A guide for what you need to buy, read or consume to enhance your recreation and travel experience
GEAR Big Agnes Q-Core Sleeping Pad
$119.95-$179.95, https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Pad/qcore
In addition to having a great name – "Yeah, I'm sleeping on Big Agnes" – this is a very comfortable outdoor sleeping pad, maybe better than your mattress at home. It's 3 1/2 inches thick with synthetic insulation and anti- microbial and anti-odor properties. Sure, it's expensive. But then, so are doctor's bills when your back gives out after sleeping on a flimsy pad.
THE LIST
• Top 5 Outdoor Activities
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/national-economic-impact-reports.php?action=detail&research_id=167
The Outdoor Industry Association reports that Americans spend $646 billion on outdoor recreation each year. That's a lot of trail mix, folks. What are the top five activities?
1. Camping ($143 billion)
2. Water sports ($86 billion)
3 (tie) Trail sports (running, hiking, climbing) and bicycling ($81 billion)
5. Off-roading ($66 billion)
AS LONG AS YOU'RE THERE
• World's first Hello Kitty Spa, in Dubai
http://www.gizmodiva.com/beauty/world%E2%80%99s-first-ever-hello-kitty-beauty-spa-opens-in-dubai.php
Tired of all the beaches and desert safaris, and ogling Burj Khalifa, the highest tower in the world? Then head over to the Town Centre Jumeirah to the just-opened Hello Kitty spa, for girls and women, who can get a Kitty-cure or Kitty Glam facial. Everything is pink, and girls are called "princesses" and women "queens."
READ
• Local Writer's Tour de France blog
Sure, you can get all your Tour de France fixes from the Velo News website or – gasp – mainstream media. But if you want a different take on cycling's premier event from a local free-lance writer (and Bee contributor), James Raia is blogging about the race.
THE QUOTE
From Tim Long, ultrarunner and race director, on the virtues of being a pacer for competitors during 100-mile events: "One of the most selfless acts a human can perform is pacing another person in an ultrarunning event. Mother Teresa never paced, nor did any of the popes. It transcends all mundane humanity and will surely secure you a ticket in heaven."
– Sam McManis smcmanis@sacbee.com
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