100 bachelor trips you couldn't have found on your own.
Concierge-grade, US-only, seasonally-real — every one tied to a named operator. Capt. Stanczyk swordfishing. Garrison Brothers overnight. Olympic bobsled. Atlas F silo. Pick one. Customize for your crew. Every reservation pre-filled.
Hunt + Wilderness
24 trips
Helicopter Boar Hunt Weekend — Hill Country, TX
R44 at dawn over invasive hogs, ranch rifle range after lunch, steakhouse dinner at Perini in Buffalo Gap. Cigars on the porch of a Hill Country ranch, bourbon tasting at Garrison Brothers. Night two in Austin for barbecue at la Barbecue and a mezcal flight at Suerte.
Elk Bugle Backcountry Camp — San Juan Wilderness, CO
Horse pack-in to a wall tent camp at 10,000 ft during the September rut. Bulls screaming at 3 AM, elk backstrap seared on a wood fire, bourbon by lantern light. Zero cell signal, zero trophy-ranch fences. End at Dunton Hot Springs for the decompression.
Free-Range Bison — Fort Peck Reservation, MT
Native-guided on tribal land. A respectful, free-range harvest — not a pay-by-the-pound ranch. Nights at Sage Lodge near Paradise Valley, natural hot springs, fireside dinners featuring the harvest.
Working Cattle Drive Week — Dubois, WY
Real drive on the Bitterroot or Hideout. Five days in the saddle, chuck-wagon meals, hand-rolled hatbands by the fire. Nights under the Milky Way, no TVs, no WiFi. Jackson Hole Four Seasons to decompress.
Cumberland Island Wild Horses — GA
Ferry-only barrier island. Greyfield Inn for Gilded-Age luxury or primitive camping among the Carnegie ruins and feral horses on the beach. Oyster roasts by the dunes, horseshoe crabs under a full moon, no cell signal for 72 hours.
Boundary Waters Dog-Sled Overnight — Ely, MN
Musher-led team across frozen lakes into a wood-stove cabin 2 hours off the plowed road. Auger lake trout at dawn, sauna after, aurora if you're lucky. Zero cell signal, zero snowmobile noise.
Oyster-and-Duck Weekend — Apalachicola, FL
Dawn decoys in the St. Vincent marshes, afternoon oyster boat with the Ward family, dinner at Owl Cafe. Pre-Disney Florida still exists here — old cypress, slow bars, honest seafood.
Everglades Airboat + Frog Gig — FL
Capt. Jack at Skunk Ape HQ takes you out at midnight. Gator eyes glowing in the spotlight, bullfrogs gigged from the bow, breakfast of fried frog legs at Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe. Ritz Naples to decompress.
Atchafalaya Swamp + Crawfish Boil — LA
Private airboat into the nation's largest swamp, cajun cook on board, boil crawfish on the bayou with his grandmother's recipe. New Orleans bookends — Cochon, Compère Lapin, a jazz set at Preservation Hall.
Chef Mushroom Forage Weekend — Hudson Valley, NY
Forage morel, chanterelle, and matsutake in damp Hudson oak groves with a chef-forager. Return to Troutbeck, where a 6-course dinner is built around the day's haul. Tarlow-style, serious but unserious.
Kodiak Island — Brown Bear & King Salmon, AK
Floatplane from Kodiak town to Larsen Bay Lodge, a remote cabin operation on the coast where brown bears fish the same streams you're targeting. Four days of guided salmon and halibut fishing with Kodiak Wilderness Adventures, spotting bears at 40 yards while your guide works the fly line. Nights at the lodge: king salmon grilled over coals, halibut ceviche with lime and cilantro, bourbon by the fire pit under the midnight sun. Return flight crosses the Shelikof Strait at golden hour.
Moosehead Lake — Floatplane Rut, ME
Float-plane drop at dawn to a remote spike camp on the north shore, moose calling from the canoe at first light during the September rut. Cast iron brook trout dinners cooked over open fire, bourbon and cigars under stars with zero light pollution. Return to The Birches Resort in Rockwood for the final night—wood-fired sauna, dinner at The Greenville Inn, and a proper bed before the drive home.
Everglades City — Python Removal Hunt Weekend, FL
Night levee work with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission python removal specialists, spotlighting invasive Burmese pythons from airboats and taking shots under state program protocols. Days split between marksmanship drills at a private range and exploring Ten Thousand Islands by boat. Stone crab claws and grouper at City Seafood Market, then bourbon and cigars at the lodge fire pit overlooking the mangrove estuary.
Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge Boundary Waters Weekend — Ely, MN
Run your own team of huskies across the frozen Boundary Waters out of Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge — Paul Schurke's operation, the only US lodge devoted exclusively to mushing. Day one is harness school and a half-day run; day two is a full lodge-to-lodge crossing on snow-blanketed lakes that ranger trucks can't reach. Sauna, cast-iron dinner, whiskey by the woodstove each night. Decompression: a stop at Ely's Boathouse Brewpub on the way back to Duluth airport — Lake Superior whitefish and a Blueberry Blonde before the flight south.
Allagash Moose Hunt — Tylor Kelly Camps, ME
Third-generation Maine outfitter Tylor Kelly runs guided moose hunts out of his renovated Northwoods Lodge on the St. John River — Zone 1 and Zone 2, where the bulls go 900+ pounds. You need a Maine moose lottery permit (apply by May), but TKC handles tags-bought-out spots most years. Wall-tent options if you want it primitive. Decompression: drive south to Portland, eat raw oysters and pour Allagash White at Eventide before the flight home.
Ringneck Resort Pheasant Hunt Weekend — Sheyenne Valley, ND
Ringneck Resort sits in the Sheyenne River Valley — wild prairie pheasant country, not a put-and-take preserve. Three days behind professional pointers walking CRP, slough edges and milo strips. Lodge dinners are pheasant marsala or ribeye, and the bar pours Templeton Rye until last-light stories run out. Decompression: stop in Fargo for a Bison Burger at HoDo before the flight home — proof you survived North Dakota in November.
Selway-Bitterroot Elk Pack-In — Boulder Creek Outfitters, ID
Boulder Creek Outfitters packs you 12 miles into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness on horseback — wall tents, woodstoves, no cell, no road. Six full days of hunting at 4,000-7,000 ft for Roosevelt elk in their rut, glassing avalanche chutes at first light, calling bulls into cuts at dusk. The pack-in is the trip. Decompression: a soak at Lolo Hot Springs and a steak at the Depot in Missoula on the way to airport.
Currituck Sound Duck Hunt — Stuart's Hunting Lodge, NC
Stuart's Hunting Lodge has been running Currituck Sound waterfowl hunts since the 1980s — bush blinds and float blinds in skinny water for canvasbacks, redheads, pintails, buffleheads. Pre-dawn coffee, decoys set in the dark, sunrise on a flooded marsh you have entirely to yourself. Lodge dinners are home-cooked: country ham, biscuits, fish stew. Decompression: drive south down NC-12 through Hatteras for fish tacos at Tortugas' Lie in Nags Head before the flight back.
Ruffed Grouse Lodge Wing-Shooting Weekend — Phillips, WI
Price County is the self-styled 'Ruffed Grouse Capital of the World' — 300,000 acres of public hunting and the densest grouse population in the country. Ruffed Grouse Lodge sits on Wilson Lake with 105 private acres, runs setters and pointers, and books guided walks on the surrounding national forest. Sand-county woodcock flushes and grouse along old logging roads. Decompression: end the trip with a Friday fish fry and a brandy old fashioned at Wally's House of Embers in Wisconsin Dells.
Wild Bobwhite Quail Hunt — First Shot Outfitters, Central TX
First Shot Outfitters was named Best Wild Quail Hunting in the World in The World's Best Shoot — 100% wild bobwhite and blue scale across 30,000+ leased acres of Central Texas brush country. Hunting is from rigged Polaris UTVs behind 8 finished bird dogs per group; coveys explode 30 yards out and you'd better swing fast. Lodge dinners are mesquite-grilled venison. Decompression: drive 90 minutes east to Cooper's BBQ in Llano for brisket on butcher paper and a Shiner Bock on the porch.
Pennsylvania Elk Hunt — Trophy Rack Lodge, PA Wilds
PA holds the largest wild elk herd in the Northeast — 1,400 head across Elk, Cameron and Clinton counties, hunted by lottery only. Trophy Rack Lodge in Benezette is the established outfitter for drawn permit-holders, running guided rifle and archery hunts in the rut. Bugling 800-pound bulls in oak stands an hour from State College. Decompression: Penn State football tailgate at Beaver Stadium if the calendar lines up, otherwise a stout at Otto's Pub & Brewery on the drive south.
Elk Rut Bugle Weekend — Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Mid-September to mid-October the bulls in Moraine Park and Horseshoe Park bugle from before sunup until well after dark — the loudest, weirdest sound in American wildlife. Yellow Wood Guiding runs private elk-rut safari tours out of Estes Park, putting groups within 75 ft of bachelor herds with proper distancing. No tags, no harvest — just the rut as theater. Decompression: a flight of doubles at Avant Garde Aleworks in Estes and a Bison NY strip at Bird & Jim before the drive back to DEN.
Paws Up Montana Glamping Weekend — Greenough, MT
Paws Up's Wilderness Camp on the Blackfoot River — the canvas tents are plumbed luxury (bed, bath, deck, woodstove), but the river is the reason. Drift boat at first light with a Montana-licensed guide, brown-trout-on-streamer all morning. Afternoon: horseback up the bench above the ranch, ribeye on the chuck wagon at the chuck-house, axe-throwing pit by the bonfire after. Cedar soaking tub on the deck closes every night. Decompression on day four with a final drift down to the takeout pool below the Blackfoot's Big Hole.
Dunton Hot Springs Ghost-Town Weekend — Dolores, CO
Buyout the entire restored ghost-town resort outside Dolores. Day one: fly-fish the West Fork Dolores with a Telluride-licensed guide — wild cutthroat on dries through the canyon, ribeye over coals at the Dunton dining hall after. Day two: trap-shooting at the south meadow range, horseback up the bench above the springs, geothermal soak at sundown in the open-air pool. Day three: a private cattle drive on the high pasture before the slow drive back through Telluride. Decompression: New Sheridan bar in Telluride before the Cortez flight.
Fishing + Water
21 trips
Night Swordfishing — Islamorada, FL
Capt. Nick Stanczyk runs 20 miles offshore at midnight, drops baits to 1,500 ft, and fights 400 lb broadbills under the spreader lights. Night two: bioluminescence dive at Alligator Reef. Cheeca Lodge for showers and bourbon.
Tarpon on Fly — Homosassa, FL
The palace flat. 150 lb silver kings cruising gin-clear water. Al Dopirak on the platform, the groom on the bow. Plantation on Crystal River for the decompression.
Sturgeon on the Snake — Hells Canyon, ID
Jet-boat up North America's deepest canyon to fight 10-ft white sturgeon older than the Bible. Catch-and-release only. Float the rapids out. Sun Valley Lodge to close.
Scallop Free-Dive Weekend — Steinhatchee, FL
July opener. Four feet of water, clear as a pool, free-dive for scallops, shuck on the transom with cold Dixies. Redneck Mediterranean. Airbnb on the Suwannee for two nights, catfish-and-grits at Roy's.
Geoduck + Hood Canal Oyster Weekend — WA
Negative tides at dawn. Dig 3-ft geoduck out of the mud, shuck Hama Hama oysters 20 yards from the water, Vietnamese preparation on the beach à la Xinh Dwelley. Canlis dinner in Seattle to close.
Grand Canyon Whitewater — AZ
Five days on the Colorado. Class IV+ rapids, beach camps at Havasu, stars you've never actually seen. Cold-beer mesh bag trailing behind the boat. L'Auberge Sedona bookends.
Humboldt Squid Night Run — Channel Islands, CA
Night run from Oxnard. Giant Humboldt squid, bioluminescent plankton, swordfish if you're patient. Funk Zone dinner in Santa Barbara before and after.
Great White Shark Cage — Farallon Islands, CA
30 miles off the Golden Gate. Surface cage — no dive cert required. Great whites circle. Atelier Crenn or Saison to close. You will sleep with the lights on.
Homer, Alaska — Halibut Heavyweights & Fly-Rod Salmon, AK
Four-hour halibut charter into Kachemak Bay with Fishing Hole Charters, targeting 80+ lb barn doors on heavy jigging gear and live herring. Day two: fly-rod silver salmon on the Anchor River with a guide from Alaska Fishing Adventures, sight-casting to tails in gin-clear water. Nights at Land's End Resort with views of Grewingk Glacier; dinners at The Homestead Restaurant and Coal Point Seafood Company, both sourcing fresh catch daily. Final evening: whiskey and smoked salmon at Crow's Nest, the harborfront bar overlooking your charter boats.
Hatteras, North Carolina — Blue Marlin Deep Drop, OBX
Charter a 65-foot Hatteras with Captain Monty Hawkins out of Oden's Dock for a three-day blue marlin campaign off Cape Point. Live mackerel at dawn, trolling the continental shelf where the Gulf Stream stacks baitfish and 400-pound fish. Nights at the First Colony Inn in Nags Head, hushpuppies and cold Outer Banks Brewing Company lagers at Pamlico Jack's, then a dawn departure for day two. Marlin or not, the boat's galley serves fresh wahoo ceviche and the crew knows every wreck and ridge from Diamond Shoals to the Sargasso.
Rockport & Port Aransas — Redfish on Fly, Texas Coastal Bend
Sight-cast redfish in the Aransas Bay flats with Baffin Bay Fly Fishing, poling skiffs at dawn across gin-clear water. Lunch at The Boiling Pot in Port Aransas—raw oysters, crab claws, cold beer. Three nights in Airstreams at Lazy A RV Park, fire pit dinners, dawn departures. Final evening at Rockport Seafood for blackened snapper and whiskey on the bay.
Ennis, Montana — Dry Fly Floats & Hot Springs, MT
Four days on the Madison with Gallatin River Guides, two guided float days targeting PMD and Trico hatches, two wade days at Three Dollar Bridge and Burnt Fork. Cabin base at Ennis on the Madison, breakfast at Ennis Cafe before dawn, lunch streamside. Evenings at Madison River Outfitters' fly-tying bench, dinner at The Spur Bar & Grill, pints at Madison River Brewing Company. Final night soak at nearby natural hot springs before the drive home.
Penobscot Bay Striper on Fly — Tide Chaser, ME
Capt. George Harris of Tide Chaser Guide Service runs midcoast Maine's premier saltwater fly + light tackle outfit, working striper and bluefish blitzes off Belfast and the rip lines around Sears Island. Day one is fly-only on the flats; day two is topwater poppers in 3 feet of water; day three is offshore for bluefin if the water hits 64°. Lobster roll lunches every day. Decompression: a stop at Allagash Brewing's Portland tasting room and oysters at Eventide on the drive to PWM.
Lake Erie Walleye Slam — Coe Vanna Charters, OH
Lake Erie's Western Basin is the walleye capital of the world — Coe Vanna Charters has been running it since 1973 and averages 14,000+ walleye/year across the fleet. Two boats per group, six-pack each. Mornings on the water trolling crawler harnesses, afternoons cleaning fish at the dock. Lake-front dinner at Mon Ami Winery — perch, walleye, ribeye. Decompression: a stop at Maumee Bay Brewing in Toledo for a flight and a pretzel before the flight out of TOL or DTW.
Cumberland Tailwater Trophy Trout — Rocky Top Anglers, KY
75 miles of cold tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam — state-record 21-pound brown lives here. Rocky Top Anglers runs drift boats out of Burkesville with bead-head Princes and stonefly nymphs that catch fish year-round. Slot-limit regs mean trophy water all the way down. Decompression: drive west to Bardstown for an after-hours tasting at Willett Distillery, then a steak at Old Talbott Tavern — the oldest western stagecoach stop in America.
Kenai King Salmon Week — Gone Fishin' Lodge, AK
The Kenai holds the world record king salmon — 97 pounds on rod-and-reel. Gone Fishin' Lodge sits on the river bank with private dock and 30 years of guides. Mornings drift the upper Kenai for kings (May-July) or sockeye (mid-July), afternoons run to ocean for halibut on the saltwater package. Lodge dinner is whatever you caught, smoked or grilled. Decompression: a stop at Cooper Landing's Sackett's Kenai Grill on the drive back to Anchorage, then halibut tacos at 49th State Brewing before the redeye home.
Montauk Striper Blitz on Fly — Windward Outfitters, NY
Montauk's October blitz is one of the most violent things in saltwater fly fishing — albacore, blues and stripers crashing bait under birds for two hours at a time. Capt. Peter Douma at Windward Outfitters runs Winston rods + Seigler reels and knows where the bait stacks against Camp Hero. Rig is 9-10wt with sinking lines and big EP baitfish flies. Decompression: dinner at the Crow's Nest with a Shelter Island view, oysters at the Surf Lodge bar Saturday night, then back to NYC by jitney Sunday.
Stehekin River Cutthroat — Lodge at Stehekin, WA
Stehekin is a 95-person village at the head of Lake Chelan — no roads in or out, only the Lady of the Lake ferry, a bush plane, or 23 miles on foot. Stehekin Fishing Adventures runs Dave Scadden pontoons on rarely-fished water for 20-24-inch native cutthroat. Stay at the North Cascades Lodge, eat at the Stehekin Pastry Company, and watch the ferry leave at 2pm — you're stuck until tomorrow, on purpose. Decompression: ferry south to Chelan, dinner at Sapolil Cellars in Walla Walla on the drive to Spokane (GEG) airport.
Middle Fork Salmon Six-Day Float — Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters, ID
100 miles, 100 rapids, 2,700 vertical drop — the Middle Fork of the Salmon flows through the Frank Church Wilderness, the largest protected wilderness in the Lower 48. Six days off-grid in oar boats and paddle rafts. Middle Fork Wilderness Outfitters and Solitude River Trips both run the high-water (June) and trout-water (Aug-Sep) windows. Hot springs, riverside steaks, no contact with anything. Decompression: a steak at Bertram's Brewery in Salmon and a final beer at the Salmon River Brewery on the drive to Boise.
Newport America's Cup Yacht Weekend — Newport, RI
12-meter Cup-class racing yacht charter on Narragansett Bay — these are the boats that defended the America's Cup at Newport 1958-1980, restored and rigged for live racing. Captain handles the wheel; you crank winches and trim. Mooring at Castle Hill Inn, sunset rum-and-tonic at the lawn lighthouse. Dinner at the Black Pearl on the wharf. Day two: Bellevue mansion walk in the morning, oysters at Midtown Oyster on Thames Street, second day on the water, gin-and-tonics on the Castle Hill Inn lawn at sundown. Decompression at Audrain Auto Museum — the Vanderbilt's pre-war collection — before the drive back to Logan.
Tordrillo Bushplane + Heli-Fish Summer Weekend — AK
Bush plane out of Anchorage drops you at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge — no road, no cell, no competing parties. Heli to silver-salmon and pike rivers most groups will never see; native rainbows on streamers in the morning, sockeye on swung flies after lunch. Lodge chef sears ribeye over coals on the deck while the glacier-view hot tub fills. Day three: the heli drops you on a glacier for a packed lunch with crampons-on-ice optional. Night four runs aurora-permitting if August cooperates. Decompression: a final drift down the takeout pool, plane back to Anchorage, layover steakhouse at Crow's Nest.
Industrial + Cold War Strange
20 trips
Atlas F Nuclear Silo Overnight — Abilene, KS
Private buyout of a decommissioned Atlas F missile silo converted to a 200-ft bunker hotel. One-way blast doors, projector screen in launch control, bunks where the warhead lived. Kansas BBQ night one, silo overnight night two.
Goodyear Blimp Private Charter
Most improbable private charter in America. Four to six seats, city overhead at 1,000 ft, impossible story. Availability-based — the blimp has a day job. Dinner at Spago Beverly Hills (LA) or Zuma (Miami) to close.
Bonne Terre Flooded Mine Night Dive — MO
5 billion gallons of glass-clear water in a 5-level abandoned lead mine. Tech-dive cert day one, private night dive day two past flooded locomotives and ore carts. Jacques Cousteau called it a top freshwater dive on Earth.
Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Day — UT
Aligned with Speed Week. Rent a tuned land-speed car for a sanctioned run. White horizon to white horizon, 180 mph, wife calls to check in. Stein Eriksen in Park City to close.
Olympic Bobsled Pilot Run — Lake Placid, NY
1980 Olympic track. 90 mph, 4 G's, pro pilot, you hang on. One minute of pure terror and glory. Lake Placid Lodge for the shaky post-run whiskey.
Demolition Smash Lab — CO or TX
Sledgehammer a junked Camry, hit it with a Bobcat, finish with Tannerite at a private range. End dirty at Boss Hog BBQ or a local steakhouse. Cathartic and legal.
White Sands & Trinity Site — Nuclear Dawn, New Mexico
Trinity Site open house on Saturday: ground zero tour with a physicist, the blast crater still radioactive-hot in October light. Friday night dune surfing at White Sands National Park on wooden sleds, then green chile at Sparky's in Hatch—the real stuff, roasted in-house. Sleep at La Posada Hotel in Las Cruces, a 1920s territorial landmark. Sunday morning: White Sands sunrise hike, then a detour through Alamogordo's New Mexico Museum of Space History before the drive back.
Boulder City — Hoover Dam Hardhat Access & Black Canyon Night Paddle, NV
Hardhat-level access tour inside Hoover Dam's power plant and spillway tunnels—concrete cathedral at 726 feet below the rim. Dinner at Coffee Cup Cafe in Boulder City, hash browns and meatloaf under vintage neon. Night kayak paddle through Black Canyon with Black Canyon Kayak Tours, phosphorescent water and canyon walls rising invisible in darkness. Second day: brewery tour at Hoover Dam Brewing Company, then steaks at The Vault Cafe in the old bank building. Final night: riverside camp setup, sunrise over Lake Mead from the water.
Kennedy Space Center — VIP Launch Pad Access, FL
Private SpaceX engineer-led tour of Launch Complex 39A and the Vehicle Assembly Building, then VIP viewing platform for a live Falcon 9 or Starship test flight. Overnight at The Cocoa Beach Resort, beachfront suites with direct Atlantic views. Day two: sunrise paddleboard at Cocoa Beach Pier, lunch at The Tides Restaurant overlooking the Indian River, afternoon at Exploration Tower museum. Final night: dinner at Grind & Vine in downtown Melbourne, bourbon flight at Playalinda Brewing Company. Morning departure with KSC astronaut memorabilia.
Colorado Springs — NORAD Command Center & Olympic Secrets, CO
Classified briefing inside Cheyenne Mountain's NORAD command center, then a behind-the-scenes walkthrough of the U.S. Olympic Training Center's athlete facilities and competition venues. Day two: Garden of the Gods hiking and a Space Foundation museum deep-dive. Dinner at The Broadmoor's Penrose Room, bourbon at Attic Brewing Company. Final night: steakhouse at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company's kitchen, then cigars and stargazing from the lodge patio overlooking Pikes Peak.
Los Alamos — Manhattan Project & Cliff Dwellings, NM
Guided deep-dive at Los Alamos History Museum through declassified Trinity Site footage and weapons-lab archives, then a ranger-led descent into Bandelier's cliff dwellings and kivas. Day two: Valles Caldera National Preserve loop hike through volcanic meadow and ponderosa forest at 10,000 ft, lunch at Genaro's Café in Española. Nights at the Hilton Santa Fe, dinners at Coyote Café and The Shed — both walking distance from the plaza.
Rachel + ET Highway Perimeter — NV
Checkpoint-selfies at the Area 51 black gate, Alien Burger at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, bunkroom night under a Great Basin sky so black the Milky Way throws shadows. Side-trip to the Tikaboo Peak viewing ridge at dawn. Back via Caliente for Maxwell's pie before the drive home.
Boeing Everett Factory + Future of Flight — Mukilteo, WA
The Boeing Everett Factory is the largest building on Earth by volume — 472 million cubic feet, 98 acres under one roof, 777/777X final assembly happening live below the balcony. Future of Flight Aviation Center runs the 80-minute tour with Strato Deck access for landing-runway viewing. Pair with a Museum of Flight visit at Boeing Field — Concorde + Air Force One + the only B-29 + SR-71 outside Smithsonian. Decompression: oysters and a flight at Taylor Shellfish Capitol Hill, dinner at Canlis if you're feeling rich, then back to SEA.
Kennecott Copper Mine Ghost Town — McCarthy, AK
Kennecott shut down in 1938 — 4.6 million tons of copper ore left behind in a 14-story wood mill that still stands. Today it's a National Historic Landmark inside Wrangell-St. Elias, the biggest national park in the US (six Yellowstones). Stay at Kennicott Glacier Lodge next door to the mine; hike to the Bonanza or Jumbo mine ruins; ice-climb the Root Glacier with St. Elias Alpine Guides. Decompression: a beer and pizza at the Golden Saloon in McCarthy (population 28), then 90 miles of dirt road back to Chitina and the long drive to ANC.
Drive A Tank + Crush a Car — Kasota, MN
Drive A Tank is the only place in America where civilians drive an authentic Chieftain main battle tank, then crush a junked Chrysler with it. 20 military vehicles dating to WWII, including the FV-433 Abbot SPG and FV432 APC. The 3-Star Lt. General package starts at $374; add a car-crush ($649 for one, $849 for two) and a Sten-gun range session. Decompression: drive 75 miles north to Minneapolis for ribeyes at Manny's and a Old Fashioned at the Marvel Bar.
INDYCAR Experience — Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IN
Ride 2-4 laps in a real two-seat IndyCar around the Brickyard at 180 mph with a pro driver — INDYCAR Experience holds exclusive rights at the Speedway. Add a Mercedes-AMG or BMW driving school day on the road course and get behind the wheel for a timed autocross + 14-turn lead-follow. The IMS Museum tour kisses the Yard of Bricks. Decompression: a tenderloin at St. Elmo Steak House and a flight of bourbon at Slippery Noodle Inn — Indy's oldest bar — before the flight out.
Crater of Diamonds Dig Weekend — Murfreesboro, AR
Only place on Earth where the public digs for diamonds in their original volcanic source — 37 acres of plowed kimberlite over an eroded crater. 37,000+ diamonds found by visitors since 1972; the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam is the biggest American diamond ever found. Bring your own shovel + sluice or rent at the park. Bass fish at Lake Greeson on day two. Decompression: drive east to Hot Springs for a soak at the Buckstaff Bath House and ribeyes at the Ohio Club — Al Capone's old hangout.
Cherry Springs Dark Sky Weekend — Coudersport, PA
Cherry Springs State Park is the second-darkest International Dark Sky Park east of the Mississippi — Milky Way casts a shadow on a moonless night. Bring your own scope or rent at the rustic campground. Time the trip around new moon. The Black Forest Star Party in early September is the marquee; otherwise weekday quiet. Decompression: drive south to Bellefonte for a tasting at Big Spring Spirits and dinner at the Gamble Mill Tavern (1786) before the drive to State College or Pittsburgh.
World of Speed Spectator Weekend — Wendover, UT
World of Speed is Utah Salt Flats Racing Association's September event — early September each year, 5 days of jet-influenced streamliners, motorcycles and shrouded scooters running 300-500 mph on the salt. Spectators free with car parking on the start line. Streamliner side-show at the Nugget Casino in Wendover after dark. Pair with a side trip down to Speedway 130 for the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (late August) if dates align. Decompression: a steak at Ogden's Union Grill on the drive back, then redeye out of SLC.
Kilauea Helicopter + Big Island Estate — HI
Doors-off R44 over active Kilauea — feet hanging out the side, lava at three thousand feet, the pilot banking on glass air. Land at the Volcanoes overlook for a Hualalai ribeye box lunch. Sunset: manta-ray night dive off the Kona coast, reef sharks on the periphery. Day three: lava-tube hike with a Hualalai-shore-club lunch, surf lesson at Kahaluu in the afternoon. Sleep at Four Seasons Hualalai for two nights, then move to a private Puna jungle estate for the last two — outdoor shower, lava-rock pool, the kind of decompression you can't fake. Layover steakhouse at Merriman's Waimea before the Kona flight.
Military + Historic Sleepabout
17 trips
WWII Submarine Sleepaboard — USS Pampanito, SF
Private buyout of a Balao-class fleet sub at Pier 45. Dinner in the galley, sleep in the torpedo racks, diesel smell, real claustrophobia. Swan Oyster Depot for lunch, Tosca for dinner night two.
USS Silversides Sleepaboard — Muskegon, MI
Battleship-class submarine on Lake Michigan. Sleep in the torpedo racks, Founders Brewing pilgrimage, Grand Rapids beer-city weekend.
Live-Fire Tank Drive + Rally School — Uvalde, TX
Day one at DriveTanks: pilot a T-34, M48 Patton, or Sherman. Crush a sedan on the course. Live main-gun rounds available. Day two: rally-driving clinic on dirt. Night at Hotel Emma in San Antonio.
Bonneville Speed Week Spectator Pit — UT
Speed Week-adjacent: pit passes, racer-and-driver dinners, evening bonfires at Wendover Nugget. Salt-flat sunsets that erase you from the world.
Gettysburg & Carlisle — Civil War Battlefield Deep Dive, PA
Licensed battlefield guide leads a two-day mounted tour of Gettysburg's three-day killing ground—Seminary Ridge, Pickett's Charge, Devil's Den—with period-accurate tactical breakdown and primary-source readings at key positions. Nights at The Lodges at Gettysburg, a converted Civil War-era property. Day three: Carlisle Barracks museum and the U.S. Army War College grounds, lunch at Molly Pitcher Inn (a 1790s tavern), then bourbon and cigars at The Eatery on High Street before heading home.
Pearl Harbor & USS Missouri — Overnight Warship, Sunset Sail, HI
USS Arizona Memorial at dawn, then overnight aboard the USS Missouri battleship in Pearl Harbor—sleep in officer's quarters, breakfast on the gun deck. Day two: catamaran sunset sail off Waikiki with mai tais and poke platters. North Shore road trip to Dole Plantation and shave ice at Matsumoto, lunch at Sharks Cove. Final night: Duke's Waikiki for huli-huli chicken, kalua pork, and mai tais overlooking the beach. Moana Surfrider for the decompression.
Fort Knox & Bardstown — Bourbon, Armor & Bernheim, KY
Day one at the Patton Museum of Leadership in nearby Fort Knox—restored tanks, personal effects, the man's philosophy laid bare. Afternoon distillery tour at Maker's Mark in Loretto, hand-dipped bottles and limestone spring water. Dinner at Kurtz Restaurant in Bardstown, bourbon-braised short ribs and a flight of four-year-old rye. Day two: full-day Bourbon Trail loop—Woodford Reserve's copper stills and limestone warehouse, then Heaven Hill's Bourbon Heritage Center. Night at Bardstown Bourbon Company's barrel-proof tasting room. Day three: dawn hike through Bernheim Forest's 16,000 acres, limestone bluffs and old-growth hardwood, finish at the Arboretum's overlook. Final dinner at Mamie's Kitchen, cast-iron cornbread and bourbon pecan pie.
Yorktown & Williamsburg — Revolutionary War Battlefields & Colonial Trades, VA
Day one: ranger-led battlefield walk at Yorktown Victory Center with musket demonstrations and siege line interpretation. Overnight in Colonial Williamsburg at the heart of the restored colonial capital. Day two: blacksmith apprenticeship, tavern cooking class, and trade demonstrations at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation properties. Evening pub crawl through Yorktown's waterfront—Riverwalk Restaurant, The Majestic, and York River Inn. Day three: brunch at Berret's Seafood Restaurant in Williamsburg, then the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown before heading home.
Valley Forge & Philadelphia — Horseback Through History, PA
Day one: horseback through Valley Forge NHP with Brandywine Stables, tracing Washington's winter encampment routes past reconstructed huts and artillery positions. Dinner at Talula's Table in Kennett Square, then overnight at The Logan Hotel in Center City. Day two: guided Independence Hall and Founders' tour with a historian from the Independence Visitor Center, followed by cheesesteaks at Angelo's on South 9th Street and a rooftop bourbon flight at Hop Sing Laundromat. Final night: walking food tour through Reading Terminal Market with Foodtours Philadelphia, ending with oysters and whiskey at Oyster House.
West Point & Hudson Valley — USMA Campus, Constitution Island, Farm Dinner, NY
Private tour of the USMA campus with a retired officer guide, then Constitution Island by private boat to tour the Revolutionary War fortifications and the Warner House library. Dinner at Blackberry Farm Hudson Valley—a working farm with a chef-driven kitchen and wine cellar overlooking the river. Day two: Bear Mountain hike with views of the Hudson Gorge, lunch at Xaviar's Piermont, evening bourbon tasting at Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardiner. Final night at Mohonk Preserve's Mohonk Mountain House for a stargazing session and farm-to-table breakfast before departure.
New Orleans — WWII Museum & French Quarter Deep Dive, LA
Three days anchored by the National WWII Museum—full access pass, private docent tour of the USS Tang submarine exhibit, then overnight aboard the USS Kidd destroyer in Baton Rouge. Return to the French Quarter for a guided food crawl hitting Galatoire's for lunch, Brennan's for turtle soup and Bananas Foster tableside, Coop's Place for gumbo and fried chicken. Cocktail class at Cure, then late-night beignets at Café Du Monde. Bourbon Street cigar bar at Crescent City Cigars.
Arlington & DC — Changing of the Guard, Spy Museum, Oyster Bar Crawl, DC
Dawn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Changing of the Guard in dress uniform, then Udvar-Hazy Center for SR-71 Blackbird and Space Shuttle Discovery. Afternoon at the International Spy Museum with classified-era artifacts and Cold War tradecraft. Dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill for Chesapeake oysters and bourbon, followed by a private rooftop reception overlooking the Lincoln Memorial. Day two: Arlington House tour, Arlington Cemetery grounds walk with a military historian guide, lunch at Founding Farmers, evening at the National WWII Museum's traveling exhibition. Final night: steakhouse dinner at The Capital Grille, cigar lounge at Tobacco Dock, nightcap at Off the Record (hidden bar in the Hay-Adams Hotel).
Charleston — Fort Sumter & USS Yorktown Overnight, SC
Day one: Fort Sumter National Monument boat tour at sunrise, walking the battery where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Overnight sleepaboard the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point, bunking in officer quarters, dawn reveille on the flight deck. Shrimp and grits at Husk for dinner, then low-country boil and bourbon at Leon's Oyster Shop. Day three: brunch at The Ordinary with raw bar and Bloody Marys, walking tour of antebellum mansions on Legare Street, final dinner at FIG with coastal Carolina ingredients.
Greenbrier Cold War Bunker — White Sulphur Springs, WV
From 1961 to 1992, all 535 members of Congress had bunk beds, a 400-seat cafeteria and incinerator-crematorium 720 feet under the Greenbrier resort — code-named Project Greek Island. Declassified in '92 by the Washington Post; now a 90-minute private tour. No phones, no cameras allowed below ground. Pair with the Old White golf course and resort's casino floor. Decompression: dinner in Main Dining Room with the dress code, then a nightcap at the Twentieth Century Club bar.
10th Mountain Division Hut Tour — Leadville Backcountry, CO
10th Mountain Division Hut Association manages 38 backcountry huts across the Rockies — built in honor of the 10th Mountain soldiers who trained at Camp Hale and broke the Italian front in WWII. Skin in 4-8 miles, sleep on bunks above 11,000 ft, drink whiskey by a wood stove. McNamara, Margy's and the Continental Divide Cabin are the high-cred picks. Decompression: a ski day at Copper Mountain on the way out, then ribeyes and Tito's at the Periodic Brewing Co. in Leadville before the drive to DEN.
National Museum of the USAF Pilgrimage — Dayton, OH
Largest military aviation museum on Earth — 350 aircraft on 19 acres indoor, including the Boeing 707 Air Force One that flew Kennedy through Clinton, the XB-70 Valkyrie, a complete Titan IVB rocket, and an SR-71. Free admission. Need two days minimum. Day three is a stop at the Wright Brothers National Memorial down the road. Decompression: a flight at Warped Wing Brewing in Dayton, then dinner at The Pine Club — three-generation steakhouse, no reservations, dress like you mean it.
USS Wisconsin Battleship Tour — Norfolk, VA
USS Wisconsin (BB-64) is a 887-foot Iowa-class battleship docked at Nauticus on the Norfolk waterfront — the second-most-decorated battleship of WWII. The 90-minute VIP Behind-the-Scenes Tour takes you below deck to the boiler rooms, mess and gun turrets normal tours don't see. Day two: Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise — two hours through the world's largest naval base with active destroyers, carriers and subs at the piers. Decompression: a flight at Smartmouth Brewing in Norfolk and seafood at A.W. Shucks before the flight out of ORF.
Mountain + Snow
18 trips
Heli-Ski Chugach — AK
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge or Points North. 4,000-ft untouched faces, glacier landings, hot tub overlooking Denali. The actual Alaska fantasy — not a resort in a parka.
Telluride Alpine Weekend — CO
Helitrax drops in winter or Bridal Veil Falls in summer. Dinner at Allred's at 10,551 ft. Night mezcal tasting at There…, gondola after.
Glass Igloo Ice Fish Weekend — Lake of the Woods, MN
Glass-roofed heated Ice Castle on 3 feet of ice. Walleye + lake trout + aurora overhead. Bourbon tasting at Panther in Duluth on the front end.
Fall Sturgeon + Steamboat Weekend — CO / UT
Drift-boat Snake River tail-waters for steelhead + sturgeon, Yampa Valley hot-spring soak, Aurum Food & Wine dinner.
Lake Placid Bobsled + Whiteface Ski — NY
Bobsled day one, Whiteface day two, Saranac Brewery tour day three. Lake Placid Lodge lakeside dinner by the fire. Cold, loud, memorable.
Jackson Hole — Rendezvous Bowl Descent, WY
Four days chasing vertical at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort—Rendezvous Bowl on a bluebird day, then the Aerial Tram for laps down Hoback Face. Nights at Snake River Brewing for house IPA and elk burgers, Snake River Grill for prime rib and wine. Final evening: whiskey neat at the rooftop bar at Hotel Terra, views of the Tetons going purple at dusk.
Steamboat Springs — Catski Powder & Midnight Soaks, CO
Steamboat Powdercats delivers four runs daily into untracked Routt National Forest terrain—1,200 vertical feet of champagne powder per lap, no crowds, no lift lines. Afternoons pivot to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, a natural geothermal soak at 8,000 feet where the snow falls around you and the water hits 104°F. Dinner at Truffle Pig showcases wild game and house-cured charcuterie; bourbon nightcap at The Cabin, a wood-fired whiskey bar in a restored 1920s homestead.
Big Sky — Tram-to-Backcountry Sidestep, MT
Sunrise tram lap at Big Sky Resort, then a guided backcountry sidestep tour into Lone Peak terrain with a professional ski guide from Big Sky Ski Guides. Lunch at the Olive B's Big Sky Bistro in the village, then a second run before heading to Horn & Cantle for a dry-aged ribeye and bourbon neat. Night two: optional dawn wolf-watching tour through Yellowstone National Park with Yellowstone Wolf Tracker guides, returning for dinner at Ted's Montana Grill in Big Sky. Final day: one more tram run, après-ski at Olive B's, then a long soak at Lone Peak Brewery before departure.
Taos Ski Valley — Steep Runs & Green Chile, NEW MEXICO
Four days locked into Taos Ski Valley's steepest terrain—Al's Run and West Basin in the morning, West Basin Grill lunch at the lodge with views into the Sangre de Cristos. Evenings at the Bavarian Lodge, then into town for green chile burgers at Michael's Kitchen and mezcal at Taos Mesa Brewing. Final night: rooftop drinks at Alley Cantina overlooking the plaza, then a late dinner at Lamberts of Taos for elk chops and local wine.
Mt. Baker, Washington — Legendary PNW Snowfall Weekend, WA
Three days chasing the deepest snowfall in North America at Mt. Baker. Sunrise first chair on fresh corduroy, afternoon runs through the trees, evening burgers and beer at Graham's Restaurant in Glacier. Night two: soak in the hot tub at Snowline Lodge, then drive down to Bellingham for whiskey and cigars at The Shack, followed by late-night ramen at Masala. Final morning ski before heading home.
Sun Valley — Bald Mountain Descent & Heli-Ski Option, Idaho
Four days at Sun Valley Lodge, the 1936 resort that defined American ski culture. Day one: Bald Mountain top-to-bottom runs, lunch at Warm Springs Restaurant mid-mountain. Day two: Full day with Sun Valley Heli-Ski for backcountry descents and yurt lunch above the valley floor. Day three: Rest day with cigar selection at The Ketchum Club, dinner at Enoteca at the Limelight Hotel. Final night: Pioneer Saloon for whiskey and live music, steaks at Cristina's at the Limelight.
Crested Butte — Eleven Thousand Feet of Untracked Snow, CO
Four days of cat-skiing out of Irwin Guides' base camp, dropping into 11,000-foot bowls above Crested Butte with zero lift lines and fresh snow every morning. Nights at Crested Butte Mountain Resort's slopeside condos, dinners at Public House (elk meatballs, house-made pasta, Colorado wine list), and a soak at South Canyon Hot Springs on the drive back down. Bourbon and cigars in the lodge after each run, skin-on-skin warmth in a 10-person hot tub under the stars.
Stowe Alpine Weekend — VT
FourRunner quad to the Front Four at Stowe Mountain Resort, Bavarian après at Piecasso, fireside dinner at Trapp Family Lodge's Bierhall with Austrian pilsner from their own kettle. Day three: Smugglers' Notch drive, WhistlePig distillery visit, Ben & Jerry's Waterbury tour for a close. Night at Topnotch Resort's spa to recover.
Schweitzer Cat Skiing — Sandpoint, ID
Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures runs a 12-passenger heated PistenBully cat across 4,350 acres of untouched powder outside the resort boundary — average 8 runs and 11,000 vertical/day. Private cat is $6,500 for the day for up to 12. Stay at the Humbird Hotel slope-side and hit Sky House Restaurant après. Decompression: a soak in the on-mountain hot tubs, dinner at Trinity at City Beach in Sandpoint with views of Lake Pend Oreille.
Ruby Mountain Heli-Ski — Lamoille, NV
The only heli-ski tenure in Nevada — 49 years family-run by Joe and Francy and Mike Royer. A-Star B3 helicopter drops on 14 peaks above 11,000 ft, including the 11,387-ft Ruby Dome. Stay at Ruby 360 Lodge (max 16 guests, 16 miles from Elko). Storm-day backup is a snowcat operation. Decompression: prime rib + cocktails at the Star Hotel basque restaurant in Elko, then the redeye out of EKO or the drive to Salt Lake.
Steamboat Ski + Strawberry Park Soak — Steamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat's champagne-powder is a real thing — 350 inches/year of dry, light snow off the Park Range. Ski the resort all day, then 7 miles of dirt road (4WD + snow tires required) to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Five stone-masonry pools cascading down a hillside, 95-106°F, clothing optional after dark. Decompression: a brisket at Mountain Tap Brewery in town, then dinner at Aurum on Yampa with cocktails by the river — the trip's clean exit before the drive to Hayden (HDN).
Whitefish Lake Ski + Snowmobile — Whitefish, MT
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake has its own marina (frozen now), spa, four-diamond Boat Club Restaurant and shuttle to Whitefish Mountain Resort 10 minutes uphill. Ski the resort by day; book Swan Mountain Snowmobile Tours to Garry Lookout for backcountry sled access; 30 minutes to Glacier National Park's west entrance for a snowshoe at McDonald Lake. Decompression: drinks at Casey's Whitefish, ribeye at Tupelo Grille, then redeye out of Glacier Park Int'l (FCA).
Iditarod Ceremonial Start Weekend — Anchorage + Willow, AK
First Saturday of March, downtown Anchorage shuts down for the Iditarod ceremonial start — 50+ teams of huskies running through 4th Avenue snow trucked in for the parade. Sunday is the official restart 90 minutes north in Willow on Big Lake — the real beginning of 938 miles to Nome. Visit a kennel (Iditarod Sled Dog Race ITC HQ in Wasilla) and book a kennel ride at Alaska Mushing School. Decompression: halibut tacos and Saint Elias Black Bear Stout at 49th State Brewing on the way to ANC.
Desert + UTV
14 trips
Anza-Borrego UTV + Primitive Hot Springs — CA
200 miles of wash trails, overnight at a primitive hot spring under Borrego's dark-sky stars, Cessna charter to Catalina for the Airport in the Sky buffalo burger.
Moab UTV + Canyoneering Weekend — UT
White Rim drive day, slot-canyon rappel day, Colorado River raft day. Red rock, no crowds if you time it right. Hot stone at Sorrel River Ranch.
Joshua Tree Airstream Caravan — CA
Vintage Airstream convoy + Pappy & Harriet's honky-tonk + private astronomer at the Integratron. Silent, star-drenched, weird in the best way.
Vegas Strat Plunge → Red Rocks UTV — NV
Stratosphere SkyJump or iFly Indoor, UTV out to Red Rock Canyon day two, private poker room at the Bellagio night three. Chaos with structure.
Death Valley & Beatty — UTV Canyons & Ghost Towns, NV
Day one: full-day UTV tour through Titus Canyon with Escape the City Tours, navigating 27 miles of slot-canyon singletrack and narrows, lunch at the Rhyolite ghost town. Night at The Stovepipe Wells Village Resort, then dark-sky camping at Mesquite Sand Dunes with a ranger-led astronomy walk. Day two: explore Rhyolite's abandoned mining structures, saloon, and schoolhouse on foot, dinner at Mizpah Hotel's restaurant in Tonopah (45 min drive). Final morning: sunrise breakfast at Panamint Springs Resort before heading out.
Valley of Fire — Desert Rip & Petroglyphs, NV
Three days tearing through red-rock washes and slot canyons in rented UTVs with Fire Canyon Tours, stopping to photograph Fire Wave and Fire Canyon petroglyphs mid-ride. Nights at the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza with views of the Virgin River valley. Dinner at Inside Scoop in Overton for burgers and milkshakes, breakfast at Mesquite's Pepper Pot Cafe before the final morning push through Fire Canyon.
Big Bend & Terlingua — Desert UTV & Rio Grande Canyon, TX
Four days threading UTVs through volcanic ridgelines and desert washes east of Study Butte, then paddling Santa Elena Canyon at sunrise with Big Bend River Tours. Soak in the natural hot springs at La Posada Milagro—a restored adobe compound with starlight baths overlooking the Rio Grande. Sunday brunch at the Terlingua Ghost Town Cafe, then mezcal and carne asada at Starlight Theatre's kitchen before the drive back.
Lone Pine — Desert UTV Through Movie Westerns, CA
Sunrise breakfast at Mt. Whitney Restaurant, then full day ripping UTVs through Alabama Hills—the same boulder-strewn desert where they shot Django Unchained and a hundred Westerns. Navigate Movie Road and Tuttle Creek, stop for lunch in Lone Pine at Seasons Restaurant. Night one at a BLM free-camp site among the granite boulders with a camp stove and stars. Day two: Whitney Portal Road scenic drive and a moderate hike to Lone Pine Lake with views of the 14,505-ft peak. Dinner at Matlock House, a historic 1927 inn with a full bar. Final morning coffee at Looney Bin Antique Mall before heading out.
Page, Arizona — Red Rock UTV & Canyon Runs, AZ
Day one: UTVs through Antelope Canyon's slot-canyon trails with Antelope Canyon Tours, then sunset at Horseshoe Bend overlook. Night at Lake Powell Resort & Marina or Courtyard by Marriott Page-Lake Powell. Day two: full-day Glen Canyon National Recreation Area raft run with Wilderness River Outfitters, lunch on the water, return for dinner at Ken's Old West Restaurant. Day three: Lone Rock dunes and beach camp morning, then hot springs soak before heading out.
White Sands & Cloudcroft — Sand-Sledding & Mountain UTVs, NEW MEXICO
Rent sand sleds at White Sands National Park and spend the morning carving dunes at 6,000 feet elevation. Afternoon UTV tour through the Sacramento Mountains with Alamogordo-based High Desert Adventures, hitting natural hot springs and ridge overlooks. Night one in Cloudcroft at The Lodge Resort & Spa, dinner at Rebecca's at the Lodge. Night two in Mesilla: green chile at La Posta de Mesilla, mezcal at Hacienda San Miguel. Return to White Sands for sunrise before heading home.
Moab — Needles District UTV & Canyon Backcountry, UT
Full-day Needles District UTV expedition with Moab Rim Cyclery guiding tight slot canyons and red-rock spine ridges, lunch at a backcountry camp. Night one at The Gonzo Inn, dinner at Sunset Grill with views over the Colorado River. Day two: guided hike into Chesler Park, evening soak at nearby hot springs. Final night: steakhouse dinner at Sorrel Restaurant, bourbon flight at Moab Brewery, cigar lounge at The Gonzo's courtyard.
Monument Valley Navajo-Guided UTV — AZ/UT
Navajo-guided UTV tour into Mystery Valley with Monument Valley Safari — backcountry roads closed to unguided visitors. Sunrise at The View Hotel's Totem Pole balcony, fry bread and Navajo tacos at Goulding's Stagecoach Dining Room, night two on horseback in Hunts Mesa country with Simpson's Trailhandler Tours. Closing dinner at The View Hotel watching West Mitten throw a shadow across Merrick Butte.
San Rafael Swell UTV + Goblin Valley — Castle Dale, UT
The San Rafael Swell is Utah's least-known canyon system — 75 miles of slot canyons, hoodoo fields and reef trails between Castle Dale and Goblin Valley State Park. Side TRAX Rentals supplies four-seat Polaris RZR XP 1000s; the Behind the Reef Trail and Wedge Overlook are the picks. Goblin Valley night hike under International Dark Sky stars on day two. Decompression: a soak at Crystal Geyser cold-water tower and a rim drive at Capitol Reef NP before flying out of Salt Lake or Grand Junction.
Tonto National Forest UTV — Bartlett Lake, AZ
Bartlett Lake's Desert Vista OHV Permit Zone runs single-track + sand-wash + ridge-top trails through the Sonoran — 100-year-old saguaros, banked turns, lake access on the west shore. Pair with Lower Salt River tubing in fall. The Boulders Resort sits 30 minutes south in Carefree for the upscale base. Decompression: a Sunday brunch at Cartwright's Modern Cuisine in Cave Creek and a final flight at Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Phoenix before the flight from PHX.
Regional Food + Seafood
19 trips
Charleston Oysters + Fly-Fish Weekend — SC
Fly-fish for redfish on the Kiawah flats day one, oyster farm tour day two, FIG + Husk + Rodney Scott's pilgrimage. Husk bourbon bar to close.
New Orleans Deep Food Weekend — LA
Cochon → Compère Lapin → Turkey & the Wolf → Bacchanal Wine. Jazz at Preservation Hall, 3 AM Clover Grill burgers. Voodoo tour night two.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Private-Pick Weekend — KY
Castle & Key lunch day one, Buffalo Trace single-barrel pick day two, Woodford private warehouse day three. Taste from the thief. Seviche in Louisville to close.
Hood Canal Geoduck + Canlis Dinner — WA
Geoduck dig at Dosewallips, Hama Hama oyster shuck on the waterfront, cook-class with a Vietnamese chef, close at Canlis. Four dinners, one memory.
Texas BBQ Pilgrimage Weekend — TX
Franklin, Smitty's, Kreuz, Black's, Louie Mueller. A meat tour of the Hill Country. Paired with Garrison Brothers bourbon and a private range day to work it off.
Apalachicola Oyster Week — FL
Deep version. Oyster farm tour, raw shuck class, redfish on the flats, duck decoys dawn, dinner at Owl Cafe three times because you earned it.
Hill Country Boar Hunt + BBQ Trail — TX
Morning boar hunt from the R44, lunch at Smitty's, bourbon pick at Garrison Brothers, dinner at Hotel Emma in San Antonio. Full-day loop.
Kansas City, Missouri — BBQ Pilgrimage & Boulevard Brewery, MO
Three days eating through Kansas City's barbecue canon: Arthur Bryant's for burnt ends and sauce-soaked ribs, Joe's KC for Z-Man sandwiches, Q39 for competition-grade brisket, and Jack Stack for the full-service experience. Boulevard Brewery tour mid-day with a flight of Tank 7 and Pale Ale. Catch a Royals or Chiefs game at Arrowhead if in season, or hit the rooftop bars along Main Street. Finish with cigars at The Rieger, bourbon neat.
Portland & Coastal Maine — Lobster Pound Crawl, ME
Friday lunch at Red's Eats in Wiscasset—butter-soaked lobster rolls and fried clams at a weathered shack with zero pretense. Saturday morning ferry to Peaks Island, breakfast at Peaks Island House, then a working tour of Five Islands Lobster Co in Georgetown with the boats still unloading. Afternoon raw bar at Eventide Oyster Co in Portland, then dinner at Fore Street with a wood-fired kitchen and Maine seafood sourced that morning. Sunday brunch at Tangled Up in Hue, then a final stop at The Clam Shack in Kennebunk for steamers and a lobster roll before the drive back.
Detroit — Square Pizza, Coney Dogs & Motown Soul, MI
Friday night: Buddy's Pizzeria for the original Detroit square—crispy, airy, cheese-to-crust ratio unmatched. Saturday morning at Eastern Market, then Coney dogs at Lafayette Coney Island (since 1924), followed by Loui's Pizza in Hamtramck for the second square-cut education. Afternoon at the Motown Museum on West Grand Boulevard, then dinner at Cloverleaf Pizza in Hazel Park. Sunday brunch at Selden Standard, walk to Via 401 for a final Sicilian slice, and a bourbon flight at Standby before heading out.
Door County — Fish Boil & Cherry Pie Weekend, WI
Three nights chasing the Door County fish boil circuit: Pelletier's in Sister Bay for the Thursday night boil with whitefish, potatoes, and onions dumped into a cauldron over an open flame. Friday at the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim for their legendary boil service and cherry pie. Saturday morning bike loop through Peninsula State Park on quiet bluff roads, then Rowleys Bay Resort for the final boil dinner with lake views. Sweetie Pies Bakery in Fish Creek for cherry pie and coffee between rides.
Philadelphia — The Cheesesteak Tribunal, PA
Friday night: blind taste test at Jim's, Pat's, and Geno's—three sandwiches, three verdicts, one truth. Saturday morning pretzel crawl through South Philly with Philly Pretzel Factory and local bakeries, then Reading Terminal Market for roast pork at John's, Italian meats at DiBruno Bros, and fresh produce chaos. Dinner at Zahav for Michael Solomonov's hummus and lamb—the anti-cheesesteak palate cleanser. Sunday brunch at Vernick Food and Drink, brewery tour at Yards Brewing, and a final late-night sandwich redemption arc.
Lockhart BBQ Pilgrimage — Hill Country, TX
Lockhart was declared 'Barbecue Capital of Texas' by the Legislature for a reason — Kreuz Market (1900), Smitty's (1924) and Black's all sit within five blocks. Eat at all three on Saturday — butcher paper, no forks at Kreuz, sausage rings at Black's. Sunday morning go to Snow's BBQ in Lexington (45 minutes east) where Tootsie Tomanetz still works the pit at 90 years old; line forms by 6am, doors open at 8, brisket sells out by 10. Decompression: a pour at Garrison Brothers in Hye on the way back to Austin, dinner at Olamaie in town before AUS.
KC Burnt Ends Pilgrimage — Kansas City, MO
Burnt ends were invented at Arthur Bryant's — that's not folklore, it's documented. The KC route: Joe's KC at the gas station for opening lunch (line by 11am), Q39 for dinner Saturday with the modern take, Arthur Bryant's Sunday morning. Round it out with a flight at Tom's Town Distilling and a Royals game if it's in season. Decompression: a steak at the Plaza III on Country Club Plaza Sunday night before the flight out of MCI.
Wisconsin Supper Club Tour — Door County, WI
Friday fish fry, Saturday prime rib, Sunday broasted chicken — that's the Wisconsin trinity. Sister Bay Bowl (1958, six vintage manual-scoring lanes) for Friday. Nightingale Supper Club (Sturgeon Bay, 1913) Saturday prime rib. White Gull Inn fish boil with the kerosene boil-over Wednesday or Friday. The Wisconsin brandy old fashioned — muddled sugar cube, brandy, soda, orange + cherry — is the cocktail. Decompression: drive south for a beer at Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee on the way to MKE airport.
New Mexico Green Chile Pilgrimage — Hatch + Santa Fe, NM
Hatch (population 1,648) grows the green chile that defines New Mexican food. Hatch Chile Festival is the Labor Day weekend pilgrimage — 30,000 people, cylinder roasters running all day. Continue north to Albuquerque for huevos rancheros at Mary & Tito's (James Beard winner since 1963), then Santa Fe for The Shed (chile pilgrimage spot since 1953). Decompression: a stop at the Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos (Old West steakhouse, est. 1863) on the drive to El Paso (ELP) airport.
Mississippi Delta Blues Crawl — Clarksdale, MS
Clarksdale is where Robert Johnson sold his soul at the crossroads of 49 and 61. Ground Zero Blues Club (owned by Morgan Freeman, Bill Luckett and Howard Stovall) runs live music Wed-Sat — Thursday is jam night, Friday/Saturday tail until midnight. Sleep upstairs at the Delta Cotton Co. apartments. Saturday afternoon at Red's Juke Joint — the real deal, dirt-floor, no website. Decompression: tamales at Doe's Eat Place in Greenville on the drive south, then catfish at the Crown in Greenwood before MEM airport.
Gila Wilderness + Old West Saloon — Pinos Altos, NM
The Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House (est. 1863) is the oldest steakhouse in the Southwest — 7,000 ft elevation, hand-cut steaks, live music in the Opera House attached to the bar. Day-trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings (3-story Mogollon ruins from 1280) and the Catwalk in Glenwood (a 250-ft suspended boardwalk through a slot canyon over Whitewater Creek). Decompression: a soak at Faywood Hot Springs Resort and a mole flight at Garcia's in Silver City before the drive to El Paso (ELP).
Garrison Brothers Bourbon Trail Overnight — Hye, TX
Private after-hours barrel pull at Garrison Brothers — Texas's first legal bourbon, all bottled at the Hye distillery. Master distiller pulls a single barrel for the group; Cosmic Cowboy in glasses, dinner on the lawn under the live-oak. Sleep at Camp Comfort or the Albert Hotel. Day two: brisket at Stanley's Farmhouse Pizza in Wimberley, swim in the Pedernales at Hamilton Pool, axe-throwing pit at Stewart & Stevenson back in town. Decompression: Sunday morning courtyard at Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin before AUS.
Unusual Urban Chaos
13 trips
NYC Rooftop + Helicopter Weekend — NY
Doors-off sunset heli over the harbor, Crown Shy dinner, speakeasy at Attaboy, dive-bar finale at McSorley's. Manhattan compressed into 72 chaotic hours.
Vegas High-Roller + Helicopter — NV
Bellagio high-roller suite, poker room private buy-in, Grand Canyon sunrise heli, XS nightclub close. High-variance urban chaos.
SF Shark Cage + Saison Dinner — CA
Day at Farallons, dinner at Saison, Tosca old-school night two, burritos at La Taqueria between. SF fog, SF chaos, SF catharsis.
Miami Blimp + Yacht Weekend — FL
Blimp day one (if available), yacht day two to Sandbar at Haulover, Zuma + LIV night three. Peak Miami maximalism.
Chicago Private Speakeasy Crawl — IL
Kumiko private mixology, The Violet Hour, hidden back-rooms at Punch House, Alinea for dinner two. River Suburban stretch between.
Nashville Honky-Tonk + Hill-Country Upgrade — TN
Broadway honky-tonks, hot chicken at Hattie B's, private pedal-tavern tour, night two at Rolf & Daughters. Optional: fly TX for a morning boar hunt and back.
Austin, TX — Brisket Before Sunrise, Honky-Tonks Till Close
4 AM line at Franklin Barbecue for brisket and burnt ends, then sleep it off at Hotel Van Zandt before Rainey Street crawl hits Midnight Cowboy and Hole in the Wall. South Congress vintage shops by afternoon, dinner at Uchi for omakase, late-night tacos at Veracruz All Natural. Night two: rooftop cocktails at Midnight Cowboy, dive-bar poker at The Hole in the Wall, karaoke at Ego's Nightclub. Final night cigar and bourbon at Malmaison on Congress, then close-out breakfast tacos at Torchy's before departure.
Denver — RiNo Breweries to Red Rocks, CO
Day one: RiNo brewery crawl hitting Ratio Beerworks, Great Divide Brewing, and Odell Brewing's Denver taproom, lunch at Steuben's Food Service. Evening rooftop drinks at Vital Root on Blake Street, dinner at Root Down in the Source Market Hall. Day two: Red Rocks concert (whatever's on the calendar), pre-show tacos at Lolita's Mexican Food, post-show nightcap at Williams & Graham. Day three: Meow Wolf Denver immersion, Santa Fe Arts District walk with stops at Horseshoe Bar and Adrift Coffee, final dinner at Frasca Food and Wine or Mizuna.
Portland, OR — Food Carts & Dive Bars, OREGON
Day one: guided food-cart crawl through Alder & 10th with stops at Matt's BBQ Tacos, Namu, and Potato Champion, then Powell's Books for three hours of controlled chaos. Dinner at Pok Pok on SE Division—larb, som tam, whole fish—followed by Holocene for live music and whiskey until close. Morning two: sunrise hike to Multnomah Falls, breakfast at Gado Gado Cafe in Hawthorne, afternoon rooftop session at Departure on the Nines with panoramic views. Sunset from Mt. Tabor Park, then dinner at Canard in the Pearl District for duck confit and natural wine. Final night: dive bars on Burnside—Rum Club, The Matador—and late-night ramen at Bing Mi.
Boston — Red Sox, Oysters & Harpoon, MA
Day one: Freedom Trail walking tour from Boston Common to the Old North Church, then Neptune Oyster for the lobster roll that rewrote the rulebook. Harpoon Brewery taproom in the Seaport for a flight and a kitchen full of smoked meats. Night two: Red Sox at Fenway Park, bleachers or box seats depending on the crew's tolerance for standing room. Post-game drinks at Eventide Oyster Co. on Congress Street—raw bar, brown butter lobster roll, and a wine list that doesn't apologize. Final night: Row 34 on the waterfront for sea urchin, scallops, and a beer list that rivals the oyster selection. Rooftop drinks at Thinking Cup or a late-night dive at The Friendly Toast.
Minneapolis — Jucy Lucy & First Avenue, MN
Jucy Lucy at Matt's Bar on Cedar Avenue — cheese-stuffed burger that rewrites the rules. Surly Brewing's taproom in Northeast for a flight and the view of the Stone Arch Bridge. First Avenue for a live show (Prince's old haunt). Spoon & Stable in the North Loop for a three-course dinner that lands somewhere between fine dining and a chef's fever dream. Day trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with Wilderness Outfitters for a half-day paddle and portage, then back to the city for late-night karaoke at Cowboy Jack's.
Los Angeles — Dodger Blue & Coastal Excess, CA
Dodger Stadium box seats for a night game, then Runyon Canyon at sunrise with the city sprawling below. Malibu Surfrider at golden hour, cold beer at Surfrider Beach Cafe. Arts District speakeasy crawl starting at The Edison, moving through Bestia's back bar, ending at Perch for rooftop cocktails overlooking downtown. Korean BBQ at Park's Finest in Koreatown—table-grilled short ribs, soju towers, the whole scene. Final night: Griffith Observatory at dusk, then dinner at Gwen on Melrose, late-night whiskey at The Pikey.
Pittsburgh — Steel City Sandwich Run, PA
Friday morning at Primanti Bros on 18th Street for the iconic sandwich—coleslaw and fries built into the bread. Catch the Pirates at PNC Park by evening, bleacher seats overlooking the Allegheny. Saturday: Strip District walking tour hitting Wholey Market for pierogis, then Duquesne Incline at sunset for the city grid spread below Mount Washington. Rooftop drinks at Altius, then dinner at The Commoner. Sunday brunch crawl through Lawrenceville—Pamela's Diner for pancakes, Butterjoy for cocktails, end at Conflict Kitchen for Afghan fare before heading home.
The 30 Building Blocks
Every Full Send trip is built from these 30 concierge-grade activities. Each one is a real operator, a real season, and a real story on its own.