Band together and take on stomach-turning tests of bravery.
By Suzanne Oliver
Call it torment, but most people enjoy being scared. The slightest sense of danger can make the heart pound, the palms sweat and the mind race. Therefore, adrenaline junkies seek out stunts that test their nerve, whether it’s shooting a raging rapid or free falling with a parachute. Needless to say, these attractions come with a list of precautions and usually require a signed waiver. But somehow being with a group where everyone’s in the same boat makes the plunge a little easier. Maybe it’s not so high; maybe it’s not so fast. And then you can cheer fellow travelers on as they conquer common fears and embrace a challenge.
10. Intimidator Roller Coaster
The Intimidator, a steel giant, is the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the Southeast. It made its first run back in March at Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C., bringing the park’s total number of roller coasters up to 13. Why Intimidator? That was hometown hero and legendary race car driver Dale Earnhardt’s nickname. The ride’s front car even resembles his winning No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the 1998 Daytona 500. The first drop clocks in at a whopping 211 feet with a 74-degree angle, sending the train to speeds up to 80 mph. carowinds.com
9. Jiminy Peak’s Mountain Adventure Park
The Mountain Adventure Park at this family-friendly resort in the Berkshires has nine adrenaline-pumping rides. The Mountain Coaster, for one, twists and turns through the mountains at speeds up to 23 mph, and it’s the only ride like it on the East Coast. Then there’s the Alpine Super Slide, where adults and kids alike zoom down two tracks on Jiminy Peak, coasting through tunnels, dips and curves. Rounding out the fun are the Giant Swing, a six-passenger chairlift, rock-climbing wall and more. This is a great place for kids to unleash some of that pent-up energy, whether it’s through careening or climbing. New this summer at the attraction in Hancock, Mass., is the Aerial Adventure Park: five climbing courses of rope bridges, ladders, cargo nets and zip lines swinging from the trees. jiminypeak.com
8. Hot Air Ballooning
Some find floating on the breeze soothing, while others can’t help but think the only thing separating them from the hard ground below is a wicker basket. Airventure Balloonport, the official ride vendor for the Plano Balloon Festival, blasts the burner seven days a week. Weather permitting, the company offers champagne flights at sunrise and sunset, sometimes rising as high as 2,000 feet in the air. Balloons gently drift 15 or so miles for an hour. The Plano Balloon Festival, the largest of its kind in Texas, attracts more than 90,000 spectators. This year’s event takes place Sept. 17-19. airventure.com
7. FlowRider
Wipeouts on a FlowRider elicit a collective cry across a ship’s deck. There’s no real harm involved though, just a little awkwardness. Royal Caribbean sports these free surf simulators on five of its cruise ships: Allure, Oasis, Freedom, Independence and Liberty of the Seas. According to the cruise line’s website, the surfing attraction sends a thin sheet of water up a sloped, cushioned platform to create swift waves. Instructors require each rider to sign a waiver, and then give them a few tips before letting ’em rip. Everyone from beginners to pros can try this balancing act standing up (flowboarding) or lying down (bodyboarding). Instructors are also on hand for one-on-one lessons, eager to teach tricks. Stadium seating surrounds the aft sports court giving spectators a good view of the wipeouts, which are also broadcast on flat-screen TVs in the adjacent bar. royalcaribbean.com
6. Whitewater River Rafting
The oldest person ever to wrestle the rapids with River Expeditions in Oak Hill, W. Va., was 94 years old. So there’s no excuse whippersnappers. With more than seven decades of outfitting experience, the family-owned River Expeditions and its guides paddle both the New and Gauley rivers, touting Class III to V+ rapids. Rafting trips include options from single-day runs to overnight packages. There are other outdoor adventures as well, including rock climbing, mountain biking and ATV tours. Just four miles north of base camp is the New River Gorge Bridge. Every year, hundreds of thrill seekers jump and rappel 876 feet off the bridge drawing more than 80,000 spectators. Catch this spectacular sight on Saturday, Oct. 16, the 31st anniversary of Bridge Day. raftinginfo.com
5. Ruby Falls ZipStream Aerial Adventure
Bop from treetop to treetop and overcome that pesky fear of heights. Ruby Falls and The Adventure Guild suspended an obstacle course on Tennessee’s Lookout Mountain this past spring, taking advantage of the spectacular views below. Thirty high-wire acts of swinging ladders, nets, bridges, tunnels and two zip lines test balance, endurance and courage. The zip lines zoom at 25 mph, while the tallest platform is 50 feet off the ground. There are three courses: one for children and two for intermediates. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to complete both adult obstacles, which are included in one price. The courses get progressively harder, but guests are welcome to go at their own pace. There are plans for two advanced courses. Purchase a combo ticket to ZipStream and Ruby Falls, the county’s tallest, deepest underground waterfall accessible to the public. rubyfallszip.com
4. Wreck Trek Passport Program
To a scuba diver, shipwrecks are the gold medallions of the sea, as fish and coral thrive on them. As part of the Wreck Trek Passport Program, certified divers are invited to explore nine sunken vessels and artificial reefs strung along the Florida Keys. Stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the dive sites include the skeletons of Spiegel Grove, Duane, Bibb, Eagle, Thunderbolt, Adolphus Busch Sr., Cayman Salvager, Joe’s Tug and Vandenberg. Each site varies in skill level, but refresher courses are offered at the 19 participating dive shops, all listed on the website. Divers can reserve trips and pick up a log book through these shops. Then, they can suit up for back-to-back excursions or space them out over time. Those who log five wrecks and reefs, one in each region of the Keys, before Jan. 1, 2012, will receive a personalized collage of the ships. Those who do all nine will be entered into a drawing for diving gear and vacations.
fla-keys.com/diving/wrecktrek
3. SkyJump Las Vegas
Leaping off a building goes against every instinct in a person’s body. Even with a harness and a thick cable, that initial step off the ledge is terrifying. Similar to skydiving or BASE jumping, skyjumping is a stomach-in-the-throat free fall, but it ends with a controlled landing. Guide wires and a “descender machine” slow the jumpers down, keeping them on course. This past April, the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino on the Vegas Strip launched the first skyjump in North America. SkyJump Las Vegas, perched on the 108th floor of the Stratosphere, is the highest skyjump in the world, as certified by the “Guinness Book of World Records.” Jumpers receive a safety lesson, slip into their snazzy jumpsuit, and then fall 829 feet at 40 mph. The second highest skyjump measures 764 feet in China. The whole process from preparation to landing takes 30 minutes. While at the top, enjoy panoramic views, shopping, dining and three other rides that dangle guests over the edge of the tower. skyjumplasvegas.com
2. Firefighter for a Day
Racing into a burning building and crawling through clouds of dark smoke have to require the scariest split-second decisions. Many Americans dream of doing something that noble, and wonder if they have what it takes to fight fires, both physically and mentally. Incredible Adventures offers that challenge in its “Be a Firefighter for a Day” package. The Florida-based tour operator offers extreme theme experiences from flying jet fighters to enrolling in a covert ops spy camp. Rookies will train right alongside professionals at The Fire Academy, which is mere miles from Orlando’s major theme parks. After going through orientation and putting on heavy gear, guests rappel down three stories and enter a burning building, all before lunch. Then they use the Jaws of Life, drive a fire truck and even fight live fires. Finally, they will wrap up the day with a traditional cookout at the firehouse.
incredible-adventures.com
Cage Diving with Great White Sharks
Seeing a great white shark tear into a 600-pound elephant seal is shocking and yet fascinating all at the same time. Few people see this sight up close, but Great White Adventures takes groups of five to 17 on the hunt. James Moskito, an expedition leader and vice president of the company, says most people are stunned at the sight of a great white. They exclaim, “it just came out of nowhere” and “it’s the true circle of life seeing a predation event.” The Farallon Islands, which dot the coast of California 26 miles west of San Francisco, are home to some of the largest great whites in the world. These solitary predators usually range from 15 to 18 feet long. Six thousand seals flock to the rocky cape of South East Farallon to breed, birth and molt, in turn, attracting hungry sharks. This tour operator, which has conducted more than 400 great white shark diving expeditions since 1998, conducts 12-hour trips in the fall when the weather is at its best. Guests can choose to cage dive (certification not required) or simply stay on the boat and watch from above. Feedings usually take place on the water’s surface where everyone can see, and there are often whales, porpoises and sea birds to gawk over, too. The price includes diving air and weights as well as meals. greatwhiteadventures.com
