Burning Man, 2010

YES, if your comfort zone and body can handle it. Burning Man is currently the best art exhibit and cultural experience on the planet. International travelers come each year the world over for this American event, and yet so few Americans take advantage themselves (although that may be part of what helps this annual event retain its brilliance).

ATHLETES: just being there is a supreme endurance challenge on your entire body. Make absolutely sure you come prepared for the heat and dehydration (although the welcoming Burning Man community of 50,000+ will also make you feel oddly at home minutes after arriving).
ADVENTURERS: out of this world experiences you can’t find anywhere else, this is the closest thing you’ll find to being on another planet in this lifetime
PHOTOGRAPHERS: spectacular images are everywhere, morning, day and night. Get out on your bike and explore with plenty of water and snacks and everyday you’ll get some of the most interesting photographs/videos you’ve ever captured.
FAMILIES: Maybe. Every year there are parents with kids here, but it is definitely more of an alternative crowd, but the children LOVE it! If you bring your family it will definitely test your comfort zone with one another.
KIDS: Every year there are parents with kids here, but it is definitely more of an alternative crowd, but the children LOVE it! Probably not somewhere to bring a child under 5 years of age, and you’ll definitely need to be extra prepared to ensure they have everything they need (they are typically more comfortable than the parents, but the heat makes sleeping difficult, so that and the sun WILL take a toll – so plan a shorter 2-3 day visit).

CLOTHING: Disposable clothing. The playa dust gets into everything and will probably ruin half (or all) of what you bring. Comfortable older hiking, running shoes or boots. Eye protection (goggles – NOT sunglasses). Costumes. Both warm and cool clothing (it will get VERY cold at night in the desert so a heavy jacket is absolutely a life saver). This is an art festival though, so let yourself dress in something fun!
CAMERA: GoPro. DSLR (only if weather and dust sealed). The dust will ruin most gear that is not weather sealed. The particles of sand are extremely fine and get into everything (lenses included).
LENSES: Wide angle will probably get you the most impressive results, but also consider a mid to long-range telephoto or combination zoom for any portraits, action shots or dramatic compositions. Whatever you bring, make sure it is weather sealed or just don’t risk it. Dust WILL encroach upon every crack and surface.
BACKPACK: Absolutely critical. You’ll want to consume water and reapply sunblock and hydration oil constantly, and you’ll also want to protect your gear and other supplies during sandstorms.

Burning Man is held the week before Labor Day, annually. Tickets have become increasingly difficult to obtain given global awareness and skyrocketing popularity, so probably a good idea to begin making planning preparations at least a year in advance or befriend seasoned burners who can help you procure a legitimate resale ticket at a fair price.

Coming soon.

Would strongly recommend if you are not local to the region to plan ahead enough to rent a car since that will get significantly more bang-for-your buck on your trip and get you out into the wilderness to experience more of what Colorado really has to offer. Even last minute, sites like Kayak, Hotwire, Enterprise and Priceline frequently run great discounted weekend and weekly vehicle rates worth checking out. These deals regularly popup last minute when, presumably, car rental inventory is high (for rental car companies, the goal is to have as many cars on the road as possible at all times).

Coming soon.