Founded in 1906 on poker chips, whiskey and wild women, the Golden Gate – Las Vegas’ original casino – is undergoing its first major expansion in 50 years. A hangout for Frank, Sammy and Dean during the Rat Pack era, the landmark property in downtown Las Vegas will keep its authentic Vegas vibe while adding a spectacular 35,000-square-foot, five-story luxury tower with 16 hotel suites, including two penthouses that will encompass the entire 5th floor.

PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS (February 29, 2012) – Atlantis, Paradise Island, will play host to the 11th Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament (MD&F), May 25-27, 2012 at the 18-hole, par 72 championship Ocean Club Golf Course.

Co-hosting the tournament with Michael Douglas will be Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman, on behalf of PLAN!T NOW (P!N), the disaster preparedness non-profit which has granted over $100,000 in scholarships to students impacted by severe weather events. Proceeds from the televised golf tournament featuring four teams of celebrity golfers will equally benefit P!N and The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), the leading Hollywood charity providing health, financial and social services to the entertainment community. Kenny Chesney, longtime PLAN!T NOW advocate, will contribute to the fundraising efforts with a LIVE Benefit concert on Saturday, May 26 at Atlantis. This special intimate performance will be before Chesney kicks off his summer tour in June 2012. Since its inception, MD&F has raised over ten million dollars for MPTF.

If you live in the United States, it is highly likely that you have seen the commercials for Atlantis - pictured as this gleaming Las Vegas-style resort emerging from powdered sugar Bahamian sands, with a gorgeous couple (or maybe a family) enjoying their stay there.

What you don't see is that Atlantis is also a great spot for a group of guys to go for a long weekend, or even just for the day, since it is super convenient to the port of Nassau. That is how I got to experience the spectacle that is Atlantis Resort, during our cruise on Carnival Ecstasy, and I had a BLAST!

No longer satisfied with party on home ground, there is a growing group of travelers that prefer to hit up clubs, parties and festivals around the world. Just as there are fashion capitals that fuel fashion tourism and nature centers that ignite our passion to explore the great outdoors there are places around the world that attract the best of the best in terms of DJs, clubs and loyal fans. Whatever style of music you’re into there is a party destination for you. Here are three of the world’s best.

Daytona Beach has been named one of America's top beach destinations by TripAdvisor. The popular resort area's 23 miles of beaches was ranked sixth in TripAdvisor's top 10 listing of Travelers' Choice Award-winning U.S. Beach Destinations.

As you may remember, we visited Dayton a couple years ago on our "Daytona: The Original Mancation" trip and made some FANTASTIC friends there, so this award is no surprise to us!

Press Release:

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Orlando Resort – one of the world’s most popular theme park experiences – is now even better. Mind-blowingly better.

The attraction reopens today with all-new 4K digital high-definition animation, a new highly-sophisticated Infitec 3-D projection system, a new music score and new high-tech 3-D glasses so that guests can experience the improvements the way the attraction’s creators envisioned.  The attraction’s sets, audio system and lighting have also been upgraded.

Daytona Beach has been named one of America's top beach destinations by TripAdvisor. The popular resort area's 23 miles of beaches was ranked sixth in TripAdvisor's top 10 listing of Travelers' Choice Award-winning U.S. Beach Destinations.

As you may remember, we visited Dayton a couple years ago on our "Daytona: The Original Mancation" trip and made some FANTASTIC friends there, so this award is no surprise to us!

An innovative French touring company, Discover France, is taking the pain out of the gain when cycling up inclines. Guests now may partake of a new adventure travel trend, using hybrid electric bicycles with easy-to-charge battery motors.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – On June 23, as many as 100 classic automobiles will drive past the starting flag in Traverse City for The Great Race, a nine-day 2,300-mile road rally that will take them through Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio before ending in Henry Ford’s hometown of Dearborn on July 1.

Come hang out in LA, Entourage style, where work and play are one and the same. Here, bloody steaks taste better on white table clothes and the beautiful people enjoy a bit of debauchery on the dance floor...

To experience a slice of the Entourage pie, you will have to flash a bit of cash. This guide will help you plot your own DIY tour to follow Vince and the boys around LA for an authentic taste of the Hollywood lifestyle. Splurge on the best LA steak one day then chomp on cheap pastrami the next. Oh the sweet life...

The first ever Hooters celebrated its reopening this week after a complete remodel in Clearwater, Florida. The Hooters at 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd. is the restaurant that launched the iconic American brand, which today boasts more than 480 locations in 44 states and 27 countries worldwide. Though completely updated and remodeled, the Original Hooters still maintains the same "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" historic charm and appeal as it did when it first opened on October 4, 1983.

Ever considered heading to Europe for a mancation? There's an array of fantastic cities that offer just the right blend of culture and the opportunity for guys of all ages to really relax and enjoy themselves.

In the previous piece we shared insight into Cleveland's FAMOUS West Side Market, but most hotels and other places to stay wouldn't really do you any good if you wanted to make your own meal or experience the full impact. So, if you are a foodie, or just love awesome fresh food and want to stay in Cleveland, here are some tips provided by our awesome friends at Positively Cleveland.

As if Beer and Sports weren't a good enough reason to visit Cleveland, the culinary scene there is actually pretty decent these days too. As a bit of a foodie myself, I am also always open to checking out unique places to get fresh, superior quality products.

Unfortunately on this trip I wasn't able to actually purchase anything except the sausages since I was staying at a hotel, but don't worry! In our next piece we'll share with you some spots in Cleveland where you can stay and cook up an awesome meal after your visit to the market.

Press Release:

8-Day Self-Guided Cycling Tour from Pure Adventures Encompasses Four Corners of Central Europe

Tour Itinerary Showcases Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic To Reveal Secrets of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Feb. 2, 2012 – European travel company Pure Adventures, a division of Discover France Adventures, announces new "4 Corners of Central Europe" 8-day self-guided cycling tours revealing Old Europe that was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Hapsburg dynasty.

Cyclists exploring at their own pace the intersections of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic are armed with maps, lodging, breakfast daily, luggage transfers, local emergency support, cell phone rental (for local calls only), orientation, riding routes and cue sheets, suggestions for visitation and dining, bike delivery, pickup, fitting, and fully equipped bicycle rental for the duration with GPS device for navigation (one per group or couple).

The self-guided per person double occupancy rate is 1290 Euros; a single supplement is 350 Euros. For those more comfortable with a guide, special escorted tour departures are July 15-20 and Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 2012. Custom guided tours can be arranged for a minimum of four guests. The price is slightly higher per person at 1940 Euros based on double occupancy, inclusive of everything on the self-guided program plus a guide, support van, and some guided visits at selected sites. See: http://pure-adventures.com/tours/central-europe-cycling.php

"These four countries represent some of the best historic cycling in Central Europe," said Loren Siekman, Discover France director, who added that mornings may reveal a UNESCO heritage site with time in the afternoon for a castle visit or winery.

Accommodations are three-star guest houses and small hotels. Some meals are taken in the hotel or just a short walk away. Accommodations include a private bathroom and a variety of other amenities. Local guides and experts are available by phone to assist during a self-guided trip with any kind of emergency and breakdown (except flats). Maps provided are accurate, topographical maps by national map publishers such as the Czech Tourist Club (Czech Republic) and VKU Harmanec (Slovakia). The scales of all maps are 1:50 000 or 1:75 000.

Travel includes the Lednice-Valtice area, a composed landscape created by the Liechtenstein family, dotted with follies, ponds and chateaux. The powerful Esterhazy family settled in Austria's Eisenstadt and Hungary's Fertöd where they employed the famous composer Joseph Haydn. Lake Neusiedl is a highlight in the lowlands of Burgenland, ideal for leisurely biking, birdwatching and refreshing swims. This tour, with the exquisite wines of Burgenland and the hearty cuisine of Hungary, blends easy cycling with a mix of architecture and nature preserves.

About Pure Adventures

Pure Adventures http://pure-adventures.com/ is an outgrowth of the success of Discover France Adventures, in its 18th year in 2012. Discover France Adventures has been organizing bicycle tours and hiking tours in France since 1994 and has offices in the US and France. Discover France is a pioneer in bringing self guided cycling and hiking and now multisport adventures to a broader market outside of Europe. Discover France Adventures and Pure Adventures award-winning tours are "competitively priced yet high quality with substantial support," reports Loren Siekman, Discover France director, "a unique combination that makes a Europe adventure more easily accessible to more people."

Visit http://www.discoverfrance.com and http://pure-adventures.com/ for all the details or contact them by phone at 800.960.2221 or by email at [email protected]

What's better - new mega boats or the smaller, older ships like the Carnival Ecstasy? While I can't answer the first part, I can say that the Ecstasy is an extremely fine ship and was as clean and polished as the much newer Carnival Victory that we sailed on a few months ago. This trip was Heather and I's "test" to see if we "really liked cruising" and I have to say that the Ecstasy and her staff passed with flying colors - Heather and I even executed our "future cruise" deposit, so now we are committed to sailing again!

This cruise wasn't fancy, wasn't long, and wasn't expensive. It was however a perfect post holiday romantic retreat.

When planning your next mancation, you may consider places where you can drink beer, watch sports, and generally hang out with the guys. What if I told you there was a hidden gem located in the middle of the United States that is just PERFECT for a mancation?

Would you guess that I am talking about St. Louis? With more than 20 breweries in town, professional sports teams, casinos, and great BBQ, St. Louis should be at the top of your list this year!

Cumbria is home to some of the best British pubs in existence. Full stop. Those Cumbrians certainly know how to brew beer and make you feel welcome, but alcohol and atmosphere are subjective things, so we’ll take a look at a few of what we think are the best ones and you can decide whether or not you agree if you ever pay a visit to England’s most spectacular place.

Sport plays a big part in most mancations - and for many of you, heading off for a round of golf IS the mancation. If you and the guys are not talking about it, you’re probably watching it together or playing it together.

Golf remains a popular hobby for many groups of friends and associates and it is also a great excuse to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The following golf destinations are perfect if you want to spend some quality man time together and enjoy a round or two of golf... 

The UK is not even close to having any of the highest peaks in the world, but it is still an absolutely superb place for climbing. Scottish Highlands, Lake District and Peak District holidays will not disappoint any traveling climber, but, if you’re planning a climbing trip to the UK, what exactly are the best and highest peaks to tackle in the UK?