Make the final days of June count and catch some muddy off-road racing in West Virginia, smash ping pong balls and party in Vegas, or head for the great outdoors in Colorado to join kayakers and rock climbers at an adrenaline-packed river festival.
By Nate Storey, Matt Skenazy, and Karin Krisher
GNCC Off-road Circuit Race, June 27-28
Snowshoe, West Virginia
Head to Snowshoe Mountain this weekend in the hills of West Virginia to watch the nations largest off road racing series. The final race before summer break, the GNCC boasts a $50k prize purse. After all the engine revving and mudslinging, head out for your own adventure on over 11,000 acres of mountain biking, hiking, and horse trails across the park. Neighboring Pocahontas County has trout-filled rivers, old growth forests, and a farmer’s market every Saturday in June.
Travel and Accommodations:
Fly into Richmond and make the four hour drive. If you plan on attending the race call 877-441-4FUN and book a room (starting at $95/night). Or, camp at East Fork Campground in Pocahontas County for $16 a tent.
HardBat Classic, June 26-28
Venetian Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas
Becoming a ping pong champion is no simple task, but that’s no reason not to try. After all, table tennis is officially back. This weekend, the HardBat Classic comes to the Venetian in Las Vegas for three days of heated paddle-smashing action. The best part: anyone can sign on to compete for the $100,000 prize using an old-school hardbat (none of that sponge business). With an over-handicapped system in place, the pros and the unrated players can compete on an almost even keel, and newcomers, be they players or spectators, can enjoy the game for what it is: a game. If you tire of table sport, Vegas offers plenty of other activities, including golf at courses like the Arroyo and Blue Man Group shows at the Venetian every night. Registration for the HardBat Classic is $100, and can be completed on site or online.
Travel and Accommodations:
Fly into McCarran International and catch a cab for the four mile ride to the Venetian, located on the famous Las Vegas strip. The resort is offering special suite packages to players and their crews for the event. Packages start at $169 a night if you make online reservations before June 26, and include discounts at selected restaurants and a pass to the LAVO nightclub.
Gunnison River Festival, June 26-28
Gunnison, Colorado
This weekend the Gunnison River Festival will provide plenty of action in the trout-filled, granite-wall-lined Taylor River waterway as kayakers and inner tubers face-off in downriver races and competitions. Before the water-related activities commence, enjoy the dazzling Colorado wilderness all around you with a bird watching tour early Friday morning. Make it a priority to be at the “Star Party” at the Gunnison Valley Observatory that night, where you’ll have an opportunity to gawk at the planets and moons of our Milky Way Galaxy through the Big Scope. If you’re a climber, chalk up your hands and hit some of the massive boulders or make your way up one of the 150 rope routes on the granite walls surrounding Gunnison. Finish off with some boozing at the “After Burn” party Sunday night in Taylor Canyon to reflect on a perfect weekend in the Mountain West.
Travel and Accommodation
United Airlines has flights to Gunnison. If you’d rather take the scenic route through Colorado’s majestic mountains then arrive in Denver and make the four-hour drive. Three Rivers Resort has plenty of cabins near the Taylor River. Rates start at $65 a night.
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