8 Urban Adventures for City-Loving Adrenaline Junkies
December 2, 2015
Are you a certified scuba diver? Love going for long hikes and camping excursions? Enjoy nothing more than busting out your kayak paddles? Time to move to the city.
Wait, what? No, we’re not messing with ya. Turns out, you don’t have to leave city limits to indulge your outdoorsy, adrenaline-craving side. From colossal rock-climbing centers to canyon walking treks, these eight urban adventure experiences are pretty wild… and well within commuting range.
BROOKLYN BOULDERS, NEW YORK: NYC may not be known for its soaring peaks, but residents can still get their climb on at local fave Brooklyn Boulders. With an original location in Gowanus and a brand-new venue in Long Island City, the sprawling center challenges climbers of all levels with bouldering, top-roping, lead-climbing, and auto-belays. Even more challenging? The climbing configurations evolve every eight or so weeks, meaning you'll never get too comfortable with your wall-scaling routines.
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
LAKE MICHIGAN WRECK DIVING, CHICAGO: Would you believe us if we told you that the Great Lakes offer world-class shipwreck diving? No? Time to book in a session with Windy City Diving in Chicago. The chilly waters of Lake Michigan have done a good job of preserving the dozen-odd sunken ships in the vicinity of the city. Given that boats depart from the centrally located Burnham Harbor, going for a dive is also super accessible. (In other words, you definitely don't have to save this experience for your Caribbean bucket-list trip. Pirate booty at either location not guaranteed.)
Image courtesy of Windy City Diving
Image courtesy of Windy City Diving
FLATIRONS, BOULDER: Most cities don't offer incredible climbing slabs within view of downtown. But then again, most cities aren't Boulder. Home to the famous, craggy Flatirons—a collection of five precipitously angled rock formations—the city is a magnet for free soloists and other Spiderman-style daredevils. The first and third flatirons are steep, but should be accessible for moderately experienced climbers. And for the beginners? There's always mountain school.
Image courtesy of beklaus/iStock
Image courtesy of beklaus/iStock
KAYAKING, SEATTLE: Thanks to the many bays, lakes, and archipelagos in the Puget Sound region, Seattleites have access to some pretty incredible kayaking conditions. If you don't have a paddle to call your own, local outfits like Ballard Kayak lend kayaks and paddleboards (and offer sea kayaking classes). To up the adventure ante, you can also head to the nearby San Juan Islands, where whale-watching-via-kayak is a thing.
Image courtesy of James Anderson/iStock
Image courtesy of James Anderson/iStock
XPLORE URBAN ADVENTURE RACING, MULTIPLE CITIES: One part team scavenger hunt, one part marathon, and one part friendly competition, the Xplore Urban Adventure Racing Series hosts fast-paced challenges in cities around the country, from Philadelphia to Phoenix. As far as urban adventure experiences go, this is one to try... especially 'cause there are prizes at the end.
Image courtesy of Xperience Adventures
Image courtesy of Xperience Adventures
FLIGHTLINE SAFARI, SAN DIEGO: Ziplining isn't only for exotic vacations: you can also go soaring much closer to home. Like at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Their Flightline Safari is no kiddie ride, mind you. Two-thirds of a mile long and up to 130 feet tall, the zipline offers visitors a very brisk tour through the park's grounds and exotic animals (spot giraffes and rhinos as you go, for a "who's taller now?" change of perspective).
Image courtesy of San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Image courtesy of San Diego Zoo Safari Park
CANYON WALKING, LOS ANGELES: Don't let those (admittedly) beautiful beaches distract you; for adventurous types in the City of Angels, it's all about the canyons. Thanks to its proximity to the Santa Clara Mountains, Los Angeles is surrounded with rocky trails and vivid hilltop scenery. Runyon Canyon Park is the most accessible (and frequented by other walkers), but you can also hit up Franklin Canyon Park, Eaton Canyon, Solstice Canyon... Climb every mountain, anyone?
Image courtesy of MartinaPal/iStock
Image courtesy of MartinaPal/iStock
PARKOUR, WASHINGTON, D.C.: As far as urban adventure experiences go, parkour is one of the most accessible. All you need is yourself (and a solid pair of shoes). But then again, you'll also need a fair bit of flexibility, strength, and ninja fearlessness. Before you start (literally) throwing yourself off the walls, go in for some training at the American Parkour Academy in D.C., which offers classes for beginners, more experienced enthusiasts... and even kids.
Image courtesy of aluxum/iStock
Image courtesy of aluxum/iStock
BROOKLYN BOULDERS, NEW YORK: NYC may not be known for its soaring peaks, but residents can still get their climb on at local fave Brooklyn Boulders. With an original location in Gowanus and a brand-new venue in Long Island City, the sprawling center challenges climbers of all levels with bouldering, top-roping, lead-climbing, and auto-belays. Even more challenging? The climbing configurations evolve every eight or so weeks, meaning you'll never get too comfortable with your wall-scaling routines.
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
Image courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders
LAKE MICHIGAN WRECK DIVING, CHICAGO: Would you believe us if we told you that the Great Lakes offer world-class shipwreck diving? No? Time to book in a session with Windy City Diving in Chicago. The chilly waters of Lake Michigan have done a good job of preserving the dozen-odd sunken ships in the vicinity of the city. Given that boats depart from the centrally located Burnham Harbor, going for a dive is also super accessible. (In other words, you definitely don't have to save this experience for your Caribbean bucket-list trip. Pirate booty at either location not guaranteed.)
Image courtesy of Windy City Diving
Image courtesy of Windy City Diving
FLATIRONS, BOULDER: Most cities don't offer incredible climbing slabs within view of downtown. But then again, most cities aren't Boulder. Home to the famous, craggy Flatirons—a collection of five precipitously angled rock formations—the city is a magnet for free soloists and other Spiderman-style daredevils. The first and third flatirons are steep, but should be accessible for moderately experienced climbers. And for the beginners? There's always mountain school.
Image courtesy of beklaus/iStock
Image courtesy of beklaus/iStock
KAYAKING, SEATTLE: Thanks to the many bays, lakes, and archipelagos in the Puget Sound region, Seattleites have access to some pretty incredible kayaking conditions. If you don't have a paddle to call your own, local outfits like Ballard Kayak lend kayaks and paddleboards (and offer sea kayaking classes). To up the adventure ante, you can also head to the nearby San Juan Islands, where whale-watching-via-kayak is a thing.
Image courtesy of James Anderson/iStock
Image courtesy of James Anderson/iStock
XPLORE URBAN ADVENTURE RACING, MULTIPLE CITIES: One part team scavenger hunt, one part marathon, and one part friendly competition, the Xplore Urban Adventure Racing Series hosts fast-paced challenges in cities around the country, from Philadelphia to Phoenix. As far as urban adventure experiences go, this is one to try... especially 'cause there are prizes at the end.
Image courtesy of Xperience Adventures
Image courtesy of Xperience Adventures
FLIGHTLINE SAFARI, SAN DIEGO: Ziplining isn't only for exotic vacations: you can also go soaring much closer to home. Like at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Their Flightline Safari is no kiddie ride, mind you. Two-thirds of a mile long and up to 130 feet tall, the zipline offers visitors a very brisk tour through the park's grounds and exotic animals (spot giraffes and rhinos as you go, for a "who's taller now?" change of perspective).
Image courtesy of San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Image courtesy of San Diego Zoo Safari Park
CANYON WALKING, LOS ANGELES: Don't let those (admittedly) beautiful beaches distract you; for adventurous types in the City of Angels, it's all about the canyons. Thanks to its proximity to the Santa Clara Mountains, Los Angeles is surrounded with rocky trails and vivid hilltop scenery. Runyon Canyon Park is the most accessible (and frequented by other walkers), but you can also hit up Franklin Canyon Park, Eaton Canyon, Solstice Canyon... Climb every mountain, anyone?
Image courtesy of MartinaPal/iStock
Image courtesy of MartinaPal/iStock
PARKOUR, WASHINGTON, D.C.: As far as urban adventure experiences go, parkour is one of the most accessible. All you need is yourself (and a solid pair of shoes). But then again, you'll also need a fair bit of flexibility, strength, and ninja fearlessness. Before you start (literally) throwing yourself off the walls, go in for some training at the American Parkour Academy in D.C., which offers classes for beginners, more experienced enthusiasts... and even kids.
Image courtesy of aluxum/iStock
Image courtesy of aluxum/iStock
