5 Best Mancations

June 30, 2010, By William Browning 0 comments

Have you seen "City Slickers," that 1991 movie is about three men who find their smiles again while living out what it was like to be a cattleman on the American frontier? They come back ready to take on contemporary life with their families and are generally happier.

Enter the mancation. It's not just a vacation but a way for men to spend time with other men in a relaxed atmosphere and with no pressure. There's no worry about family, just a fun time. If you're looking for a mancation, there are many options open to you.

Hunting. Don't settle for just sitting on your roof and bagging the deer that roam through your backyard. Go on a real hunting expedition to Africa and experience big game hunting. Whether you stalk gazelles or wildebeests, you will encounter all kinds of game on the African plains. RealAdventures.com lists more than half a dozen hunting trips but only one to the eastern part of South Africa. Rates for the hunt start at $140 per day and go up to $376 per day. (Airfare and transportation to the hunt site are not included in that price.)

Golf. Sometimes men simply need to play golf. For some of us, there is infinite fun in trying to hit a little ball into a cup several hundred yards away, even though we probably aren't very good at it. No vacation says "golf trip" like Myrtle Beach, S.C. With seven fantastic courses and the water nearby, you can spend a day on the links and then relax on the beach. Range fees start at $57 and go up to $79.50. Even if you're not Tiger Woods, you can still enjoy golf with a group of your men friends at Myrtle Beach almost any time of year.

Camping and hiking. Glacier National Park in northern Montana is known for its vast scenery, tall mountains and crystal clear lakes. If you want to get back to nature, spend a week camping, hiking and exploring one of the United States' best frontier wilderness areas. Glacier National Park has more than 1,000 campsites in 13 areas from which you can choose to stay up to a week at a time. During the day you can walk, go horseback riding, bicycling or fish on Lake McDonald.

Volunteering. A newer form of vacationing exists in Voluntours. These are vacations that immerse you in the community to which you travel for the purpose of improving living conditions for those in impoverished cities and towns. One such tour takes you to Guatemala where you can help a community by building kitchens, improving school buildings and planting gardens to help people to grow their own food. Along the way you will get a chance to explore ancient Mayan ruins.

Eco-Cruise. If you have a once-in-lifetime opportunity to go to Antarctica during the summer, you should probably go. See penguins, whales and some of the most unique wildlife on earth when you sign up for an eco-tour. National Geographic sponsors expeditions on smaller cruise ships to see some of the most formidable terrain around as you learn about Antarctica from some of the experts. Dates start in late November and go through early January. Smaller cabins at double occupancy start at $10,270, with the most expensive cabin on the ship going for $18,970. If you want to have the adventure of a lifetime with the guys, this is it.

Whether your idea of a vacation is hunting wild animals or helping to build a schoolhouse in a rundown neighborhood, a getaway with the guys is just what you need to get your head in the game at home.