Vacations provide the perfect opportunity for people to sit by the pool, relax, and, quite frankly, do nothing. For some, that might be the deal way to vacation. For others, however, relaxing isn’t in the vacation repertoire.
While there are an endless number of places in the world you can spend your next vacation, here are five top destinations for those who have an adventurous side.
Big Sur, California
Hiking, fishing, camping — you name it and Big Sur has it. Big Sur provides plenty of opportunities to be active out in the wild. It is, after all, the longest scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous US, according to U.S. News.
Bixby Creek Bridge is aesthetically pleasing, to say the least, featuring the perfect blend of mountains and the ocean, and you’ll find yourself lost in the act of taking pictures of it.
Near the ocean
The ocean always provides opportunities for active and adventurous vacations.
As an example, you can go parasailing near Singer Island and get a bird’s-eye view of the clear waters of south Florida. You can also go snorkeling, surfing, or scuba diving.
The ideal ocean vacation consists of warm weather, sunshine, and time out on the water, no matter which activities you fancy, from whale watching to paddle boarding.
If you’re really feeling adventurous, then you can get pro surfing lessons. And don’t worry, each lesson can be customized to your skill level, whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced surfer. Even if you’ve never tried surfing before, a lesson can get you out in the water with a board in no time while learning best practices and how to surf.
Iceland
Believe it or not, you can also go snorkeling and scuba diving in Iceland, but the fun doesn’t stop there.
Iceland is also home to the midnight sun, featuring 24-hour daylight during certain times of the year, the northern lights, geothermal baths, Icelandic mountains and volcanoes, black beaches, and so much more.
Needless to say, there’s something to do in Iceland for everyone. Seeing the northern lights is reason enough to visit Iceland.
Somewhere in the mountains
While people like to debate which destination is better between a trip to the mountains or the beach, the mountains tend to be cooler and rockier yet aren’t lacking in extreme sports and activities, with snowboarding, skiing, hiking, climbing, and whitewater rafting only being the beginning.
During a camping trip, you can spend the day exploring the mountains and trails (with minimal or no phone service, as an added benefit when it comes to disconnecting from technology) and the morning/night fishing and cooking food, giving you a sense of what it’s like to live off of the land.
We aren’t taking sides when it comes to vacationing in the mountains or near the beach — we enjoy both and think you should as well.
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is arguably the best adventure vacation in the US.
After all, US News ranked it “#1 in Best Adventure Vacations in the U.S.” That might have something to do with its grand scale, “Measuring approximately 277 river miles in length, up to 18 miles in width and a mile deep.”
On top of some of the best views you’ll ever see, the Grand Canyon is ideal for hikers, whitewater rafters, and people looking for an adventure in general.
The world is a beautiful place and it has an endless amount of destinations. We recommend the five above for active and adventurous vacations.
