Thrill-Seeking in the Great Outdoors
There’s nothing like an adrenaline-fueled adventure to re-charge your soul and renew your spirit. From white water rafting over the weekend to zip line tours in tropical locales, thrill-seeking is a great way to connect with nature and get a new lease on life. You don’t have to take a lot of time off work to participate in extreme sports. Many, depending on where you live, are even do-able in a day or two.
White Water Rafting
From the Pacific Northwest to South America, white water rafting is a popular way to bring out your inner thrill-seeker. Even if you’ve never done it before but enjoy the outdoors, white water rafting may be the perfect adventure sport for you.
Go on an excursion with a group or take a guided tour in various parts of the United States, Canada and many other parts of the world. As heart-pounding as this sport may be, you’re more likely to experience a sun burn than a rafting injury.
Zip Line or Canopy Tours
Like white water rafting, you have many options when it comes to zip line or canopy tours. From Alaska to Costa Rica, this sport can be performed wherever geography allows. Zip lines provide a new perspective, allowing views that just can’t be found anywhere else.
Canopy and zip line tours are also a great way to explore your destination. Although some excursions involve taking a chairlift or hike to and from the zip line platform, others include guided Jeep tours, with or without lunch. If you’re looking for a way to combine amazing scenery and thrill seeking, this is it!
Rappelling
Rappelling is another sport that offers spectacular aerial views as you propel yourself through wilderness using a rope or cable. Instead of speeding effortlessly above the treetops after a brief training session, though, rappelling requires a good deal of skill to be performed safely.
If you’re up to the challenge, contact a local college or outdoor sports club for information on classes. Join a local rappelling group to gain some practice, and partner up with one or more people with some serious rappelling experience under their belts for future outings. Read books on the sport and stay engaged in learning about it. This is, after all, one of the most dangerous but most rewarding extreme sports.
Bonding Through Extreme Sports
Besides offering a lot of adrenaline-producing fun, extreme sports provide an excellent opportunity to create lasting memories and a lifetime of stories with friends. Bond over your fear and excitement as you enjoy the great outdoors. These sports are perfect for unforgettable bachelor parties, memorable dates with someone special or team-building exercises for your company.
Patrick Whalen is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow him @2patwhalen.