bikers race to high speeds, then lock their rear wheels to see how far they can skid). Hundreds of competitors are expected, and if watching isn't your thing, all events are open to anyone crazy enough to try.

The championships will be held on Toronto Island, the urban park near Toronto City Centre Airport, so if you get bored you can wander over to Hanlan's Point Beach to check out the local nudist colony. Oh and if you need to rent a bike, Toronto Island Bicycle Rental has you covered.

Related Stories:
· Cycle Messenger World Championships [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sailing Nomad]

Active Travel / Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Mancations / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Harry Stunts and So Can You

Harrison Ford received a high-octane ovation on Sunday at the world premiere of the new Indy flick, and rightfully so. At 65, Ford's kicking bad-guy ass while most American men his age are "seated on a bass boat or in a golf cart," says MSNBC.

To avoid becoming another lame statistic, take some cues from Indy and spend your summer vacation in Vegas learning death-defying stunts under the watchful eye of Hollywood professionals. We'd suggest the five-day package from Thrillseekers Unlimited. The company's film credits include "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Vegas Vamps" (not a skin flick!), so they know what's up.

After signing your life away and reading the fine print, you can attempt a zero-G fall, a high speed car race, a bungy jump and some man-to-man combat with weapons. You'll even be set on fire at no extra cost.

Afterwards, douse the flames in a cool pitcher of sangria over at Rao's summer bocce courts and brag about your stunt-liness to those hot Bocce Bellas.

Related Stories:
· Thrillseekers Unlimited [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage[Jaunted]

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Revenge Travel: Rocky Involved in Philly Brawl

Who knew the Sylvester Stallone statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art was a hockey fan? At least he's been captive to the cause since two Montreal Canadiens fans slipped a hockey jersey on the statue earlier this week, angering Philadelphia Flyers fans facing the affront to their NHL playoff rivals. (Yes, the NHL still exists.)

A similar plot by Pittsburgh Penguin fans was foiled by security guards around the statue, but they should be glad: The Flyers are 3-1 now, so clearly messing with Rocky doesn't help the away team.

Related Stories:
· Saving Rocky from Penguins Fan Desecration [Yahoo Sports]
· Sports Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The 700 Levil]

Mancations / Festivals / Sports Travel / Culture / Summer Travel / → All Tags

Bromantic Travel: Heavy Objects and Kilts

Anyone can plan a golf excursion or a deep sea fishing trip, but only the brave would plan a mancation around attending a series of games that promise sweat, strength and the possibility of injury.

The highland games are celebrated all over the world as a way to embrace Celtic culture. Men in traditional garb compete in events such as the "caber toss," in which one attempts to launch a 100-pound, 20-foot-tall log as far as possible. We'd guess that your lady friends are unlikely to tag along.

The Cowal Highland Gathering held in Dunoon is the largest event of its kind held in Scotland. Set for the last weekend in August, this year brings the Red Hot Chilli Pipers to town. (Yes, they're a rock-and-bagpipe group.)

You can also celebrate your love for all things Celtic a little closer to home at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina. About 50,000 people attend the games in the western part of the state each year. The events kick off this year on July 10 and bagpipe their way through July 13.

Related Stories:
· Grandfather Mountain Highland Games [Official Site]
· Cowal Highland Gathering [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: sherseydc]

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Mongolia Travel: Location, Location, Mancation?

April's half over and if you don't start planning this summer's mancation, you know none of your friends will. We suggest you join the thousands of spectators who flock to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding Gobi Desert each July for the country's annual "Three Manly Games."

OK, so officially it's the Naadam Festival, but our name for it is pretty accurate. Whatever you call it, this mid-summer Mongolian manfest is not your average guys getaway.

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Dangerous Mancations: Fishing with Cheney in Oman

We told you Oman would go mainstream, but we didn't know it would go right-wing. As part of a 10-day tour in the Middle East, Vice President Dick Cheney took some time in the gulf state to rant about Iran and the nuclear threat--and then borrowed the sultan's 60-foot yacht to go fishing.

A fishing trip with the VP sounds a bit safer than, say, going on a hunt--just mind all those hooks. Cheney's wife and daughter, who accompanied him on the outing, came back without suffering any impalements. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, however, apparently thought better of it and didn't go.

Too bad Cheney didn't have time to do any shark fishing before heading back to the States!

Related Stories:
· VP talks about nukes in Oman [WaPo]
· Oman coverage [Jaunted]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Mathias M]

Alcohol / Scotland / Mancations / → All Tags

Single Malt Mancation in Speyside

There's a certain romance to the soft, bucolic green hills of Scotland--a romance that wouldn't normally inspire us to take a trip there with the guys. But after hearing about the whisky festival in Speyside we're changing our minds. Pack your best tweed jacket for this mancation, and come ready to quaff some of the finest single malts the island has to offer.

Speyside, an area taking its name from the river Spey, has a history of making whisky that stretches more than 150 years. Even back when distilling was a "crime against the crown," says the Guardian, it was home to more than 200 distilleries. Many of the world's most popular whiskies have emerged from the region (Johnnie Walker ring a bell?) but the more artisan single malts are Speyside's signature. Benromach, one of the smallest distilleries, has a shop in the town of Elgin that sells 750 kinds of malts.

The Spirit of Speyside whisky festival runs May 1 - 5, and includes a variety of tours, tastings, food events and (if you're still able to stand) even dancing. The festival drew about 16,000 people last year and some of the events are already fully booked. As always, classiness comes with a price--tastings run from about $10 - $40 each.

Related Stories:
· Whisky Galore at Speyside Festival [Guardian]
· Spirit of Speyside [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]
· Scotland Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kyleroth]

Mancations / Fashion / Shopping / → All Tags

Nothing More Manly than Denim and Beer

We'll admit it: Taking a trip to Wisconsin to shop for jeans is an unorthodox mancation. But it's also worth it. Context in Madison is one of the few stores in the country specializing in raw denim for men. The rugged material is made just like it was in the early 1900s, and store owners Sam and Ryan will set you up with a pair that hug in all the right places.

They'll also give you a bit of unexpected manly advice: don't wash your pants for at least six months. These jeans are truly au natural--no chemicals or fading treatments here--and are designed to be broken-in by the wearer. Expect to pay top dollar for these durable, non-sweatshop garments; they're often upwards of $200. At least you'll save on laundry costs.

Don't let that lightness in your wallet deter you from hitting the town. Right around the corner is the Great Dane Brewpub, where a hearty plate of brats and mash is only $8, and fresh in-house brews are always on tap.

Related Stories:
· Context Clothing [Official Site]
· Great Dane Brewpub [Official Site]
· Fashion coverage [Jaunted]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

Mancations / Biking / Mountain Biking / South Africa Travel / → All Tags

Mountain Bike Mancations in SA

Flying down narrow singletrack trails on a mountain bike is challenging. Doing so after sundown in the South African wilderness sounds damn near crazy. But if there's a beer and a beach at the end of the road, then we're all in.

Live2Ride tours in Langebaan, South Africa--a coastal city roughly 60 miles from Cape Town--offers just that experience for only about $30. Starting at sunset, riders head out from the beachfront, winding through town and up into the woods. The ride is just shy of eight miles long, but the darkness makes dirt roads all the more tricky. (Yes, you'll have lights.) The trail spits you back out by the water where you can score drinks at Driftwoods restaurant.

If you're looking for something a bit longer, Live2Ride also offers day tours for about $70. The Aurora route is a grueling climb up into the Piketberg mountains with a total elevation gain of over 3,000 feet. But save some of that energy for a fast descent on the second half--you'll need it to squeeze your break levers.

Related Stories:
· Live2Ride [Official Site]
· South Africa Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Mountain Biking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: coda]