Men's Journal

Upper Wind Whitewater Festival, March 20-21

Stabler, Washington

Whatever your choice of rivercraft, this two-day festival is a chance to race the rugged Upper Wind River — a stretch that drops 300 feet over three frothing miles of Class III to V whitewater. Beginning in the one-building outpost of Stabler, the race descends through remote wilderness in the Columbia River Gorge. “It’s an un-dammed, untamed, pristine river — pure mountain runoff,” says Tim Brink, founder of the Oregon Rafting Team, who organizes the race.

What puts the event in a league of its own is the mass start: All boats in a given class light out at the whistle like greyhounds, elbowing for the lead as they tackle big water. Enter the race solo in a kayak or cataraft, or fill up a raft or cataraft with your friends. If the Upper Wind is more river than you want to take on, the race makes for great spectating. From the safety of the banks, you can watch, beverage in hand, as scores of boaters hurl themselves down the raging gorge. And fret not, beginner and intermediate boaters — the region is stocked with classic river runs spanning the difficulty range. Click here for loads of guided whitewater trips in the area, or ask a guide what stretch might be right for you this weekend.

The race is $20 for one day or $30 for both. For more race details, click here. Make sure to stick around after Saturday’s races for a barbecue and party.

From Stabler, it’s just a shade over an hour to Portland, Oregon, where seafood lovers will want to make a mandatory stop at the 110-year-old Jake’s Famous Crawfish.

Travel and Accommodation

The Stabler area has a variety of campgrounds. Follow this link to the festival blog, or start your search here to find a campground and reserve a site. For a night in Portland, click here to find anything from a modest room or a swanky boutique hotel. If you’re not already in the region, Portland International Airport is the gateway to a perfect weekend.

Zinfandel Festival, March 19-21

Paso Robles, California

If you seek wine, art, bikes, and golf this weekend, swing through Paso Robles Wine Country for the 2010 Zinfandel Festival. With more than 145 wineries taking part, you’ll want to make use of this handy planning tool to set up your trip by winery, day, and activity. Another good first step is educating yourself about Zinfandel grapes. This article can help.

Great eats are on offer at various wineries during the festival, but if you’d like to set out on your own, there are plenty of excellent local restaurants to check out. In the mood for some Tortelloni alla Piemontese? Head over to Buona Tavola. How about Arctic Char? Plan an evening at Artisan.

Now that you know where to carb load, plan a bike ride through scenic Paso Robles. If you’re looking for a guided tour, make a reservation here. And for a tee times that won’t break the bank, check out Paso Robles Golf Club.

Travel and Accommodations

Looking for luxury? La Bellasera Hotel and Suites is where you’ll want to go. Want to rough it? Camp out at Lake Nacimiento Resort.

If you’re making your trip by air, fly in to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. More directions can be found here.