There is no shortage of adrenaline-inducing activities that you can do during your spare time. Whether it’s jumping from a cliffside or diving deep into a marine sanctuary or sunken ship, you will surely feel the rush and satisfy you craving for fun and adventure.
From open seas and pristine rivers to majestic mountains and the open sky, there are plenty of adventure-filled activity hobbies that you could enjoy when you have the time, money, and energy to spend.
Here are six of the most insane and adventure-filled ways to spend your upcoming vacation:
Whitewater rafting/kayaking
If your idea of a fun vacation is spent in a body of water, it’s hard to beat getting your life vests, paddles, and helmets on to board a kayak or raft and shooting the rapids. Also called whitewater rafting or kayaking, this activity is for those individuals who are not afraid to get wet while being pushed at high speeds by the pure force of a river. There are plenty of whitewater rafting destinations across the U.S. that you can visit with your family and friends to enjoy this adventure activity as a group.
Cave diving
If deep-sea diving to try to find lost sunken treasures is jaw-dropping already, wait until you experience what diving to a cenote would make you feel. For this, you’d have to pack your bags and travel to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico where cenotes, or water-filled underground cave systems, abound. Take note, though, that not everyone with money and a bagful of courage could engage in this adventure. Cave diving is a dangerous activity that requires experience, sophisticated diving equipment, and plenty of prior cave diving experiences. But, if you’re someone who ticks all of these marks, then enjoy the awe-inspiring and otherworldly beauty of Mexican cenotes.
Rock climbing
There is hardly a more iconic mountain among hardcore rock climbers than the El Capitan, a 3,000-foot sheer rock cliff located in Yosemite National Park’s West end. El Cap, as it is also known, is a granite wall that is 2.5 times taller than the Empire State Building in downtown Manhattan. With documentaries such as The Dawn Wall and Freesolo, El Capitan becomes a more irresistible magnet for those thirsty for unusual adventures.
To have the opportunity to climb El Cap and you’re new to such an extreme sport, you’ll have to learn a lot of rock climbing theories and techniques at the Yosemite Mountaineering School. This will allow you to have a better chance of conquering the sheer rock wall without suffering life-threatening injuries.
High-altitude climbing
Sure, scaling a sheer mountain face like the El Capitan is death-defying enough for most adventure junkies, but trying to conquer the ‘roof of the world’ is an altogether fun and crazy idea to get your fix for an adrenaline rush.
To date, around 280 people figured in fatal attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain located in the Himalayan Range traversing the Asian countries of China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet, among others.
Before you could begin your attempt to scale Everest’s lofty summit, you’ll have to spend a few months acclimatizing to prepare your body for extreme temperatures on the mountain. You’ll also need to secure climbing permits, have local Sherpas as guides, and invest in technical climbing equipment and supplies to improve your chances of making a successful attempt to summit Mount Everest.
Flying
This particular vacation idea would require you to enroll in an aviation school to study the rudiments of flying an aircraft. You’ll undergo hours of theoretical flying classes conducted by certified flight instructors before flying your first aircraft. In-between, there would be flight simulations to test your mastery of everything you’ve learned in the classroom setting. This vacation idea may be on the expensive side of things, but it’s one that would surely be worth every dollar spent once you feel the adrenaline kicking in.
Skydiving/paragliding
If you want other adventurous means of spending your vacation, you should consider skydiving and paragliding. While both involve jumping from a certain height, these two extreme sports have things that differentiate them from one another. The main thing is the equipment used to perform them: paragliding involves an engine free type of aircraft while skydiving requires a parachute. Both, however, offer you a chance to spend your vacation like a bird conquering the open skies.
Which of these adventure activities do you want to try on your planned vacation? Whatever your answer might be, just don’t forget to exercise due caution and try to enjoy every single minute of what would surely be an adventure of a lifetime.
