For adrenaline junkies, life is meant to be lived. Every moment matters, and those dopamine rushes carry you through when you’re in between challenging activities.
Whether you’re an adrenaline addict or you simply enjoy pushing your body to greater feats, the trick is to have something exciting in the pipeline to look forward to at all times. Start a bucket list with your thrilling goals, like heading to Brian Head Resort in Cedar City to take advantage of all the city’s outdoor attractions or driving Route 66 and hitting up all the landmarks along the way.
Need help planning your next outdoor activities? Check out these 7 adrenaline junkie favorites, and start knocking them off your bucket list right away!
1. White Water Rafting
The world is full of incredible waterfalls to add to your collection of panoramic scenic photos, but you want to be up close and personal with them. The excellent part about waterfalls is that means there are always rapids waiting to be explored. The rushing waters, close calls with gorges and boulders, and breathtaking drops await those who can handle the adrenaline rush! Consider these top US white water rafting destinations for your next waterfall trip:
● Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
● James River, Virginia
● Snake River, Wyoming
● Rogue River, Oregon
● Kennebec River, Maine
● Riversport OKC, Oklahoma
States like Tennessee and North Carolina are also known for their many waterfalls and rafting opportunities. If you get hooked on the rapids, use a map to record each one you’ve conquered.
2. Ziplining
The last few decades have brought us increases in safety measures that get us as close to being a bird as possible so far! Now, secured to a zipline, you can fly across a forest, mountain ravine, or alligator-filled lake. For the most beautiful views, add one or more of these zipline adventures to your list:
● Hunter Mountain, New York, where you can enjoy the highest, longest, and fastest canopy tour in the country
● Legacy Mountain Ziplines, Sevierville, TN, with views of the Smoky Mountains spread across seven ziplines
● Canopy Ridge Farm, Lake Lure, NC, perfect for family-friendly adventures
● The Gorge, North Carolina, with 11 ziplines throughout its adventure park
● Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Arizona, for those who want to zipline through the desert while enjoying a view of African animals
The wonderful thing about a zipline is your view is never the same twice!
3. Canyoning
Does the idea of swimming in underground caves and gliding along nature’s waterslides wake up the adrenaline junkie in you? If so, canyoning is a must to add to your bucket list! You’ll wear a wetsuit (plus a helmet and life jacket), then rappel up and off rocks, spelunking through caves and canyons deep under the earth! From the Grand Canyon to the Finger Lake Canyon Falls, get down and dangerous with activities that most people will never do in their lives!
4. Skydiving
Ziplining is one way to soar like a bird, but you’re limited on how high of a perspective you can get by the tethers keeping you in place. When you’re ready to push the limits and explore the sky above the clouds, skydiving is the next activity to plan. With skydiving facilities in nearly every big city in the country, the opportunities are almost endless. The question is whether you want to get a birds’ eye view of mountains, forests, deserts, oceans, or city life!
5. Mountain Biking
Biking is one thing, but mountain biking takes you into the deep paradise of mountain exploration along trails and the open roads. Mountain bikes are designed to handle elevations and terrain the average bike can’t overcome. You’ll meet a community of people as you get familiar with this new outdoor activity!
6. Rock Climbing
Rock climbing and bouldering are similar to canyoning, but you’re above ground. It’s best to start these activities with a guide who can train you and has the equipment to keep you safe. But once you master the art of rock climbing, you can push yourself to visit the various climbing parks throughout the world, testing your balance and overcoming challenges designed for serious adrenaline junkies like you!
7. Skiing
Water skiing and snow skiing are tried-and-true adrenaline sports. Both are ideal for outdoor fun, but you may prefer one over the other. However, if you can learn both, you have your pick of activities to enjoy throughout the year, no matter what the weather is. Snow skiing may be a little more dangerous, depending on where you are, as there is always the concern of an avalanche or getting lost on the slopes. Never ski without telling someone where you are going and having a safety plan in place (which is a great rule of thumb to live by for all your adrenaline activities).