Spring Training tailgating is different that football tailgates in the fall. Here, it's more relaxed, more casual and frankly more about hanging out and bonding as guys than it is a showcase of extravagant cooking and over-the-top decorations. Spring Training tailgate parties are special because for most of those in attendance, it's a pilgrimage. It's a time when friends travel across the country to hang out, share stories, and have an amazing experience that will live on as memories for years to come. We just came back from Cactus League Spring Training in Phoenix and here are our tips to make the most of your spring training tailgating experience.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of STP. All opinions are 100% mine.

This is an amazing country and I love exploring it by car because it gives you the freedom to explore that flying from one point to the next simply doesn't. It can also be a very inexpensive way to travel if you know how to save money on road trips like I have learned how to do. As someone who travels by car several times each year there's an almost infinite number of travel hacks to save money, but here are my five favorite ones.

Among the various geological features of California, none of them can come close to the legendary San Andreas Fault. Unfortunately it's often misunderstood and instead simply feared for it's destructive power. However, after a fantastic Fault Line Tour with Big Wheel Tours I now have a much better appreciation for it.

Palm Springs is pretty much synonymous with the concept of a guys weekend and Hard Rock Hotel is about the perfect place to call base camp for your adventure. This is a destination that since the 1930's has been home to legendary men such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and even General Patton who's troops trained in the desert near here. Today, it is a destination with almost limitless opportunities for guys to rock out, blow off some steam, and then get pampered with top notch spas.

For those of you who are baseball fans, there's nothing like making a trip to Spring Training in Phoenix. For six weeks each spring, this oasis in the desert plays host to 15 MLB teams and it's possible to see all of your favorite teams just a few minutes drive from your hotel. When you combine that with the phenomenal spring weather, great golf, and fantastic food this is a MUST DO guys weekend for anyone who loves baseball! 

Joshua Tree National Park is an absolutely stunning natural reserve with wide open spaces, amazing colors, and terrain ranging from sharp cliffs to sandy plains. It's a fantastic place to explore on foot though it can get extremely hot during the summer, so I find it much more enjoyable to use one of the off road trails and explore it's hidden spaces that way. We did this recently with the 2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland 4x4 and were completely impressed with how capable it was.

Just a few years ago, the topic of "Marijuana Tourism" was something of a joke exchanged between college guys dreaming of visiting Amsterdam. Weed, cannabis, marijuana - whatever you want to call it, was something illicit for most Americans despite the fact that a significant percentage of our population either actively consumed it or had in the past. Even those who didn't, wondered what it might be like to do so again in a safe environment free from the risk of arrest. Today, recreational marijuana is legal to different degrees in nine different states and territories including: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state, and Washington D.C. Because of this rapidly changing landscape and the promise of more states to follow in subsequent election years, the concept of people traveling to partake in some herbal refreshment has become a real trend for the travel industry. This is true for people planning vacations from neighboring states as well as local visitors looking to explore travel options that include cannabis culture the same tourism opportunities cater to people wanting to visit breweries, distilleries and vineyards.

New York State has some of the top bass fishing spots in the country and this makes it a great place to visit year round - including ice fishing as well as from the shore, a bass fishing boat or even a kayak! You get away from the city noise and replace that with nature. Along with the fresh air, it can also be a great exercise. However, choosing the perfect place for your day-off may be harder thank you think. We are talking about 70,000+ miles of rivers and streams. To help you make this decision, here are 5 bass fishing spots in the New York area you should definitely have on your radar.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visit Maine. All opinions are 100% mine.

Maine is a fantastic - though sometimes forgotten state. It's way up there in the far northeastern tip of the country and sometimes feels like there are more moose, deer and fish than people. That's pretty much true though, except on winter weekends when people come flooding north for the crisp cool air and beautiful mountains covered in fresh powder just waiting for you to make tracks. Whether's it's skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or fat tire snow biking, Maine has some great options for you to explore this winter.

New Orleans is a fascinating city with an incredibly unique blend of cultures and that makes it an amazing city for anyone looking to try something new. Like cities such as LA, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, people think differently here and normal rules don't always apply. However, what New Orleans has that those other "foodie cities" don't is hundreds of years of deeply rooted traditions to help guide the influences of those different cultures. This results in not just "great restaurants" in different silos, but almost a bouquet of foodie options that generally traces it's way back to either Cajun or Creole roots. For me, this makes it infinitely more fascinating and enjoyable to explore.

Mardi Gras is the ultimate party, but while you will see, hear, and probably smell things you've never experienced before it's probably not what you've seen on TV and those "sensational" photos of women flashing are really only a small part of the experience. I've been fortunate to be able to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans a few times, so I've acquired a bit of knowledge to help make your experience the best it can possibly be.

Summer is here and  I am sure you are dreaming about doing with your friends. Whatever your travel plans are this summer though, it's important to make sure you have your stuff in order. Otherwise, what should be a once in a lifetime trip, could quickly turn into something memorable for lesser reasons. Shaving is a lot like traveling if you think about it, while anyone can do either, when you do it right it's great experience. However, if you have the wrong tools or bad technique it is no fun!

While others may be going to the flashier resorts, locals know that the historic mining town of Breckenridge, Colorado is where it's at for year-round excitement. Nestled deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, approximately two hours from Denver, it is home to Breckenridge Ski Resort as well as Colorado's largest historic district.

Traditionally, our wives and girlfriends sit and wait for us to pick a hotel that they want for Valentine's Day - but why can't we turn the tables and do things differently? We scoured the internet looking for epic hotel ideas that will inspire romance this Valentine's Day in a completely different manner than the typical 4-star resort with breakfast in bed!

Each of these motels caters to fantasies or have themed rooms that will make your Valentine's Day that much more fun compared to a eewwey gooey, boring romantic night at a typical hotel with red roses and chocolates.

The first few times you come to Vegas, all you can think of overwhelming majesty of the strip. It's a fantastic wonderland of lights, sounds, and sights that you simply can't find anywhere else on earth. After a few visits though, that starts to get more and more shallow and you begin to wonder what lies beyond. The fact is, Vegas is a huge city with more than just the strip to explore. Unfortunately for you and I though, from the moment you land in the airport - everything is designed to pull you and your wallet into one of the gigantic strip resorts.

New England has hundreds of ski areas ranging from small mom and pop mountains with a single lift to huge mega resorts like Killington where you'll find not just some of the finest ski runs in the region but tons of other winter activities. Since Killington ski resorts in Vermont have long been touted as the best places to ski on the east coast of the United States. There are a large variety of trails ranging in skill from beginner to expert. They have a double black diamond trail for experienced skiers and one trail is over six miles long for those desiring another type of challenge.

Montana is an extreme state where legends are made by men brave and determined enough to explore the vast open spaces. For those seeking winter adventure there this year, you won't be disappointed (unless you are looking for smog-choked highways and long lift lines!)

One of the beauties of a state as open and free as Montana is that activities you wouldn't (or couldn't) consider elsewhere suddenly become possible if you are brave enough. For instance, many people enjoy parasailing and thousands more people enjoy backcountry skiing - so how about combining them?

As an American, it isn't often that I visit a building more than 200 years old, so when I had the opportunity to visit Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam and discovered that the buildings dated back to a collection of 25 restored homes dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, I was super excited for the experience. 

Northern Europe is cold and damp during the winter but that doesn't mean people hole up inside their lofts until summer. In fact, it appeared to be quite the opposite when I visited last month during our Viking River Cruise. The people of Amsterdam are among the most liberal in Europe, so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that their zest for life transcends weather. For those visiting the city though, that translates into potentially lower prices and fewer crowds compared to spring and summer. It also presents some unique experiences such as touring the light festival that is held in December and January.

Winter is here and for many of us that means cold and flu season but even if you are lucky enough to avoid the worst symptoms, most of us will get a nasty cough. Unfortunately, while feeling nasty on the inside or having achy joints feels bad to you - a cough alerts everyone around you that someone is sick. This can severely limit your enjoyment of winter activities, but it doesn't have to.