With the Steelers on a bye week last Sunday, it provided an opportunity to plan some adventures for the New Year.

Every year at about this time, the boys and I discuss trips that we should have made in the past year and bemoan the fact that we fell into a rut and went to the same old places. This year, we made a resolution to get out in the great outdoors and to put into action what we had only talked about in 2008.

I realized that we couldn't do something every weekend because of family commitments and such, but once a month or even twice a season would be a great start.

Beaver Boy came out of the swamps last weekend and declared that he was going to plan an adventure with the Professor that easily could become one of our dates.

We are going to backpack into the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania for a trout fishing and camping trip in the spring or early summer.

I thought about it and declared early that I would go, but I wanted to carry in provisions that we would consume while in the canyon. The trip back up would be much easier that way.

One of the trips that I proposed was a combined fishing trip and black squirrel hunt in the Kinzua Region in the fall. This started when the boys were admiring some 22s that were on the wall.

Discussion of the basic start-up hunt of squirrel season had been overlooked for many years. The idea of hunting and fishing the upper Allegheny struck a positive chord with the gang as well.

Uncle Fuzzy threw in his idea of the combined muzzleloader seasons offered in neighboring states and was willing to explore that project a little more in depth. One of the rules that we agreed on was that if you thought it up, you had to come up with the logistics and initial planning for your idea, but we all would share in the expenses.

A cabin at Raystown Lake, Lake Erie or even Lake Ontario was offered as a possible plan for a week-long adventure. Sun, water, fishing, boating, swimming, reading, campfires — you get the idea.

Everyone liked the potential to relax on this adventure, but, like everything else, we had to act on the idea now.

One of the good places to start looking for a new place or adventure is at the outdoor shows that pop up in February and March. Many good deals can be made and it is a buyers market if you can negotiate for several families.

Years ago, I took a dozen friends and family to the Thousand Island Region of New York for a fishing vacation and it still stands out as one of our favorite stories when we gather for a picnic or dinner.

That vacation was inexpensive, but the memories and time spent with family and friends was priceless. We fished for crappie and pike and had all we could handle , bringing back plenty of fish to share at cookouts.

My brother flew into New York, rented a Lincoln and came out to the lake over some seriously bumpy roads. He caught a huge pike and wanted to bring it back home for the taxidermist. but he didn't bag it up properly, which the car rental agent discovered when my brother returned to the airport.

Whatever your interests, keep in mind that on a day trip or a combined interest trip adventure, sightseeing, photography, water sports and even antiquing can be accommodated if you plan thoughtfully and thoroughly.

Make the trip enjoyable for everyone or it will be miserable for everyone. If someone really isn't interested in going that's OK. They can hook up with the group on the next outing.

Until we meet again, I have to make a decision between Presque Isle and the wilds of Pennsylvania.