Oooh! Sparkly!

Cast against the backdrop of all the extraordinary experiences I’ve had over the years, your average hometown Fourth of July fireworks show might seem to pale in comparison.  But, honestly, that doesn’t mean I’m any less interested in being out there oohing-and-aahing right along with everyone else next weekend.  You see, I figure even a bad pyrotechnics display is usually a pretty good thing!

Which is why I thought I’d share this guide to the nation’s best fireworks shows put together by the folks at Travel & Leisure.  I doubt I’ll make it to any of the fireworks spectaculars listed here this year, but you can bet I’m filing them away for future reference. 

Hardcore fireworks fans will also want to mark their calendars for the World Fireworks Championships in Blackpool England this September/October.  You’ll also find dozens of other international pyrotechnics competitions listed here (Hint: Searching the page for the word “competition” brings up a lifetime’s-worth of events worldwide). Ka-BOOM!

The Great Explorers

I know traditional cruises aboard humongous ocean liners are wildly popular but, honestly, their formal dress code, glitzy stage shows, and endless buffets really aren’t my thing.  I much prefer smaller ships that are able to go all sorts of places those floating cities can’t, while offering a much friendlier atmosphere and a more adventurous feel.

Which explains why this new around-the-world cruise aboard the 120-passenger Spirit of Oceanus caught my eye.  The folks at CruiseWest have come up with a 335-day itinerary they’re calling The Voyages of the Great Explorers that will follow the travels of Marco Polo, Odysseus, Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, James Cook, and Magellan.  A fleet of inflatable Zodiacs and a long list of guest lecturers ups the adventure quotient.

The cruise departs from Singapore on March 6, 2010 and sails westward on its way to 242 ports of call in 59 countries.  If setting off on an 11-month cruise doesn’t quite mesh with your work schedule, don’t write the idea off as CruiseWest is also booking passengers on shorter segments of 10 to 20 days.  Either way, it sounds like a truly extraordinary experience.

It’s All About YOU

Take a few minutes to read about some of the extraordinary experiences featured on XTRORD.com and you might get the impression that these stories are all about me.  Well, honestly, you couldn’t be more wrong.

The whole point of XTRORD.com (and this blog) is to encourage you to get up off the couch and live out your dreams.  To go out and have yourself the kind of truly remarkable once-in-a-lifetime adventures that make you think “Man, I’ve always wanted to do that!”

With that in mind, I’ve got a couple of hot tips on ways you can have yourself an experience that I’m pretty sure will blow away any previous trip you’ve ever taken.

First up is a contest being put on by the nice folks at the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Grand prize is VIP treatment at this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 3-11), including hotel, spending cash, a Flip video camera and—here’s the best part—a balloon flight in one of the festival’s mind-boggling mass ascensions.  Even if you’ve been in a hot air balloon before, the experience of lifting off in the middle of 700 brightly-colored balloons will blow your little mind.  Trust me on this.

Just as intriguing is an opportunity to snag what has to be the ultimate dream for cycling fans, a trip to see the Tour de France (July 4-26) up-close-and-personal.  The package—which includes a chance to watch several stages, meet competitors, and more—will be auctioned off by Auction Cause on eBay, with the proceeds going to Right To Play, an organization that creates sports programs for disadvantaged kids in more than 20 countries.  Bidding runs from June 19-26.

I Spy, You Spy

"I eat danger for breakfast!" -- Rhino, Bolt's #1 Fan

While I like a good Hollywood thriller full of international intrigue as much as the next guy, this isn’t about catching the latest summer blockbuster at your local cineplex.  That’s because, as a general rule, I think it’s usually more fun to have your own extraordinary experiences than it is to sit back and watch someone else having them.

Which is why I was psyched to find these three different ways we can all leave our everyday lives behind and live out our own secret-agent fantasies this summer:

For Kids

I was crazy about both The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart when I was growing up, especially all the way-cool gadgets (some of which are apparently not so secret anymore).  Now kids ages 5-12 can have their own clandestine adventures at the week-long Discovery Camp: Spy Week program (July 27-31) put on by the Museum of Nature & Science in Dallas, TX.  Psssst! Hey grown-ups!  While you’re there, be sure to check out the museum’s cool Science of Spying exhibit.

For Adults

If you’re the type who eats danger for breakfast like our friend Rhino from the movie Bolt (pictured above), you’re gonna love the program put together by the folks at Covert Ops. After being transported to a secret training base outside Tucson, AZ, you’ll suit up in your desert camo fatigues and meet your Special Forces-trained instructors who will give you your chance to try your hand at everything from evasive driving techniques to hostage rescue as part of an urgent hush-hush paramilitary mission. 

For Everybody

For the truly secret agent-smitten, the International Spy Museum in Washington DC gives you the chance to go beyond the Hollywood hype as you explore exhibits and artifacts that trace the history of spy-craft from its earliest beginnings through modern times. Be sure to check the website for info on some of their really interesting  special programs, including the new Operation Spy that gives you the chance to step into the role of an intelligence officer on an international mission to locate a missing nuclear device before it falls into the wrong hands.

Summer Travel Gear, Part 2

In the first installment of this two-part series, I profiled some cool new high-tech travel products.  Now let’s take a look at some of the low-tech items I’ve been testing that I think will make your summer adventures easier and more enjoyable:

Spire USA Bags

Okay, I admit I’m a bag freak.  From day-bags (“man purses,” my wife calls them) to suitcases, my office is littered with product samples.  But the two carry-on bags from Spire USA that I’ve been testing for the past several months have become my new favorites.  Both the sleek messenger-style Endo and the Torq backpack combine rugged construction and top-quality materials with roomy, laptop-friendly interiors and well thought-out design details.  Bottom line: These two bags and I will be spending a lot of time together this summer, while my previous go-to carry-ons sit gathering dust in the corner.

ExOfficio Travel Underwear

Okay, I realize underwear isn’t something one normally discusses in polite company, much less raves about.  But these specially-designed dainties from the adventure-savvy folks at ExOfficio have really impressed me in my recent travels.  They’re plenty comfortable and seem to be well-made, but the big selling point here is the fact that you can wash them in the hotel sink at night and feel confident they’ll be dry by morning.  Which means you’ll be able to travel for weeks at a time with just a few pairs. 

Bacon Freak Bacon Jerky

Remember that old Motown song that went “If loving you is wrong, I don’t wanna be right”?  Well, that pretty much sums up how I feel about this new snack food from BaconFreak.com.  Given the fact that bacon is the one thing standing between me and a vegetarian diet, it should come as no surprise that I love this portable bacon snack.  All five different flavors (Peppered, Cajun, Honey BBQ, Jalapeño, and Summer Tomato BLT) are dee-lish and come in their own re-sealable pouch that’s easy to throw in your carry-on for a little protein pick-me-up in the middle of a five-hour plane ride.  Their slogan says it all: Bacon Is Meat Candy!

For more of my favorite adventure travel gear, check out XTRORD.com’s Stuff page.

Adventure Fitness

Whether I’m at home or on the road, I make it a point to hit the gym five or six days a week.  While this means I’m probably in better shape than your average couch potato, I’m not ashamed to admit that several of the adventures on my long list of extraordinary experiences (spelunking, surfing, and air combat come immediately to mind) have flat-out kicked my butt. 

Now, I’ve got to believe I’m not the only one who’s ever found themselves in this situation.  Which makes me wonder why it’s taken so long for someone to dream up an adventure travel fitness regimen like Fit For Trips.  The program consists of 4-, 8-, or 12-week online courses specifically tailored to the type of adventure you have planned, from mountain biking to sea kayaking.  All designed to help you build both the physical strength and endurance you’ll need to get the most out of your outdoor vacation.

Programs start at just $169, and there’s a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied.  Which raises the question, what are you waiting for?

Summer Travel Gear, Part 1

I know the summer travel season is still a couple of weeks away.  But I’ve been thinking ahead, and have spent the last few months looking at a wide array of interesting new products designed to help you make the most out of your upcoming adventures.

In this installment, I’ll focus on some of my favorite new high-tech toys, all of which probably offer significant advantages over what you’re using now at  surprisingly affordable prices:

Olympus 1030SW Digital Camera:

Here’s an immutable law of nature you’ll do well to remember this summer:  Water and digital cameras do not mix.  Unless of course we’re talking about the Olympus 1030SW.  I’ve taken this easily pocketable 10.1-megapixel point-and-shoot on a long list of adventures over the past few months and put its seemingly outrageous claims—that it’s waterproof down to 33 feet and can withstand drops from more than 6 feet—to the test snorkeling with manatees, bouncing along on a Mardi Gras float, and more.  Picture and video quality are pretty darn good by point-and-shoot standards, but it’s the freedom it offers to take pix wherever and wherever you choose that has earned it a place in my carry-on this summer. 

Apple iPod Touch

I know, I know, the iPhone is the must-have gadget right now.  But what if you’re like me and have a cell phone service provider you’re happy with?  Enter the iPod Touch, which offers many of the iPhone’s coolest features without requiring you to switch carriers.  The 16GB iPod Touch I’ve been testing for the past several months pairs substantial storage capacity with a large, bright screen that’s actually big enough to enjoy movies and TV shows in flight.  Back on the ground, the built-in wi-fi access allows me to check my email, surf the web, listen to my favorite internet radio stations, and more.  And then there are all the free and bargain-priced add-on applications offered in the iTunes Store—so many that if you can’t find an app there that does what you want to do, well, you probably don’t need to do it.  Highly recommended.

Magellan Maestro 4250 Navigation System

Wherever your travels take you this summer, sooner or later you’re going to need directions.  While I’m old-school enough that I still occasionally pack the trusty AAA maps and Tourbooks I’ve relied on for years, Magellan’s Maestro line of portable GPS navigation systems has made the printed versions largely obsolete.  Units like the Maestro 4250 I’ve been testing cram top-quality maps of the U.S. and Canada and all the lodging and restaurant info contained in those AAA Tourbooks into a package that’s small enough to slip into a shirt pocket.  What really sets this unit apart from many other GPS units I’ve tested, however, is the big, easy-to-read 4.3-inch color LCD touch-screen and the intuitive user interface that makes its many features super-easy to, ahem, navigate.

NEXT TIME:  Low-tech products you don’t wanna leave home without.

 

Amateur Assassins

Like reading those adventure novels where cold, calculating assassins stalk their prey and every move could be your last? 

Now you can have a non-lethal go at living the life of an action hero with StreetWars, a three-week-long adventure game where your goal is to assassinate your targets with water pistol, water balloon, or Supersoaker until you’re (hopefully) the last player standing.  The winner takes home a small pile of cash and some serious bragging rights.

The next round of this traveling adventure game is scheduled from June 1st-22nd in New York City.  To register, go to the StreetWars website.  And good luck—you’re going to need it!

Online, Off-The-Wall

World Gurning Championships

Perhaps my favorite thing about this blog is when readers send me links to extraordinary experiences I might not otherwise have found on my own.  My second favorite thing is when I get to turn around and share them with the rest of you.

With that in mind, here are some of the most entertaining, unusual, and even downright strange things to land in my e-mailbox over the past several weeks.  Enjoy!:

•  The Rapper:  I fly a lot and have to admit I usually end up tuning out the flight attendant’s safety spiel.  But there’s no ignoring this guy, who gets bonus points for creativity.  Extra points to the airline for letting him do it.
• Funny Finnish Festivals:  If you doubt the fact that our friends in Finland have a sense of humor, check out this list of some of their wacky summer festivals.  Cell phone-throwing I totally get, but wife-carrying, well, not so much!
• Toxic Asset Tour:  Okay, by now you’ve probably figured out that I love quirky stuff.  And this amble through the wreckage of Wall Street’s financial meltdown—led by a guy who was there—certainly qualifies.
• World’s Best Bathrooms:  While I don’t generally consider answering nature’s call to be all that extraordinary an experience, there are exceptions to every rule.  Like these award winners.
• World Gurning Championships: Remember how your grandmother told you if you didn’t stop making those funny faces your young mug would get stuck like that?  Well, here’s what happens to people who don’t listen. 

Boredom Busters

Just got back from another one of my frequent roadtrips to southern California.  And, let me just say, you don’t know boredom until you’ve been motoring down Interstate 5 through California’s flat and featureless Central Valley for five straight hours. 

Luckily on this trip I decided to bring along a trio of new compact discs I just got from my friends at National Public Radio.  The series, just coincidentally titled NPR Road Trips, is made up of three new CDs including “Roadside Attractions,” “National Park Adventures,” and “Postcards from Around The Globe.”  Each features more than a dozen stories from NPR’s crack correspondents that run the gamut from silly (everything you always wanted know about the world’s second-largest ball of twine) to the extraordinary (a look at what it’s like for the 60 men and women who choose to spend six months each winter stranded at research bases at the South Pole).  I found all three thoroughly entertaining and can’t recommend them highly enough for anyone looking to make the miles of a long drive fly by.

The CDs are available online from the  NPR Shop at $15 each or $35 for the set.