MEN'S STYLE: What to Wear On Vacation by Brett Singer So. Like most working men in today's rapidly changing world, you have a nice, pleasant, relaxing job that begins at 9am, ends at 5pm, and allows you plenty of time during the easy eight-hour work day to unwind and reflect on your naval lint. WRONG! You are trapped in a cube-farm and work Dilbert-like hours. You, my friend, need a vacation. And of course, you need to have something to wear once you get there (nude beaches notwithstanding -- but that's a different website). Men's Style offers this guide to vacation attire, broken down by what kind of retreat you are taking. The Spa Vacation Calgon, take me away! Spas are great places to recharge your batteries, recapture your sanity, and sit in bathtubs filled with mud until you feel like going home again (which may be never). Spa finders (see resource list below) can assist you with, well, finding a spa; they even offer gift certificates for those of you with bosses you don't hate. As for what to wear, warm destinations will require shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers -- snazzy new ones for the more upscale spas. As for the spa experience itself -- the rubdowns, the pools of mud, the facials -- bring a robe. California's Telegraph Hill has just what you need (mmm, terrycloth). Keep in mind that most spas worth their sea-salt will have robes for you, so you can save your cash for tipping the masseuse. The Golf Vacation Golf is like, cool now, so if the "Fore" bug hasn't bitten you yet, prepare to get bitten, buddy. A golf vacation can be a good place to get into this sport (and yes, it is a sport, despite what your wife tells you). The Florida Golf and Resort Golf Vacations websites are a good place to start looking for a place to go, or even to just learn about clubs, greens and carts. And the clothes are definitely NOT your daddy's golf duds anymore. Planet Golf "is a sportswear line based in Venice, California. Created by surfers for the new generation of golfers." (from their website) For the Anglophiles among you, there's Ace Golf in the U.K. For a one stop-shopping solution on the web, try Sports Outfitters Golf Shop. Basically -- khakis. Shoes with spikes. Short-sleeve shirts with three buttons and a collar. A light jacket that is waterproof, since true golfers play in the rain. The Adventure Vacation If you want to keep up with the Indiana Joneses, you should really try an adventure vacation. These have become their own industry, with options including hiking, white-water rafting and 'gator wrestling (no, we're not kidding). The Adventure Travel Society gives a good overview of places to go that will remind you that typing is not exactly athletic. What you wear depends on where you go, but assuming you are planning on someplace you may get wet, Get Lost has some good stuff. A pair of Tevas or other waterproof shoes are a must, and Australian Gear Online and Tilley Endurables will help get your Aussie adventure started faster than you can say "Foster's." The eco-conscious among you can buy hemp-based adventure clothes at Adventure Smiths And if you've decided on a really wet place (such as the aforementioned white-water rafting trip), get some waterproof socks and gloves at Seal Skinz. If this doesn't entice you to get out of Dodge, nothing will. Remember, carpal tunnel syndrome can set in even in the young, hip and healthy, and the old stock options just ain't what they used to be. So use up that vacation time while you still can. And for the ultimate revenge on that beloved boss, take a nice, long, relaxing trip -- and then quit the day after you get back. Happy Shopping! Surf at Work: Spa-Finders: http://www.spafinders.com/ Hawaiian Wellness Holidays: http://planet-hawaii.com/drdeal/ Telegraph Hill: http://www.telegraphhill.com/ Florida Golf Vacations: http://www.fla-golf.com/ Resort Golf Vacations: http://www.resort-golf.com/ Planet Golf: http://www.planetgolf.com/ Ace's Golf (U.K.): http://www.acegolfdiscount.com/ Sports Outfitters Golf Shop: http://www.sportsoutfitters.com/golf.html Indiana Jones: http://www.indianajones.com/ Gator wrestling: http://www.wootens.com/gator.htm Adventure Travels: http://www.adventuretravel.com/ Get Lost gear: http://www.itsnet.com/home/getlost/getpage.html Teva sandals: http://www.tevasandals.com/index.asp Australian Gear Online: http://www.ago.com.au/welcome2.html) Aussie adventures (Tillie Endurables): http://www.tilley.com/index1.asp) Hemp adventure clothes: http://www.adventuresmiths.com/ Waterproof stuff: http://www.sealskinz.com/ back to writing samples