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The 20 best outdoor adventures

Get ready for fun with a roundup of al fresco adventures.
June 2006

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20 BEST Outdoor Adventures

Fine dining and poolside lounging are great, but sometimes a vacation calls for a dash of adrenaline. When you’re feeling the call of the wild, these outdoor extravaganzas will satisfy your inner thrill seeker.

Words by Nick Burry

01 Hang gliding San Francisco

San Francisco is known as a city of free spirits, and there’s nothing more liberating than a high-altitude hang gliding fl ight over the hills just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The San Francisco Hang Gliding Center (www.sfhanggliding.com) teaches novices the art of soaring on fl ights from the slopes of Mount Tamalpais to Stinson Beach two miles away. On a tandem glide, beginners enjoy fl ying beside an instructor after a brief orientation. During the 30-minute fl ight, you’ll take in a 2,000-foot bird’s eye view of the City by the Bay. For adventurers looking to spread their own wings, solo lessons are also available.

02 Rock climbing Franktown, CO

Situated at the base of the Continental Divide, Denver is ideal for climbing fans. The conglomerate walls of nearby Castlewood Canyon (parks.state.co.us) provide fi nger grips and footholds for enthusiasts of all skill levels. Novices will relish the canyon’s scenic beauty and the moderate routes of the West Rim. More experienced climbers may want to explore Eldorado Canyon, home to 500 internationally acclaimed technical rock climbing routes. The remote, sheer cliff faces are not only a challenge for thrill seekers, they’re also important nesting sites for falcons and raptors. If route names like the Naked Edge and the Diving Board prove to be a little too intimidating to tackle alone, climbing schools and guide services are available at the park’s visitor center.

03 Sailing Seattle

In the summer, Seattle’s gray skies clear, and the Emerald City rejoices in its maritime heritage. Bounded by the Puget Sound on the west and Lake Washington on the east, the geography of Seattle practically begs natives and visitors alike to take to the water. For the uninitiated, Emerald City Charters (www.sailingseattle.com) offers relaxing day cruises aboard luxury, high-performance sailboats. Those dreaming of a life at sea need look no further than the Seattle Sailing Club (www.seattlesailing.com), one of the oldest sailing schools in the Northwest.

04 Hot air ballooning Houston

Houston is famous for its Space Center, but the city is also a launching pad for exploring a much older form of fl ight technology: hot air ballooning. Rudderless and dependent on the whims of the breeze, balloons represent escape and carefree adventure. Texas Air Adventures (www.texasaa.com) offers private fl ights with bonuses ranging from in-fl ight chocolates to post-fl ight Champagne. After lifting off from West Houston, the serene and surprisingly quiet balloon ride provides the ideal vantage point for enjoying Texas’ colorful palette of wildflowers.

05 Surfing Los Angeles

The California surfer exudes an iconic, unapproachable aura, but the instructors at Learn to Surf LA (www.learntosurfla.com) have been working hard to take the intimidation out of the sport. The gentle slope of the beach at Santa Monica causes the waves to break further out and gently roll to the shore, enabling beginners to get to their feet during the very fi rst lesson. The school isn’t limited to novices—more experienced surfers can benefi t from advanced technique instruction.

06 Camping/hiking San Francisco

Jutting out from the California coast just north of San Francisco, the Point Reyes National Seashore (www.nps.gov/pore) is one of the most geographically and biologically diverse wedges of land in the country. Over 140 miles of hiking trails cover a range of terrain, from boulder-studded beaches to grassy meadows to stream-cut canyons. Campsites are accessible by hiking, biking or horseback, and each site offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Hiking toward the sound of a waterfall, making your way along a path surrounded by protected native fl ora, you’ll forget that bustling San Francisco is a mere 22 miles away.

07 Geocaching Minneapolis/St. Paul

Geocaching (www.geocaching.com) is a new sport that combines technology and treasure hunting. All you need is an internet connection and a simple Global Positioning System (GPS) device. Individuals and organizations hide small, waterproof boxes, called “caches,” in the wilderness, then post the coordinates on a webpage. Next, GPS users hunt down the cache, which contains trinkets and a logbook. The Minnesota Geocaching Association (www.mngca.org) is an online base camp for regional geocachers, providing information on events, workshops and new local caches. Look for the sport to catch on across the country.

08 Diving Palm Beach, FL

Palm Beach is known for its palm-lined streets and glitzy shopping, but it’s also a gateway to countless underwater pursuits. Scuba Adventures (www.scuba-adventures.com) will help you strap on a tank and explore the variety of reefs, wrecks and wildlife right off the coast of Palm Beach. Only ten minutes from the dock, the coral-encrusted Mizpah (sunk in 1968) is something every diver should explore. Those more interested in aquatic life can visit Breakers, two miles of reef that attracts numerous sea turtles, scorpion fi sh and stingrays. The most adventurous and experienced divers can test their nerve on a shark dive, in which brave (or insane) souls submerge at specifi c locations in hopes of a close encounter with a common reef shark or an enigmatic hammerhead.

09 Horseback riding Front Royal, VA

Teeming with wildfl owers and wild turkeys, Virginia’s lush Shenandoah Valley marks the eastern boundary of the Appalachian Mountains. An hour and a half drive from Washington, DC, Shenandoah’s oak- and hickory-studded hills are best explored on horseback. The experienced trainers at Highlander Horses (www.highlanderhorses.com) offer guided rides over 450 acres of trails. For visitors looking to shed their city slicker skins, private and small group horseback riding lessons are also available.

10 Sea kayaking Boston

Boston conjures up images of screaming baseball fans and steaming clam chowder, but it’s also home to some of the most picturesque sea kayaking in the country. Kayaking is the best way to appreciate the physical beauty, history and wildlife that abound among the 34 islands sprinkled across the C-shaped Boston Harbor (www.bostonislands.com). Throughout their history, the windswept Harbor Islands have served as wildlife breeding grounds, Native American fi shing grounds and Revolutionary War battlegrounds. One of the most popular destinations for paddlers is Little Brewster Island, home of Boston Light (rebuilt in 1783), the last remaining manned lighthouse in the United States.

11 Windsurfing Chicago

When it comes to aquatic sports, the coasts get most of the attention. But with plenty of open water and an average wind speed of 10.4 mph, Chicago is an ideal location to raise your windsurfi ng sail. Through August, Windward Sports (www.windwardsports.com) offers windsurfi ng lessons and rentals for all skill levels. Since the sport can be tricky at fi rst, especially in the stiff breezes of the Windy City, lessons are advised. After a brief tutorial, though, you’ll be dreaming of cutting across the choppy waters of Lake Michigan.

12 Mountain biking Denver

Boasting a pleasant climate, dramatic topography and over 300 days of sunshine, Denver attracts outdoor adventurers from around the world. The rolling prairie and rugged foothills at the base of the Rocky Mountains make for ideal mountain biking terrain. One local route that presents a treading trifecta is Old Fall River Road: combining a grueling 3,600 foot climb, run-ins with elk and other wildlife, and a gutsy downhill ride. For expert advice in navigating the hundreds of miles of regional trails, visitors should set base camp at the REI fl agship store in downtown Denver (www.rei.com/stores/denverflagship), which sells any outdoor equipment you might need and provides information on bike trails.

13 Wildlife viewing Homestead, FL

“The Great River of Grass,” Everglades National Park (www.nps.gov/ever) is the largest remaining subtropical wilderness area in the United States. The varied environments, from prairies and forests to swamps and estuaries, provide habitat for an astonishing array of wildlife. Amateur ornithologists will have their hands full identifying the 300-plus species of birds that fl ock to the Everglades. But the park is much more than just a birder’s paradise: foxes, bobcats and otters share the wilderness with alligators, turtles and 26 species of snakes. The park is also a haven for endangered species like the American crocodile, the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. Boat and tram tours are available year round for wildlife viewing throughout this national treasure.

14 Flying trapeze New York City

New Yorkers are used to seeing some pretty strange sights, but the outdoor trapeze school along the West Side Highway almost always gets a double take (www.newyork.trapezeschool.com). The combination of timing, strength and grace (not to mention a healthy dose of courage) generates an endorphin high in participants and a childlike awe in spectators. The trapeze school offers classes for all dexterity ranges, from landlubbers looking to conquer their altitude anxieties to experienced fl yers honing their abilities in the aerial arts. The school’s safe, state-of-the-art equipment ensures that you’ll soon forget your fears with the greatest of ease.

15 Fishing Myrtle Beach, SC

As the weather heats up so does the fi shing, and the productive waters around Myrtle Beach guarantee that you’ll be coming home with the catch of the day. The quaint fi shing village of Murrells Inlet (known as the seafood capital of South Carolina) is the perfect place to launch an angling adventure. Captain Dick’s (www.captdicks.com) offers a variety of sport fi shing packages, including bottom fi shing for snapper and Spanish mackerel, and trolling for wahoo and mahi-mahi. During the dog days of summer, when the water gets hot enough, there are also catch-and-release trips for majestic marlin and sailfish.

16 Skydiving Las Vegas

The excitement in the casinos might get your blood pumping, but for a real adrenaline rush, skip the strip and experience skydiving in the desert outside Vegas. SkydiveLasVegas.com has been helping both fi rst-timers and dive junkies take the plunge for 14 years. In 60 seconds of freefall, you’ll be treated to a four-state panoramic view that includes the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Las Vegas Strip. Solo jumps are available, but it’s highly recommended that beginners dive in tandem with a trained instructor; free falling at 120 mph is no time to gamble.

17 Air Boating Des Allemands, LA

What better way to explore the bayous and marshes of southern Louisiana than by skimming across the swamps at 50 to 70 mph aboard an airboat? Airboats, low-slung launches propelled by huge fans, can cut across shallow water and marsh that would mire other types of vehicles. Captain Arthur of Airboat Tours (www.airboattours.com) is a wetlands expert, and he offers the choice of smooth and calm, or wild and crazy rides. One of the most popular tours leaves an hour before sunset. At that hour, the temperature is cooler, and it’s easier to approach skittish wildlife. Just 45 minutes from New Orleans, the tour is both eerie and beautiful, with Spanish moss dripping off the cypress trees and the red eyes of alligators shining in the boat’s lights.

18 Whitewater rafting Hot Springs, NC

Riding a wave of economic and population growth, Charlotte, NC, has quietly become a cosmopolitan dining, culture and shopping destination. But many locals and visitors are drawn to the city by different waves—the rapids from North Carolina’s whitewater rafting rivers. One of the most popular whitewater runs is on the undammed, free-fl owing French Broad River (two hours from Charlotte), which has the distinction of being the third oldest river in the world. Huck Finn Rafting Adventures (www.huckfinnrafting.com) runs half- and full-day trips on class 2-4 rapids. The French Broad rewards its guests with beautiful scenery, exhilarating rapids and the warmest water in the Southeast.

19 Caving Atlanta

With their ancient fossils, otherworldly mineral formations and unique animal life, caves exude a mysterious, unexplored atmosphere. Since northwest Georgia sits atop a network of cavernous catacombs (Georgia has 513 documented caves), Atlanta is the gateway to some of the nation’s best spelunking sites. The Dogwood City Grotto (www.dcg-nss.org) has information on local cave openings and closings. Spectacularly deep Ellison’s Cave in the Crockford–Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, about an hour and a half from Atlanta, boasts two of the longest vertical drops in the country: “Fantastic,” which drops 586 feet, and “Incredible,” which drops 440 feet. In the darkness, you may run into local cave dwellers including blind salamanders, albino crawfi sh and, of course, bats.

20 Jet boating Lewiston, NY

Leave sightseeing at Niagara Falls for the honeymooners, and hop on a white-knuckle Jet Boat ride through the Niagara Gorge (www.whirlpooljet.com). The 1500 horsepower speedboats travel up to 65 mph as they plow upriver against whitewater rapids.

As the boat makes its way toward the whirlpool just below the falls, the stone cliffs of Niagara Gorge rise up to 200 feet, funneling the fury of the river. Choose from either the covered Jet Dome, or the open-air Wet Jet (Wet Jet riders beware: bring a change of clothes). Wet or dry, the Jet Boat tour is the purest adrenaline rush in the area, short of braving the falls in a barrel.

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