Men's Journal

West Virginia's New River Gorge Bridge Photo credit: Courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Tourism

Whether your interests lie in paddling water, leaping into it, or using it to wash down a couple dozen bratwurst, we’ve got you covered.

by Kate Cassidy

The Superbowl of BASE Jumping
Fayetteville, West Virginia

This weekend you won’t be able to drive across the New River Gorge, but you will be able to jump face first into it. At the annual Bridge Day Festival in Fayetteville, West Virginia, traffic will stop to accommodate 400 base jumpers and 300 rappelers as they plunge 876 feet to skim the river below. Fearless participants will have six hours to feign flight from the launch site, while the less adrenaline-addicted can stroll across the country’s second longest single arch bridge or watch the action from below as part of a guided “Down Under” tour. And although Bridge Day is the largest extreme sporting event in the world — it’s expected to attract over 80,000 spectators — the organizers still manage to do a host of other things right, from food to live music to a car show and motorcycle parade. If you wander further from the bridge, you can also try whitewater rafting in the New River or rock climbing up the gorge itself.

Accommodations and Travel: Shuttles to the festival run in a circuit from Fayetteville High School and The Comfort Inn on Laurel Creek Road, as well as from the Courthouse and town park for $1. If you’re taking your car, the best place to park is in Fayetteville. Most lodging near New River Gorge is located on Rt. 19 and goes fast, so book in advance (wvbridgeday.com/hotels.php or officialbridgeday.com ).

A Cheesehead Gustatory Celebration
Madison, Wisconsin
This weekend you can chug and chow down with over 6,000 other hungry gourmands at the Madison Food & Wine Show. About 150 vendors will showcase Wisconsin specialties, including regionally brewed beers, gourmet pastries, and, of course, cheese. But it’s not all about eating; cooking demonstrations will teach you everything from how to fry up southern soul food to how to choose the best farmer’s market produce. Other specialty events include an instructional wine tasting and Madison’s own version of the Food Network’s Iron Chef. Low on cash? Check out the discount wine cellar and don’t leave without your free bag of gourmet swag (one-day passes are $37 in advance or $42 at the door; weekend passes are $60 in advance or $70 at the door; madisonfoodandwineshow.com ).
Accommodations and Travel: The event is located in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center (1919 Alliant Energy Center Way). The Madison Metro bus service makes stops on Olin Avenue, adjacent to the Alliant Energy Center. Two major bike path systems provide connections to the facility: The Wingra Creek Bike Path to the north follows Wingra Creek through Quann Park and connects to the Park Street and Fish Hatchery Road area. There is also the Lake Monona bike path system that runs along Lake Monona on the East side of John Nolen Drive (for details on accommodations visit travelwisconsin.com and search “Madison Food and Wine Show”).

A Trio of Kayaking Adventures:

20th Annual Delmarva Paddlers Retreat
Lewes, Delaware
Whether you’re learning the basics or are ready to shred the high seas with the best of them, this is the weekend for all things kayak. If you prefer your paddling with a dose of history and tradition, head to Lewes, Delaware to gather with fellow kayak enthusiasts for the 20th Annual Delmarva Paddlers Retreat. Here, you can celebrate the origins of Greenland-style sea kayaking - Inuits skillfully paddled around the Arctic using skin and wood boats back in the day - while honing your techniques and learning new ones at one of the largest Greenland-style retreats in the country (delmarvapaddlersretreat.org/ez/ ).

16th Annual Folly Beach Surf Kayak Competition
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Farther down the east coast is an event a bit more fast-paced, where 20-30 competitors will spend their Saturday kayaking headfirst into five-foot waves to stroke and roll their way to first place. The 16th Annual Folly Beach Surf Kayak Competition draws thousands of spectators from South Carolina and the surrounding area to see winners from all divisions snag the prize - a Mega Surf Kayak, a Kokatat dry top and of course, beach bragging rights ($55; follybeach.com ).

Mayor’s Cup New York City Kayak Championship
New York, New York
Want to stay a bit closer to civilization while still getting your ass kicked by a rigorous circumnavigation? Head to Manhattan on Sunday for the Mayor’s Cup New York City Kayak Championship. Sunday’s 26.7 mile race will offer some of the most challenging kayaking yet, as competitors maneuver the Hudson, East River, and Hell’s Gate, known best for it’s standing waves and whirlpools. And with chops up to 5 feet and some currents moving as quickly at seven knots, this one’s $5,000 grand prize doesn’t come without its price ($125; nymayorscup.com ).

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