Mancations have become popular. A group of men, bonding over the things that great adventure stories are made of. But, what if you aren't into the usual getaways?
Mancations have become increasingly popular lately. Formerly known as a boy's weekend, guys-only trip or stag vacation; mancations offer the chance for a group of guys to get together and bond over a shared adventure.
There are a lot of great ideas for mancation getaways. But what if you and your friends like a little more "adventure" in your adventure? The following is a list of some more extreme mancation ideas.
- Surf Camp- Surf camps are available throughout the world. Whether you're a seasoned surfer or just learning, these camps offer a program to fit everyone. Most camps offer daily and multi-day camps as well as surf tours. Groups are small so you have more guidance and fewer obstacles. Witch's Rock Surf Camp in Costa Rica offers 7-day packages with hotel (single to quad. Occupancy rates) from $750-$1990 per person.
- Adventure Racing- A wide variety of adventure racing getaways are available. You can find clinic formats as well as hands-on training. At some schools, the training culminates in an actual race. Frontier Adventure Racing (Toronto, Ontario) offers several choices in clinics and courses varying from a few hours to a 3-day intensive course. Camp Xstream offers a 3-day course for beginners to intermediate racers. The course is only offered once per year now, and is held at Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah (base camp for the 2006 Primal Quest!)
- Skydiving Lessons- What say's friendship better than talking your buddies into jumping out of a plane? Bay Area Skydiving offers tandem jumps from $150-$185 (group discounts available) and an Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) program.
- Heli-skiing- While it isn't exactly a budget vacation, heli-skiing offers access to the best skiing conditions in the high country. Valdez Helicamps offers daily pricing and 3-7 night packages.
- Top-Gun Flights- Want the thrill without the extreme temperatures or physical demands. How would you feel about flying in an authentic World War II aircraft? You'll be with a pilot but, you'll actually get the chance to fly the plane, do aerobatics and engage in a dog-fight. North American Top-Gun offers flights from 15 minutes to one hour ($225-$645).
- Utah Olympic Park- Camps are available to learn: Bobsled, skeleton, luge, Nordic jumping, and freestyle skiing. In addition to the camps, there is the chance to ride: in a bobsled, a zip line, and alpine slide. They also offer Extreme Snow Rafting in which you and 65 other thrill-seekers strap on helmets and ride a raft down the Olympic K90 Nordic Hill. Check the website for programs and pricing.
Looking for something different? There are adventure tour operators who specialize in planning every aspect of an extreme adventure.
Regardless of how you chose to spend your mancation, nothing bonds a group of guys together more than looking death in the face, and having the DVD/VHS to prove it!
More Mancation Vacation Ideas on the Suite:
The copyright of the article Mancations With an Extreme Edge in Extreme Sports is owned by Jodi Gallegos. Permission to republish Mancations With an Extreme Edge in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
