Man’s Man Travel – 3 Badass Father’s Day Vacations

By Mike Richard Published December 17, 2019

Bear Grylls Survival Academy — 1. Bear Grylls Survival Academy
2. Beer Sampler
3. Western River Expeditions Grand Canyon Rafting

Beer Sampler — 1. Bear Grylls Survival Academy
2. Beer Sampler
3. Western River Expeditions Grand Canyon Rafting

Modern Nomad is a weekly column dedicated to mobile gear, must-see world destinations, tips for life on the road, and traveling better through technology.

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Your dad doesn’t need another tie, drill kit, or kitschy bit of golf memorabilia. Why not think far outside the gift box this Father’s Day? If your pop is the no-nonsense, beer-swilling outdoorsman type, here are three extreme vacations you can bond over.

#1: Bear Grylls Survival Academy

Bear Grylls has become the de facto face of survival for an entire generation of young men. He’s a skydiver, an SAS military commando, and he’s summited Mount Everest on multiple occasions. In short, he knows how not to die. Through his Bear Grylls Survival Academy, his hand-picked team of experts impart the same skills on aspiring survivalists. The school is available on four continents though we’d personally opt for Africa. Survival in the Falls takes students on an extensive five-day journey around Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls. The course culminates in a grueling, 36-hour test of skills including tracking, animal skinning, and crossing some of the continent’s most difficult terrain. Their motto? “It may hurt a little.”

Related: Our Ultimate Father’s Day Guide

#2: Thirsty Swagman’s Round-the-World Pub Tour

No tour company on the planet mixes beer and travel quite like Thirsty Swagman. Their upcoming Round-the-World Pub Tour is an all-inclusive world tour that crosses four continents and promises “zero boring sightseeing”. It all starts in the Australian pubs of Sydney, then crosses to the tiki bars of Hawaii, and onward through Vegas, Reykjavik, Düsseldorf, and Phuket, Thailand. The €6,000 entry fee is a small price to pay for a trip that includes airfare and three- and four-star accommodations. Like many of Swagman’s epic trips, seats are limited and it’s a one-off itinerary guaranteed never to be repeated.

#3: Grand Canyon Rafting

Of course, there are plenty of amazing outdoor adventures right here in North America as well. For something truly epic, Western River Expeditions offers once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list-worthy, seven-day rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. Over the course of a week, you’ll traverse nearly 200 miles and more than 60 rapids in the company’s purpose-built motorized rafts. Additional daily excursions take guests to the area’s most breathtaking scenery, including pristine streams, remote waterfalls, and thousand-year-old Anasazi ruins.

Contributor

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…

Outdoors

Biscuit Basin is closed — here’s what to do in Yellowstone instead

Summer fun at Yellowstone is going to look different this year

Overhead photo of a geyser at Yellowstone National Park

Visiting Yellowstone National Park may look a bit different this year with the continued closure of Biscuit Basin, but it's still going to be worth it. There are so many other geysers, canyons, and wildlife to see that it would be a huge mistake to miss out on it this summer just because the path to Old Faithful is still under construction. Here's everything you need to know when entering Yellowstone this summer, and how to make the most of it according to the National Park Service.
Making the most of Yellowstone this Summer

While Biscuit Basin faces reconstruction efforts after the hydraulic explosion that happened last year, you'll still be able to enjoy wildlife hotspots like the Lamar Valley, which is nicknamed "America's Serengeti" for all of the animals you can see. Yellowstone Lake will also be open for boating or fishing excursions. The Yellowstone Lake hotel and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is open this summer if you don't want to camp, and a lot of the trails around Mammoth Hot Springs will be open too. You can also see Norris Geyser Basin, which is park's hottest and oldest.
No need to worry about timed entry
One of the best parts about Yellowstone National Park is that they don't require timed entry reservations like Yosemite National Park or Glacier National Park. Summer is still pretty busy, so be prepared for crowds, but the park is 2.2 million acres in total, so there's a fair amount of space to spread out. Still, you will need a park entrance pass to get through the gate.
Make your reservations in advance
Campgrounds do require reservations in advance, so make sure that you book dates before you go. If you plan to do any fishing or boating in the area, make sure that you also snag yourself a fishing or boating permit. You will also need to submit your boat for an inspection.
Expect terrible cell service
Personally, I don't know why you'd want to be on your phone with Yellowstone out your window, but keep in mind that cell service is limited here. I recommend downloading maps and the NPS app beforehand, as well as any road closure information. These closures can be sudden due to the unpredictability of Yellowstone's weather, so prepare in advance by packing a warm jacket, rain gear, and layers when you go.
Be responsible, especially around wildlife
While driving, be sure to observe posted speed limits and use the pullouts to watch wildlife, making sure that all four of your tires are fully to the right of the white line. This will allow other cars to pass easily. Seeing wildlife up close is amazing, but remember to stay a minimum of 25 yards away from all wildlife, and 100 yards away from bears, wolves, and cougars. Elks are also dangerous, so don't even think about holding your baby near one.

Travel

Inside the new era of aircraft interiors, according to a design expert

STARLUX aviation cabin

Air travel can often seem like a means to an end. You must journey hundreds or thousands of miles, and comfort takes a back seat to reaching your destination. But cramped, crowded cabins can feel like riding a school bus, making a flight something to endure rather than enjoy.

But what if an airplane cabin were a tailored space akin to a luxury hotel? What if designers considered every aspect, from the lighting to the dimensions to the materials, to ensure the in-flight experience was something to look forward to?

Outdoors

Utah ski resort set for largest expansion ever

Deer Valley Resort will have 7 new chairlifts and over 80 new runs and more this season

View from the top of a trail at Deer Valley

Deer Valley Resort in Utah, one of our favorite ski resorts, is gearing up to deliver the largest ski resort expansion in history, just in time for the 2025/26 season. As a part of the resort's "Expanded Excellence" initiative, this project aims to expand the skiable terrain to 5,726 acres, upgrade infrastructure, and eventually redo the Snow Park base area. Here's what you need to know about the upgrades.

“With multiple large-scale projects underway, we’re strategically focusing our efforts to ensure success at every step,” said Todd Bennett, President and COO of Deer Valley Resort. “This winter’s terrain expansion — more than doubling our skiable acreage — is a once-in-a-generation transformation, and it deserves our full attention."