Spring Break: For Adrenaline Junkies
Photos via Flickr/Mitch Barrie and skydivesnohomish.comThis spring break, conquer your fear of heights, swim to new depths and get your adrenaline pumping. No matter your poison, you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime doing something bold and daring. Plus, you’ll have a way better story to tell your friends … you know the ones who spent their week on a beach somewhere drinking bad beer and suffering hangovers. Visit one of these locations designed for thrill seekers and get prepared for a truly exhilarating journey.
Skydive Snohomish: Snohomish, Washington
During your week of down time, go up. To the skies, that is. The number one skydiving center in the nation, Skydive Snohomish, offers the experience of a lifetime, allowing you to view the Seattle skyline, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker and the Olympic Mountains while soaring through the air. Participants can choose between a tandem and static skydiving experience. The tandem experience will take you through a short course to learn about the proper positioning and a basic rundown of what will happen during your flight. After gearing up, you and your instructor will take a 20-minute scenic flight over the most breathtaking scenery Washington State has to offer (which allows plenty of time for you to do some breathing exercises and get mentally prepared for jumping out of an airplane.)
Once you’ve reached 10,000 feet, your instructor will get you ready to exit the aircraft. When the door opens, the adventure begins. You will then free fall for nearly a minute at 120 mph before the canopy opens. Get crafty, if you choose, and make steep turns and spiral through the air, or just relax and enjoy. When you land, you’ll be presented with a First Jump Certificate to show off to all of your friends back home, proving what a daredevil you are.
River Rafting: Grand Canyon National Park
This spring break, take a 277-mile scenic ride through the Colorado River of the Grand Canyon, where you’ll be in awe of the dazzling scenery and wildlife. Whether you’re comfortable bounding through the whitewater or just plan on dipping your toes in it, there’s adventure to be had here.
Those looking for a calmer trip can paddle from Glen Canyon Dam to Lee’s Ferry for a one day smooth-water rafting tour. If you still like the one day aspect, but would like to try your hand at whitewater rafting, take the route from Peach Springs, Arizona. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located here along the West Rim.
Fun can really begin if you’re feeling bold enough to take a multi-day rafting trip. Some experiences can take four days or two weeks, depending on your time frame and drive to explore. Start at Lee’s Ferry, the South Rim, Las Vegas or other locations for this trip and allow yourself to be immersed in the natural beauty of the west.
Though these trips are a bit pricey, they are certainly the experience of a lifetime that you can’t afford to miss out on.
Hang Glide USA: Fernandina Beach, Florida
Photo via Flickr/a detour life
Fly over the stunning Atlantic and take in another astounding view from a different perspective. Hang Glide USA is located just north of Jacksonville and offers gliders a bird’s-eye view of the northern Florida coastline and Cumberland Island, Georgia. You will be able to choose from three different lesson packages: Introductory Discovery Flight, Deluxe Discovery Flight and the Cumberland Island Nature Tour. We recommend taking the Deluxe Discovery Flight if you’re feeling brave enough.
This lesson package gives you a bit more than the introductory, and it’s totally worth it. You’ll make your way down the island and see the beautiful Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort and fly over historic American Beach and see an aerial view of the Ritz-Carlton. You will glide over the natural wildlife in Egan’s Creek—possibly catching a glimpse of a sunbathing alligator or two—and the peninsula where you can see the Spanish moss-draped live oaks at Fort Clinch State Park. Look out over Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach before making your way around the scenic Amelia Island State Park.