GetTheFunOut

Well, it's holiday shopping season, which for the adventurer in your life is like a holiday!  (Because for us adventurers, the only thing better than new gear is new gear that we didn't have to buy!)   Here's a list of my recommendations based on personal experience, personal desire to own, or personal judgment that it would be good gear.  I'll try to organize it roughly by price.  Items added continuously!

Gem Lake and the Rocky Mountain National Park on a Colorado vacation last year. We're lucky to have another g uest post by Michael Bourke, the co-creator of  SciCamps , which is currently in its very early stages, but aims to provide people with learning resources outside of the classroom. Michael is a former  boy scout  and is a current lover of the outdoors and nature. Most of us enjoy going on vacation, but did you know that it is actually good for you? Planning and taking vacations can help you to be happier, no matter whether you travel to distant lands or stick close to home for a “staycation.” The act of planning time away from work and focusing on yourself and relaxing, in whatever manner you prefer, makes you happy and reduces stress.

Catch the last bits of the Diamondback's regular season Well, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix! Roundup of event listings.  If you have an event to advertise contact getthefunout@gmail.com Plan ahead: All the festivals you could hope to attend:   Phoenix Fall Festivals  (but really it's around the state) .  Oktoberfest, chili pepper festivals, corn mazes galore. September 30 - 31st Annual Great Tucson Beer Fest . October

Roanoke Valley from Mill Mountain Admittedly, Roanoke VA isn't on the tip of anyone's tongue in Phoenix.  Most people I meet only know of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.  When I clarify that there is, indeed, an existent Roanoke in the Appalachian Mountains they hear "Appalachia" and assume inbred hillbillies.  When I clarify there's a difference between Appalachia and Appalachian, they lose interest and talk about something other than where I'm from--with someone other than me.  Ten years ago, I might have agreed that their disinterest was justified; now, though, Roanoke  is becoming a bit like a Fort Collins of the East.   For visitors from hot Arizona, Roanoke can easily be a three season destination.  Come for the spring blooms, the fall colors, or the ability to condescend to locals about how 92 degrees in July is NOT hot.

Kachina Trail in early September Well, after a hiatus last weekend for me to get out of town, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix!

I just spent a long weekend in San Francisco and, with some out-of-city travel on the agenda, needed to find a rental car.  My desire to find a deal rivals that of Morty Seinfeld so after receiving quotes of $125+ for a single-day renting the cheapest car available from the main rental companies I started looking for sharing-economy alternatives. GetAround.com came recommended through a friend-of-a-friend in the Bay Area as the service to use.  That I would get a $20 credit for being a first time customer bolstered my interest. For those unfamiliar with GetAround, it's like AirBnB for cars; or Uber--but you drive yourself in someone else's car.  Car owners sign up for the GetAround fleet.  Once accepted, they're sent a device that, among other things, facilitates remote lock and unlock (this is how you, as a renter, get into the car and lock it after use).  Drivers select a starting point--your current address, or where you'll be when you want the car--as well as a

Livestock at the Payson Rodeo, one of this week's great events! Well, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix!

It's got nothing to do with the weekend, but isn't that a great looking spread? Well, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix!

Wildflowers don't stop in Flagstaff, even in August. Well, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix!

Groupon is currently offering an additional 20% off of up to three local deals!  SALE3 is the code. Up to 42% off at Boulders on Southern - a great place for happy hours filled with craft beer. Up to 54% off of wine tasting at Oak Creek Vineyards in Cottonwood. $14.99 Beer package for two at Phoenix Ale Brewery. Up to 40% off at Scottsdale Rose Fest. Up to 25% off at Superstition Meadery in Prescott. Up to 29% off Urban Jungle Fun Park. Up to 56% off at OdySea Laser Maze. Up to 35% off at Creamistry at the Scottsdale Waterfront. Up to 63% off of golf at the Phoenician. 40% off at the Desert Botanical Gardens. Up to 83% off of standup comedy at the Tempe Improv! 28% off at Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course. 51% off The Ultimate Wine Run. Disclaimer:  I am merely curating these links to Groupon.   I disclaim all liability, reserve all rights, and make no warranties for the use of these links to navigate to Groupon or for use of any of the Groupon offers.  

Not the wildest weekend, but I bet it got your attention... Well, it's Wednesday again.  The day best known for keeping your weekly calendar from being laterally symmetrical, and for making Meredith blush and giggle in 1st grade phonics when it was sounded out as Wed-Nes-Day and had a drawing of a bride and groom to emphasize the "wed" sound.   And because without further help, reading those tidbits would be literally the most interesting part of Wednesday, here's a roundup of things to do this weekend.  And by "weekend," I mean Thursday to Sunday…because we can't exclude Friday-eve or Sunday Funday from the mix!

Breckenridge River Walk in the early fall. Win a trip to Breckenridge, CO ! Presented by Breckenridge Grand Vacations: win 5 nights at a Breckenridge resort and $2,000 for airfare and fun!   Disclaimer:  I earn additional entries for click throughs on this link.  I am merely providing a link and am not affiliated with any of the sponsors.  I disclaim all liability, reserve all rights, and make no warranties for the use of this link to enter the contest.

Yummy Yummy Chinese Ranch Today in GTFO's adventures in dining out, we find ourselves at Yummy Yummy Chinese Restaurant .  YYCR is, obviously, a Chinese restaurant, which is located near Noodles Ranch and Chipotle in the Scottsdale Crossing shopping strip on the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Thomas. YYCR offers dine-in options, as well as online ordering, delivery with $15 minimum, and is connected to Grubhub and Seamless.  

Guest post by Michael Bourke, the co-creator of SciCamps , which is currently in its very early stages, but aims to provide people with learning resources outside of the classroom. Michael is a former boy scout  and is a current lover of the outdoors and nature. Warmer weather, longer days, no school, and vacation time make summer the perfect time of year to round up the family and head out on a camping trip. However, both summer and camping bring their own set of safety issues, so make sure you are prepared so this doesn’t become the camping trip you wish you could forget.

Your bed after Prime Day!! It's Prime Day and there are some great deals available for outdoors gear, so if you need to stock up for the summer and fall travel/camping/hiking/fishing/hunting/boating/etc seasons, it's a great time to do it. Here are some deals to get you started. It should be no surprise that I make money if you click one of the Amazon links and then buy things; that's the only meaningful source of revenue for GTFO, so if you don't see anything interesting in this post still click through one of my Amazon links to do your shopping. [aside from the Fenix 3 and Salomon 4d GTX, each ofwhich I have worn and love, the products listed below are listed for convenience and are not endorsements of those specific products]:

I recently completed the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike, in one day.  It was an exceptional experience:  physically demanding, mentally taxing, and aesthetically amazing.  It's certainly not a hike for the unprepared; you risk anything from blister, to death, to being stranded for lack of transportation planning.  The variable conditions make it impossible to make a one-size-fits-all guide, but here is my experience--hopefully you will learn from it.

It's hot! Well, it's that time again to get ready for our annual heat-induced existential crisis.  With temperatures already regularly over 100F, the summer seems like an insurmountable obstacle between us and a habitable ecosystem.  With a little creativity, planning, and my help, though, we will get through this together.  Because no matter how hopeless life seems when the LOW temperature is still over 90F, if Arizona has done anything well it's bending the climate to its will. Below are my 2017 suggestions for surviving the Summer in Arizona.

If you’re anything like me, each time summer rolls around to Phoenix you can’t do anything but fantasize about it not being summer in Phoenix.  Luckily for us, the 2017 Arizona Get Outdoors Expo is here to help!  

Because I’m apparently bad at prioritizing my to-hike list, the Flatiron hike in the Superstition Mountains only took 12 years of Arizona residence to complete. If you’ve ever done that hike, you know what an idiot I am for waiting so long; if you’ve never done that hike, don’t let yourself wind up like me—hike it!  Except, I’m issuing this command at a bad time of year as temperatures are already climbing into the “dangerous” range.  So, if nothing else, take this as your official notice to hike this hike in the fall when temperatures are more reasonable.  But please make it a point to hike this trail as soon as possible.  This is the best hike I've done in the Phoenix area, and top-5 in the state.

Just getting those steps... Big Guy Gear Reviews are what the sound like--gear reviews focused on the usability for big guys. If you're a proportional six-footer, congrats: you can use literally every piece of gear on the market. If you're a big guy, however, you know it's a frustrating marketplace. I'm here to help. For reference, here are my basic dimensions: 6'5", 226 pounds*, dress shirt is 17"x37".  I wear XL-tall shirts and 38x34 pants—as long as they’re not straight legged, boot cut, or whatever else skinny hipsters have pushed the market toward. I'm built with more of a weak-man's barrel chest than a fat-man's beer belly. I have what Lululemon calls "hockey butt." If you're tall and not broad, or broad and not tall, these reviews should still help you find usable gear. This time we're talking about Garmin Fitness products (including activity trackers and their smart scale), which have literally chan