GetTheFunOut

I've written before about my experiences hiking Havasupai, but with it now being Havasupai hiking season I wanted to take a moment to boil it down to the basics of what you need to know to have a fun hike, including a basic gear list. And here's a free pro tip:  cache snacks and drinks in your car for after the hike.  You've never seen anyone so jealous as my friends when I pulled out Doritos and a Dr. Pepper to munch on immediately after finishing the hike.

Recently I've gotten in to mountain biking, which, of course, means  needing mountain bike gear.  Having mountain bike gear, of course, means maintaining mountain bike gear...and especially maintaining a mountain bike.  

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 w...