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private poker tournaments for your guys as well.

Continued from Page 7: The Guys Have It!

not get a little rivalry going with a 600-horsepower NASCAR racecar at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Kansas Speedway? Get your group some drag racing lessons, off-road driving experiences, or just take them to Southwest Speedway for some racing action in North Dakota.

Out West

Extreme Adventure

And if the need is for adventure, try Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours in South Dakota or some high flying on the Soaring Eagle Zip Line. Experience the scenic Minnesota River Valley from above the trees at the #1 zip line in Minnesota, Kerfoot Canopy Tours. Anything that involves jumping off or climbing tall structures will get the juices flowing. But the best idea of all is a day at Drive A Tank in Minnesota or nearby Extreme Sandbox. Seek out some rock climbing, or fun at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan.

that attracts groups from near and far. The Culinary Center of Kansas City offers serious educational curriculum committed to the art of grilling. The Blind Pig Co. in Champaign, IL has 28 drafts on tap and serves craft beers from around the world. It even made it onto the Top 100 American Bars list published by Imbibe Magazine. And when in North Dakota be sure to make the trip to Silver Prairie Saloon, south of Fargo. You will be so glad you did. In Missouri some great choices include Crown Valley Brewing & Distilling or Anheuser-Busch Brewery. For a tour of how limited edition batches of specialty liquors are made, visit FEW Spirits in Evanston, IL. A free tour of Grand River Spirits, also in Illinois, will improve your artisan-spirits IQ.

In the Cards?

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry The thing about men is you gotta feed ‘em. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to incorporate food and drink into a manly group tour. Wisconsin, known for its beer and cheese, offers excellent cheese factory and brewery tours along with some great winery tours. May I suggest the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. for a top experience? All tours include tasting and a souvenir glass. The Firehouse Brewing Company is a wonderful restaurant in South Dakota

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Harrah’s in Chicagoland is a riverboatstyle casino and hotel for groups inclined to that sort of action. 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, ND is another great place for gaming action. Think about

For the Wild West experience, bring your guys to a rodeo in North Dakota. Or maybe immerse them in farm or ranch life like you’ll find at Black Leg Ranch, a real working cattle ranch near Bismarck. Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports in Missouri features a complete shooting experience in a park-like setting. Keep the theme going with the Front Street Cowboy Museum & Steakhouse in Nebraska.

Two big reasons men gravitate toward mancation group travel are the convenience of a pre-packaged deal, along with the male bonding camaraderie. But if you are still not sure about exploring a gender-specific group outing, consider this: you don’t need to dive into the deep end right away. Think about separating your adventure seekers for a special activity while the remaining group enjoys a traditional experience. Then everyone can meet up later for a meal. More work for you of course, but it’s a great way to test the waters and see how this niche of guy getaways works for you.