Mancations provide a chance to reconnect with that other family: old college buddies, childhood friends, simply a few neighborhood or work guy pals, essentially those who are your brothers in spirit if not in blood.
Although the term mancation is new, the concept sure isn't. There have been mancation-themed movies for decades.
Use a mancation to get out of town, indulge in some man-friendly activities women might hate, and get a rare chance to bond. Here are some ideas for memorable mancations:
- Be sports nuts - What could be more of a guy thing to do than to see sports in action. Take a road trip hitting various baseball, hockey, and football stadiums, or whatever sport you prefer. Watch some sports, hit popular sports bars and get a chance to talk sports unfettered by those who are bored with the topic.
- Indulge in man-friendly vices - Find destinations, resorts, nightclubs or hotels that cater to men. They could even simply be getaways that feature a particular indulgence. A night out sampling cigars at a smoking lounge, a road trip tasting wine, a visit to a microbrewery to sample beer or even great massages at a guy-centric spa would all make great mancations.
- Get adventurous - Ramp up the adrenaline with a high-octane adventure mancation. Adventure travel allows men to get a rush, and you won't soon forget the time you and the guys went bungee jumping or sky diving.
- Go out and play - One of the best mancations is escaping to the great outdoors. Fishing, in particular, is a wildly popular mancation. RVing is another great choice, as is backpacking. Dude ranches are also great for some male bonding - remember the film City Slickers?
Mancations don't have to be drunken escapades that end in jail, injury or divorce, and they don't have to be reserved for bachelor parties. They can just be a chance to spend some fun quality time with other guys.
Kelby Carr - Kelby Hartson Carr is an Asheville, N.C. mother of three, a seasoned travel writer, and has extensive experience traveling with children. ...
