A Summer Camp with Just for Adult Options

by Jamie Rhein on

When I was in high school, my camp experience happened because I signed on as kitchen crew help at Camp Laurel in Maine. I didn’t make much money, but I sure had a grand time in between setting tables and working on my biceps by lifting heavy pots and boxes. Plus, I learned to water ski for free during off hours. Back then, it was necessary to talk the camp director into hiring a girl for the job. The second summer I went back by doing laundry-a very sweet deal. It didn’t matter what time I did the laundry. I learned that if I did laundry at night, I could have the next day off. Awesome.

With so many kids growing up into adults with fond memories of summer camp, there are camps angled for adults as well. One of them, Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont, has camp-style experiences for adults meaning when you are at the adult camp, it’s just adults. Kayaking, rock climbing, and disc golf are some of the offerings.

If you are traveling with your family, this is a place where adults can do their activities while kids do theirs. Smuggler’s Notch also has a water park and a variety of things to do throughout the day or night. Some activities are organized, and some are the type where you say from one hour to the next, “What do I feel like doing now?”

If you are looking for a place to have a multi-generational family reunion, this looks like a good option. And, as you can tell from the photograph, this isn’t really a rusic getaway, but more of a resort. Still, there are several hiking and roughing it opportunities.

Outside Magazine Videos

by Neil Woodburn on

As if your life didn’t already seem worthless enough sitting behind your computer at work slowly getting larger, Outside Magazine is now featuring video on their website.

So, minimize that Excel spreadsheet, make sure your boss isn’t passing by, then click over for a selection of adrenaline-filled short films which will make you feel that you are wasting your life toiling away at the 9-5 when there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored.

You might want to start with Burning Time 2, a three-minute short featuring extreme kayakers braving the waters of China, Africa, and Turkey.

Oh crap! Your boss is coming! Minimize that video and get back to your spreadsheet, number-pusher!

Mini Cam for Capturing Extreme Sports

by Neil Woodburn on

I don’t engage in many outdoor sports that require a helmet. But if I actually did more mountain biking, rock climbing, or extreme kayaking, I’d be sure to grab myself an Elmo SUV-cam and strap it tightly to my helmet.

This tiny camera and its slightly larger recorder weighs just under seven ounces and can easily be strapped onto your helmet, the front of your bike, the hood of your car, or just about anywhere else you’d like to record your favorite activity to later share with the world on YouTube.

The SUV-cam is also waterproof, has a built-in microphone and can store up to 2GB of video on a removable memory card.

Considering the $1,200 price tag, however, I think I’d be too paranoid to strap this pricey equipment on to anything which may involve crashing, drowning, falling, or the chance of my accident being recorded and played online to joyous glees of schadenfreude.

via National Geographic Adventure

Weekend In Miami: Next Weekend

by Willy Volk on

Before embarking on this Miami trip, I spent a lot of time doing pre-departure research, deciding what I wanted to do and see, and even plotting the best way to get to destinations. Some travelers may think I over-planned the trip, but without some planning, there was no way I was going to see everything I wanted to. If you’re curious, here’s how I scheduled our weekend, Saturday on the left, Sunday on the right:

Yes, those are removable stickies, which make rescheduling easy. No, I didn’t get to everything I wanted.

By the way… a special thanks to my accommodating wife for letting me drag her around Miami all weekend. And for the record: she claims she had a great time and was fine with our hectic schedule.

Now that we know so much about Miami, we can’t wait to get back. So what are we going to do? As you might imagine, I’ve got the whole weekend planned out already…

We’re going to head up on a Thursday afternoon, and check into one of these hotels:

On Thursday night, we’ll grab dinner at Tap Tap and then head to the funky Pawn Shop Lounge. (Our waiter at Afterglo claimed this was the best night to go.)

On Friday, we’ll have breakfast at the (oceanfront) Front Porch Cafe. Then, we’ll head to Kampong and explore the beautiful gardens (appointments required!). We’ll grab lunch at Scotty’s Landing (overlooking the water), and swing by M-80 for some edgy, hipster clothes. We’ll relax on the beach for a while, and head to the Delano Poolside Bar for late afternoon cocktails (mmm… mojitos). After dinner at Madiba’s, we’ll have a few drinks at Ted’s Hideaway (hope it isn’t too smoky), and then catch some live music at either the Slak Lounge or Jazid. Sleep.

On Saturday, we’ll wake up and go on a Stiltsville & Key Biscayne Boat Tour. (If the tour isn’t running that day, we’ll either do some (free) Yoga in the Park, or go sea kayaking around Key Biscayne.) We’ll grab a late, healthy lunch at Pasha’s, and then take a nap on the beach — or in the room, if we’ve already spent too much time in the hot, Miami sun. We’ll play dinner by ear (See? I don’t plan everything!), and then head to Aqua Booty, for a relatively laid-back club scene. (If we’re just too tired, then maybe we’ll catch a Ghosts of Miami City Cemetery Night Walking Tour.)

On Sunday, we’ll have brunch at the chilled-out Ice Box Cafe, swing by either the World Erotic Art Museum or the Flying Trapeze School, and then buzz by Romanico’s Chocolate as we head out of town — so we have a small treat back home to remember our weekend by.

Now, let’s see… What have I forgotten…

Cruise on a Cargo Ship

by Jamie Rhein on

Here is a ship option cruise without the glamour. If you have a bit of time and don’t mind not being entertained an d not having a wealth of food options available round the clock, cargo ships are another way to journey on the high seas. According to this article I came across, for the people who’ve found this mode of travel, they’re hooked.

The slow pace and lack of distractions gives one time to catch up on reading material or sleep. There’s no late night buffet to get to or ship event that calls you out of your cabin. There’s just cargo and crew who have work to do. The one downside I can see is that, in general, you don’t stop at a port for more than an hour or so. This means few jaunts to shore. That could keep costs down though. No port trips. No shopping.

The average costs of a cargo trip are $100 per day (or less) and a trip can take anywhere from 10 days to 120, if your aim is to make it around the world.

If you go to Maris Freighter & Specialty Cruises website, you’ll find sample itineraries of various trips this shipping company makes. Trips go all over the globe. It’s fun to look at the itinerary and dream. Another cargo line the article mentions is Freighter World Cruises, Inc. It also has itineraries and prices.