Published by J. A. on 31st March 2009
Rivals...
Downtown Columbus, Ohio has a lot to offer for the guy who just loves to travel or the guy who is looking for a simple vacation with the big city feel but without the big city hassle.
First off, most of the downtown area and especially the “Arena District” is well organized, easy to navigate and densely populated with quality restaurants and bars. We ventured to Gordon Biersch Brewery, Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar and Buca di Beppo’s. Of those three restaurants Buca di Beppo, a family Italian eatery, had the best food, Gordon Biersch Brewery had the best drinks and Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar had the best atmosphere and was the perfect place to close out a night. All were quality establishments and are worth a visit.
The Arena District is so named for Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have been in Columbus since 2000 and by the looks of it, they’ll make the playoffs this year for the first time in franchise history. Personally, I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan but, it’s always fun to catch a game in another city; especially if you can get tickets like we had… one row off the glass. Sitting that close you’ll better understand the speed and the grit that is the NHL. See the previous Black Rucksack article on the NHL experience and get tickets from StubHub!
More rivals...
Another feature in Columbus a few miles outside of downtown is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; one of the best zoos in the country. It’s a good place to relax and enjoy a sunny Spring afternoon. A zoo typically isn’t the place for a hardcore adventure (unless something escapes) but, a lot of the kids, girlfriends and wives you guys have will enjoy it.
This is just a taste of what downtown Columbus, Ohio offers… find a hotel and book it now!
Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena
via StubHub
$50 to $250 per ticket
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
$12 per ticket
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Published by J. A. on 8th January 2009
Up Close... On The Glass...
The rush of cool air… the sound of the boards rattling after a hard check… the blur of 10 players speeding down the ice… there aren’t many experiences like attending a National Hockey League (NHL) game.
My team is the Detroit Red Wings… they are electric skaters and an absolute blast to watch. And even though I’m a Wings fan, I still love the game of hockey more than I do any team. It is my Dad that instilled in me the importance of hockey; and how the sport has no room for the nervous.
One thing we at Black Rucksack suggest as an experience for every guy is an NHL game. While simply attending a game is a guaranteed good time, especially when the two teams are among the most exciting (like the Wings), there is more to this suggestion. To really get an understanding of the talent and speed in the game hockey, sit as near to the glass as you can. Catching a game three or four rows off the glass purifies the NHL experience.
To get good tickets, we suggest attending a game in pre-season or during the months of October or November; attendance is usually lower during those months. Also, you may want to shoot for a weekday game as you’ll also have a better chance at getting good tickets. StubHub.com
is one of the most reputable sources to find tickets sold by other fans.
National Hockey League Game
$50 to $250 per ticket
StubHub.com
Published by J. A. on 25th December 2008
In Memoriam...
Merry Christmas!
Just two weeks ago, we posted an article on the Rocky Mountains, whose many peaks and valleys should be on every guys “to be conquered” list. Today, we have a national park that is another must for men… Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Let’s start with the men on this mountain of South Dakota… Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, the 1st, 3rd, 26th and 16th Presidents of the United States. All four are consistently ranked by historians as the most successful, bad ass and effective presidents. Washington led the Continental Army against Britain, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Roosevelt helped create the US Forest Service, negotiated for control of the Panama Canal and busted apart railroad monopolies and Lincoln preserved the Union and ended slavery. All four have a long list of achievements and deserve all of the honor and praise this monument enshrines.
The visit to the monument in honor of the men listed above is a full experience. En route to Mount Rushmore through Custer State Park in the Black Hills, you’ll enjoy rugged terrain and amazing scenery. There is wildlife abound including bison and bighorn sheep. And, if you plan on hiking… know that there are also mountain lions lurking about. Once you arrive at Mount Rushmore you’ll trek through the lower part of the monument featuring a tribute to the 50 states and then onto the viewing platform and the amphitheater. Once you’re on the viewing platform, you finally get a sense of the scale of the monument and its omnipresence. Take a deep breath and take your time once you arrive.
History, wildlife, rugged terrain and a monument honoring great leaders of men…
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
$10 (parking fee)
Published by J. A. on 11th December 2008
Regal Rockies
A man, in his necessary travels, should be sure to cross over and also through the Rocky Mountains. Their majesty and grandeur is only exceeded by their height.
And while traveling through, you’ll inevitably come to a hideaway or a pass in the interior that will stand-out. There, you’ll stop and breathe the fresh, chilled air of Colorado or perhaps Montana. This memory will be yours forever; below is an account of mine.
[ At an old saloon on a street of mud... ]
Written on: 2007.Nov.05
In southwestern Colorado lies Wolf Creek pass. It is a formidable old thoroughfare that has been traversed mostly by locals for a long, long time. In this great San Juan Mountain pass are snow-capped peaks, lush, green valleys and tranquility.
Story and I stood unhurriedly overlooking the southern edge of this pass. It was late April, mid-morning and our destination was Denver; we were just entering Wolf Creek pass and our heading was northeast.
I did not stumble on this pass. It was my father who urged me to take my time driving through Colorado and to avoid highways and freeways when possible. During a summer in the early ’70’s he travelled this pass on his way to beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona; home of Northern Arizona University, one of his Alma maters. Though he wasn’t on my road trip back from California, my dad did ride with me out to California and thus I learned of Wolf Creek pass.
As I looked over the valley it was still glazed with a thin layer of fog. I tried to picture my dad leaning against his ‘66 Impala just as I was leaning against my Ford Escape… it was easy to do. I took in the wonder of the mountains and enjoyed the feeling of the cool, brisk and clean air against my face. “This place,” I thought to myself, “just became a bridge between generations.”
Rocky Mountain National Park
$20 (Park Entrance Fee)
