Underwater Poker

For a guy trip with a little adrenaline and other worldly experience, try an underwater poker tournament. Divester reported about a tournament to raise money for a military family, but there are tons of other good causes as well.

Here's how to organize your getaway with friends while raising money for a good cause:

1. Decide how many guys can make this commitment. Note: They must either be scuba certified or willing to be trained how to dive.
2. Arrange practice group dives before the big tournament.
3. Arrange practice poker matches just for fun.
4. Decide where to go diving and make any necessary hotel, transportation, etc. arrangements. (Hint: TripHub can help.)
5. Set the date of the tournament, the cause for which you'll donate money, and the target amount to raise. Alert the non-profit organization, church, family, or other benefit group.
6. Raise funds. Make calls. Go door to door. Do email blasts. Ask co-workers. Post announcements on MySpace. And so forth.
7. Create a trip on TripHub to invite any who want to join the tournament and go as spectators or participants. Here's helpful tips on how to do this using TripHub's free trip planning tools.
8. Discuss trip details using TripHub's trip discussion blog, organize and post everyone's info and trip details on the event schedule.
9. Then go on the poker tournament, win big, and feel great about donating to a worthy cause while bonding with your pals in a unique way.

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Snowshoeing: An Eco-Friendly Winter Activity

Puget Sound Journey's Nov/Dec issue has a great article on how snowshoeing is "an escape from both urban and ski-resort crowds." As winter blusters its way in, snow fans who want to get their fill of the powder, but away from the crowds and off the beaten path, can reap magnificent rewards with snowshoeing. It's a great group sport for the following reasons:

1. Like skiing, you can snowshoe at your own pace. Like hiking, this often leads to good conversation with various members of the group, depending on your speed, etc. Unlike skiing, you rarely lose your group to lifts and runs and mostly stick together yet with the freedom hiking allows to stop and snack, look at vistas, etc.
2. Safety in numbers: Should avalanche danger exist, or one person gets injured, there are multiple people to take action and mitigate problems or help in any other way.
3. Orientation: If solo trekking while snowing, your tracks can easily get erased with new snow, causing some disorientation of where the trail is or which way is north; therefore, it's always good to count on at least one other to share responsibilities for staying on track.
4. Unique way to "walk" in nature and share an outdoors experience.
5. Photo ops: You won't just get scenic shots. You can get proof you were there by having a friend take your photo next to Mt. Spectacular and email it to your mom.
6. Green travel in action: Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to experience winter without noise pollution (as in snowmobiling), expensive gear (as in skiing + lift tickets), and low impact on the environment (it's essentially you, the elements, and your snowshoes).

Any other reasons snowshoeing is either neat-o in general or eco-friendly? Any other tips for people organizing group snowshoeing trips?

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How Do Guys Bond?

OK, let's keep this civilized. No snickering. It's a serious question. With all the whoopla about "mancations" and guys traveling together for fun (groups of buddies/pals/friends/comrades have traveled together for getaway/bachelor/etc. trips for a while, but the travel industry just clued in) I decided to investigate.

When childhood pals, college friends, frat boys, ski club members, or just friends from life decide to get together to reconnect or bond, how do they pass the time? Whether road tripping or flying somewhere, bachelor parties, casual reunions, and sporting (golf, ski) get togethers are all part of the rituals of reconnecting.

Guy getaways can include anything from golfing, skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, club-hopping, lady-gawking, cigar-smoking, beer-chugging, gambling, or even metro activities such as meeting up in a city of choice and relaxing together at clubs.

Outside magazine recently emphasized how important the buddy system is (traveling with at least one other for safety) and listed great articles on various ways men bond, using famous figures such as Eddie Vedder, Jack Handey, and others for how to play on vacation. Plus, a few lessons for athletes who get too competitive.

Have a look. Or pick up the October Outside magazine edition.

Source: Gadling

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Marathon Tips

Marathoners who need encouragement before the race should check out the USA Today compilation of comments by marathoners on what to do, what not to do, advice for the day of the race, and tips for preparation. It's a great list from veteran marathoners and racers.

One of the consistent themes is how much family, friend, and fan support along the route helps. If you're ambitious enough to try an Ironman, you'll need all the support you can get. And if you run a marathon for a cause, you'll need your support system to help raise funds.

For families, friends, and fans who want to organize a trip to a marathon, TripHub has many trip planning tools go get you there.

Ironman Quest: Smells Like Team Spirit

Whether you're scoring points on the field or rooting in the stands, team sports are a bonding experience among groups of friends and like-minded jock and jills. Athletes of all levels compete in leagues of softball, football, soccer, hockey, tennis, year-round.

Others choose individual sports and only race against the clock and their own athletic skill in marathons, triathlons, walk-a-thons, and race for the cure type events. Groups can occasionally join forces for training, but when it comes to the fiercest, most grueling sports, it takes a unique individual with an independent spirit.

Such is the case with the Ironman triathlon, a famous event where fit athletes swim for two miles, bike over 100 miles, and finish by running a marathon. It's inspirational for anyone who's attempted a race, played sports, or even tried to stay in shape. Ironman participants are in a league of their own. The athlete in all of us has to admire them, which is why they usually have a team of supporters cheering them along the route and ready to share in the momentous accomplishment of crossing that finish line. Groups of athletes, fans, friends, and family often travel to these events to witness a bit of athletic history.

A new movie, What It Takes, documents four Ironman participants' training and preparation for the 2005 event. You don't have to be an Ironman to appreciate the sheer physical and mental prowess it takes to do a triathlon of this magnitude. This film follows Peter Reid, Heather Fuhr, Luke Bell, and Lori Bowden (three of them previous world champions) for a year on their quest to the 2005 Ironman finish line. For an insider's look at one of the pre-eminent sports competitions, take a look. It opens in select cities across the U.S. this  month. And you can enjoy the movie from the comfort of a theater seat, popcorn and drink in hand.

The 2006 Ironman world championship is October 21 in Kona, Hawaii.

Outward Bound for Groups

Outward Bound has an excellent reputation for putting individuals and groups into wilderness adventures that challenging them while helping them grow and bond. If you are part of a club or team and looking for a way to share an unusual outdoors experience and come back united, this is a great option. I've never done it myself, but have heard nothing but praise from those who have.

These are the types of groups they cater to:

• Students, teachers, and school administrators
• College alumni
• Clubs and associations
• Religious organizations
• Sports teams
• Family reunions
• Birthday celebrations
• Friends and colleagues
• And other groups

Across the U.S., Outward Bound expedition leaders take groups backpacking, kayaking, sailing, dogsledding, and camping. See their full list of group activities.

If you have experience with Outward Bound, please share your thoughts or tips. We'd love to hear!

Tailgate Party Winner: Ole Miss

Tailgate parties conjure up images of football fans gathering near stadiums, camped out for the pre-game hours and into the game to celebrate their alma mater or favorite team. The tailgate party may be as American as applie pie, bringing college friends together for weekend reunions or regular reconnections. Clubs and teams may also gather to root for their team and toast the season.

The New York Times recently reported on the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss) tailgate party as the pinnacle of such events. The article portrays this as more than a normal tailgate party, one of history, where the cars have been replaced with tents, and it is thee social event in Oxford, Mississippi, not just for the students or alumni, but for the whole town.

Here's an excerpt from William L. Hamilton's New York Times piece to give you a sense of the event:

"Ole Miss's stadium accommodates 60,580 people, and devotees of the Grove argue that the Grove accommodates more. It is every kind of party you can describe, at once: cocktail party, dinner party, tailgate picnic party, fraternity and sorority rush, family reunion, political handgrab, gala and networking party-hearty — what might have inspired Willie Morris, one of Mississippi's favorite sons, to declare Mississippi not a state, but a club.

The party is technically a picnic. Originally an informal tailgating get-together when most serious pregame socializing took place at Ole Miss's fraternity and sorority houses, by the 50’s the Grove started to become its own pregame tradition.

Cars have been kept out since a rainstorm in 1990 that reduced the Grove to a rutted swamp, and tents replaced them. The Grove Society, an alumni organization, posts a strict schedule for the event, which dictates that set-up will start at Friday midnight.

The Grove is a grove of generations of Mississippi families who went to Ole Miss and who send their children there. Alumni and students, fathers and sons, old friends and new acquaintances, seemed inseparable last Saturday, as if they had walked out of the halls ringing the Grove and were meeting between classes, not between decades."

Does anyone know of an equally enticing tailgate party?

Source: New York Times

Sharks Bites: What Every Swimmer Should Know

Unpleasant yet intriguing as the subject of sharks and the sea may be, I found some good data on Divester for vacationers who surf, swim, scuba dive, snorkel, and enjoy all sorts of water sports. Summer may be over, but many friends and families will soon take trips to beach destinations such as Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, or Australia where the sand is as warm as the day.

Sharks are out there. It's true. They are one of the great predators of the sea. But whales still rank higher on the marine food chain, and I've heard they can take a Great White shark down (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Nonetheless, one of the things that stirs shark fears is all the media hype coupled with ignorance about the true nature of shark attacks. How common are they? Divester examined a 200-page report by IOL called Finding a Balance. If knowledge is power, here are some statistics to help quell your fears (and mine).

• The number of shark-related fatalities has dropped from 13% in the 1990s to 8%, attributed largely to advances in safety practices, medical treatment, and greater public awareness.
• In 2005, surfers and boardriders composed 54% of victims worldwide; swimmers 37%; and divers 5%.
• There appear to be "no causative factors" for bites.
• The average depth in which bites occur is 20 feet and average distance offshore was 330 feet.
• Florida, South Africa, and Australia have the highest number of shark bite incidents.
• Although some degree of conditioning can occur between sharks and cage diving boats, this happens when operators do not comply with regulations and allow sharks to feed on the bait. However, this conditioning occurs between the shark and cage diving boats and cannot be linked to any conditioning with bathers as potential prey items.

And since the International Shark Attack File reported that there have have been 870 reported, documented shark bites worldwide since 1990, chances are extremely slim you'll have an issue.

Once on a snorkeling tour with my sister, she saw a 4-foot long reef shark swim about 20 feet below her, but the shark had no interest in the snorkel group. Of course, if you're intrigued by sharks enough to swim near them, there are plenty of "swim with the sharks" tours out there. Go, adrenaline junkies, go. Me? I'll linger ashore sipping drinks with tiny umbrellas, taking quick dips to cool off.

Source: Divester

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Clubs and Teams Travel Guide

You're a member of a church that takes spiritual retreats. Perhaps your tennis or ski team travels for competition. Or your alma mater organizes football tailgate parties for home and away games. You could be a soccer parent planning away games with other parents. Or even belong to a swanky book club that travels to Italy after reading Under the Tuscan Sun. Whatever your lifestyle is, membership organizations (clubs, teams, associations, etc.) are great ways to stay active and pursue interests while meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends or colleagues.

For like-minded individuals who travel together, here are planning resources for organizing your next group trip.

How to Book Group Reservations

• Group Reservation Guide
• How to Shop Smart for a Charter Bus
• The Art of Delegation (originally written for family reunions and weddings, these principles also apply to group trips with teams, clubs, and associations)

How to Pack Properly

• Travel Light, Sans Sporting Equipment
• Ultimate Packing List

Tips for Traveling en Masse

• Secrets for Sharing Rooms and Personal Space
• Finding Solo Time on Group Trips
• 10 Gas and Money-Saving Road Trip Tips
• Road Trip Planning Tips for Groups

Quick Checklist for Club, Team, or Organization Group Trips

1. Prepare a budget. How much will it cost? What are the shared expenses? What are deadlines for deposits, etc.? A basic spreadsheet with all big pre-trip shared expenses will help if you're organizing or on a committee for a given trip or retreat.
2. Collect money for shared expenses such as hotel rooms and transportation. You can track money owed using TripHub's money tracking tool.
3. Get release forms. If your trip is a school scenario with kids traveling with parents, coaches, and chaperones, you'll need to make sure release forms are signed.
4. Make dining reservations and arrangements for your group. Depending on group size, some restaurants may or may not be able to accommodate you, so book well in advance (even a couple of months). Groups get cranky when not fed, which makes for a stressful, less fun experience for everyone. Arrange for meals on group trips to people sated and/or energized.
5. Order custom group t-shirts. Nothing screams "team spirit" like a gaggle of people wearing matching uniforms. Geeky though it may sound to some, it's still unifying. Not only can you easily identify each other in crowds, but you'll have a memento from traveling together. You can even put a logo, photo, or pithy slogan on it.

TripHub allows you to easily plan and coordinate trip details so everyone stays informed about trip plans and itineraries. It's ideal for groups where there are varied interests, budgets, needs, etc. Here's how TripHub can help clubs, teams, and similar groups plan trips:

1. Determine location and destination for the trip
2. Create a trip home page
3. Invite team/club/association members (ski team, church group, school mates, professional organization members)
4. Discuss trip details with travel companions
5. Create an event schedule of dinner reservations and other key itinerary details
6. Shop for flights, hotels, rental cars, activities and attractions (or share travel information if already booked elsewhere so the group knows when people arrive, leave, and where they're staying)
7. Discuss hotel options

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Scuba Dive Grid

While summer ended with the quiet dawn of fall, winter vacations in sunny destinations are coming soon, including trips to Maui, Cancun, the Bahamas, and anywhere else you can still get a tan and splash around.

Scuba diving is one of those activities you can still do in the winter - in sunny destinations. I've heard Grand Cayman is a diver's mecca, and the Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea also rank high. Since I'm terrified of being masked and submerged for extended periods of time, my water activity consists of snorkeling in shallow bays near shore.

However, divers take note: Scubaratings.com is a site that allows you to find dive packages and rate dive trips to various destinations. It looks like a divers' community site, complete with a new "Dive Grid" where you enter in trip criteria (number of divers, travelers, dates, number of rooms needed, etc.) and see results of vacations that are specific to divers.

In doing a basic search for 6 nights, scuba diving 5 days, and traveling solo, I got results ranging from $463 to $8,011 across 11 countries (from Trinidad to Tanzania). Quite the range of budget to luxury packages. Dig around and see if the dive grid or site works for you. Summer may be over, but sun worshippers and adventurers who gear their travel around warm-weather activities can start planning now for winter getaways.

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