Travel Trends: Soar & Explore: Extreme Adventures

By Robin O’Neal Smith Associate Editor

For those who dare to dream beyond the ordinary, the allure of adventure travel cannot be ignored. Adventure travel involves travel or exploration with some degree of risk, either real or perceived, and may require special skills and physical exertion. It can include physical activity, cultural exchange, or natural activities.

The market size of global adventure tourism was estimated at approximately 288 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. According to Next Move Strategy Consulting, they forecast this figure will grow steadily in the coming years, peaking at roughly 2,824 billion U.S. dollars by 2030.

Adventure tourism includes a variety of air, water, and land activities. From the heights of skydiving to the depths of scuba diving, the thrill of the unknown and the excitement of exploring new places is a daredevil’s dream. I am often seeking out adventure when I travel. I usually say I’m hunting for soft adventure, but I’ve had a few extreme adventures. Join me as we embark on a journey through various destinations that offer different types of adventure travel, highlighting heart-pounding, adrenaline-fueled experiences, and many are fun for the whole family.

Hot Air Ballooning

Ride a hot air balloon and float over whimsical landscapes. I recently rode over the Sonoran Desert in Arizona with Hot Air Expeditions. We were able to watch the sunrise from the balloon. Many destinations offer hot air ballooning, which provides an unmatched aerial view while you enjoy a touch of adventure.

Off-Road Tours

Navigate through rugged terrains and adrenaline-pumping off-road trails. Whether you’re behind the wheel of a 4x4, riding a mountain bike, or a four-wheeler, off-road tours promise an extraordinary heart-pumping adventure.

Zorbing

Get ready to roll down the hill in Tennessee inside a giant transparent ball. Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge offers this adrenaline-inducing adventure experience. I visited last year, and WOW, what an experience! I wrote about it for Extended Weekend Getaways in the July 2023 issue.

Prepare to get wet and have fun as this quirky, yet thrilling, zorb activity guarantees laughter and exhilarating sensations for the whole family.

Scuba Diving

If Scuba Diving is on your adventure bucket list. I have two places to recommend: The Outer Banks in North Carolina and Bonaire in the Caribbean. In the Outer Banks, you will find old ships and other exciting items under the sea.

Bonaire is the lesser known “B” of the ABC islands and an ideal family destination for beachy island adventures. The island has no traffic lights, so this hidden gem is laidback and off-grid. It is a water sports hot spot offering scuba diving, snorkeling, and windsurfing.

Scuba diving in Curaçao includes diving through abandoned shipwrecks and magical underwater caves.

Aquafari Underwater

Scooter Tours

I want to try this travel adventure: Imagine taking a self-propelled submersible scooter on an underwater journey to effortlessly glide alongside sea turtles and other underwater creatures. This underwater adventure is available in Curacao.

Caves

A visit to Ruby Falls in Chattanooga is a fun adventure for the whole family. You will find the tallest underground cave waterfall, 260 feet below the earth’s surface. Ruby Falls also offers ziplining and other fun activities. While there, stand atop Lookout Mountain, where you can view seven states with the naked eye.

Another cave adventure awaits at the Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee. It is the only publicly accessible cave in the world where visitors can see 14th-century Native American Mississippian art.

Swimming with Whale Sharks

If you are heading to Cancun for vacation in May, consider swimming with whale sharks at the luxurious JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa. Whale sharks migrate through the waters in May, offering travelers one of the world’s only ethical whale shark encounters. Dive in to see these majestic animals for yourself!

Cliff Jumping

I know many who have jumped from the cliffs on Raystown Lake near my home in Pennsylvania. But for higher cliffs and a more adventurous experience, you should head to Bonaire in the Caribbean for a hike and cliff jump at Washington Slagbaai National Park.

Rock Climbing

Clarksville, Tennessee, offers a top-rated rock-climbing location at Kings Bluff Park. King’s Bluff is great for both novices and experts.

Abseiling

Also known as rappelling, abseiling is the controlled descent of a steep slope, such as a rock face, by moving down a rope you control. Adventure seekers can abseil in many places in the U.S. Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town in South Africa provides the thrill-seeking, unforgettable experience of rappelling the world’s highest commercial abseil at over 3,000 feet. Abseiling down Table Mountain is guaranteed to get the daredevil’s heart racing.

Kayaking in the Dark

A unique and otherworldly feature of Florida’s Space Coast beaches is bioluminescence. The tiny bioluminescent plankton in the Indian River Lagoon and the Mosquito Lagoon emit a mesmerizing blue-green glow, creating a stunning display of natural light in the water. Visitors can experience this magical phenomenon by participating in guided kayak tours or paddle-boarding excursions after dark. You can also experience this in Texas. I did this when I visited Corpus Christi, and it was a memorable adventure.

Sky Bridges

In the Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, TN, you can experience the longest pedestrian suspension bridge on the continent. The Gatlinburg SkyBridge is 700 feet across a deep valley 1,800 feet above sea level. Halfway across the bridge is the famous 30 feet of glass.

Adventure enthusiasts can also find a sky bridge in Alaska. Veilbreaker Skybridges at Girdwood’s Alyeska Resort is suspended 2,500 feet above the valley floor and spanning 600 feet. The sky bridge offers a bird’s eye view of the majestic Alaska landscape.

Kiteboarding

Kiteboarding, or kitesurfing, is a sport in which a rider rides a small surfboard while being propelled across water by a large kite to which the rider is harnessed.

Turks and Caicos is known for kiteboarding due to its consistent trade winds and shallow, warm waters. Travelers can also get their adrenaline pumping with kiteboarding in Curaçao.

Kiteboarding will be making its official Olympic debut in 2024.

Land Sailing

Land sailing, also known as land yachting, sand yachting, or dirtboating, entails overland travel with a sail-powered vehicle, similar to sailing on water.

In the U.S., California and Nevada are the most popular land sailing destinations. You can also find places in South Carolina and Florida. Bonaire also offers this unique sport powered by their signature tradewinds.

Ziplines

Ziplines are a popular activity among adventurers. Soaring Treetop Adventures in Durango, Colorado, and ZipTour Ziplines at Gunstock Mountain Adventure Park in New Hampshire offer excellent experiences.

Soaring Treetop Adventures is a day-long activity. You ride a train through the mountains to get to the ziplines. Then, you zip at all altitudes. When I did it, I zipped over a bear in the river.

At ZipTour, you’ll soar for more than 1.6 miles at speeds up to 65 mph. Ziplining is one of many ways to play in the trees; Gunstock is also home to New England’s most extensive aerial obstacle course, with eight courses and 91 challenges.

Horseback Safaris

Embarking on Horseback Safaris at Tswalu, riders traverse the Kalahari, becoming part of the landscape. They are surrounded by the tranquil sounds of nature and the rhythm of hooves, bringing them closer to the wildlife.

Whitewater Rafting

Various rivers across the U.S. offer Whitewater Rafting opportunities. I especially enjoyed Defiance Rafting in Glenwood Springs on the Colorado River and Smoky Mountain Rafting in Gatlinburg on the Pigeon River.

Most have various levels of rapids, so you can decide how adventurous you wish to be. It can be a float, or you can take on ferocious rapids for an extreme sports challenge.

Surfing

Many people think of California when it comes to surfing. The Space Coast in Florida is known as the “East Coast Surfing Capital,” and the presence of consistent waves makes for some exhilarating surf adventures.

Surfing is also huge in Jacksonville, and the beaches provide some of the best surfing spots in the state.

The world is full of opportunities to push the boundaries and explore the extremes. These destinations offer just a glimpse into the rich tapestry of adventure travel. Adventure travel isn’t just about the activities; it’s about the new perspectives gained, the limits tested, and the unforgettable memories created. Where will your adventurous spirit take you next?