After Burning Man -Why you should consider going next year.

To some people, camping in the high desert of Nevada for a week doesn’t sound like much of a relaxing, re energizing yearly vacation destination. To myself and 80,000 others from around the globe, it gives us butterflies every moment leading up to the gates opening before Labor Day.  This is like no trip you will ever take and the mix of art, culture, extreme elements of nature, foreign languages, and dust stir together to create pure magic. Adventure travelers come to Burning Man from every corner of the world. You will be blown away by the number of international visitors you run into and the cultural exchange of ideas that takes place.

This year was my sixth visit to the place that we call HOME. Also known as the Playa, the trip takes a lot of planning. It starts with a flight into Reno or San Francisco with whatever you can carry in your suitcases (never forget your fur jacket). You can rent a car, an RV, hitchhike, or ride the Burner Express bus 150 miles into the middle of no where with no cell service. If you rent a car or RV you will be responsible for returning it without dust in the engine, door jams, or seats, which is nearly impossible. Once you arrive onto the dry lake bed you are required to set up camp in the clock shaped city, which has a 5 mile in radius.

Get on your bike or walk and meet your new family everywhere, they will be waiting for you regardless of their language with a universal smile and hug with your name on it. They will be ready to feed you, dance with you, share their thoughts on the universe and hand you a drink. You will spend 7 sunsets and 7 sunrises exploring miles and miles of cultures brought together to form a new human kind culture. Kindness is the name of the game and after the wooden man burns on the last day signifying a new year, you will leave no trace except for the glowing twinkle in your eyes that is unmistakably hope for the default world.

Before you make plans for going next year, check out the 10 principles here that make Burning Man a great inclusive experience for people of all backgrounds. Hopefully the founding ten principles will remain with you and explaining your trip will be similar to explaining color to a blind man. Good luck.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED FOR ALL LIFE’S ADVENTURES!