ADVENTURE

Adventure Time

As travelers seek new and different experiences, adventure tourism continues to grow in popularity. Adventure tourism, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association, is a tourist activity that includes physical activity, a cultural exchange, or activities in nature. You don't necessarily have to go base jumping or go scuba diving with sharks to be an adventure tourist (although those activities definitely qualify).

Adventure tourism is about connecting with a new culture or a new landscape and being physically active at the same time. It is not about being risky or pushing your boundaries. In fact, it is especially important to know and respect your limits while you are in an unfamiliar area. Our list of adventure tourism activities has plenty of options if you aren't necessarily a thrill seeker. If you are an adrenaline junkie, don't worry we still have a few ideas for your next trip.

If you're talking about exciting physical activities that allow you to explore the outdoors, it would crime to leave out mountain biking. Mountain biking offers a great workout and a fun way to experience nature. You'll be able to travel further distances on trails and see more of the surrounding area. New to mountain biking? No worries! Many locations have trails that range from beginner to advanced. If you're near a ski resort, check to see if they have lift-serviced trails. You'll ride the ski lift to the top with your bike and then let gravity do most of the work as you cruise the green, blue, and black trails down.

Paragliding is a competitive as well as a leisure sport in wich riders using para-gliders perform cross-country or acrobatic maneuvers. Developed from the parachuting canopies, modern-day para-gliders can ascend on windward slopes almost effortlessly and can be flown across the country in good conditions.

Paragliding first dates back to 1952. Since the 1980s, the entire equipment and tactics have continually been evolved and improved. The first-ever Paragliding World Competition was held in 1987 (though it was unofficial). Two years later, in 1989, the first officially sanctioned FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) World Tournament was held in Austria.

Surfing is an outdoor water sport that is predominantly conducted on the shores of oceans and seas. In this sport, the athlete, usually referred to as a surfer, starts off at a certain distance away from the shore, and moves towards the shore standing on a surfboard, using the waves for propulsion.

Though surfing dates back to couple centuries, modern surfing originated in the early twentieth century on the Hawaiian islands, and professional surfing competitions did not start until 1975. Earlier surfboards were made of wood which made it heavier and bulkier. But current surfboards are made of fiberglass materials that makes it lighter and easier to carry.