top outdoor places in the US to vacation

Summer Travel 2006
The Oh-So-Great Outdoors

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By Erik Olsen, Gadling.com



Grand Canyon
America is blessed with some of the finest outdoor spots on the globe. From gaping, glorious mountaintop vistas to rapid-ruffled rivers to grand, well, the Grand Canyon . The fact is most every state in the country can lay claim to some type of outdoor thrill. Well, we can't cover the outdoor action every state in this series of recommendations, but we'll provide you with ten of them that rank right up there at the top.

Channel Islands National Park : If you live in Southern California , then you may have heard of the Channel Islands , but we're guessing you've never been to them. This little cluster of islands lies some 20 miles off the California coast near Ventura , and while they are a prime spot for paddling, hiking and camping, visitation at the park remains relatively low. The highlight of any visit to the Channel Islands includes paddling the sea caves around Santa Cruz island , where if you're lucky you might spot sea lions cavorting in the shallows.


Scuba Diving the Northwest: It may seem odd to suggest that some of the finest diving in the country is in a place better known for its rainy days, but if you're diving, hey, you're already wet anyway. But the fact is that while tropical diving in places like Florida may be good, the diving in the Northwest really is superb. The array of undersea wildlife in the Northwest may not be of the type you'll find in a restaurant aquarium, it is as diverse as it is unusual. Picture sea anemones the size of puppies and primeval-looking Ling Cod that weigh 80 pounds. And then, of course there is the magnificent Giant Octopus, who lurks in the chilly waters of the Northwest and makes for one of the most spectacular sights a diver will ever experience.


Rafting the Grand Canyon : consistently ranked one of the best rafting adventures in the country, the Grand Canyon offers a mixture of lazy, sun-addled floating and heart-stopping rapids. The scenery that unrolls before you as you come down the Colorado River literally reveals a history of eons, and provides a lesson in the earth's geography as you attack the white water with your paddle. But plan early. These trips fill up quickly.


Try an Outdoor School : City-slickers might think that the idea of attending outdoor school rather odd, but the fact is that there are several superb outdoor programs in the country that can help you learn how to rappel a cliff, pull a J-stroke in your kayak, or just discover a bit more about yourself. T he National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound both offer extensive programs that last a few days to several weeks.
Summer Travel 2006
The Oh-So-Great Outdoors

Print
By Erik Olsen, Gadling.com



Grand Canyon
America is blessed with some of the finest outdoor spots on the globe. From gaping, glorious mountaintop vistas to rapid-ruffled rivers to grand, well, the Grand Canyon . The fact is most every state in the country can lay claim to some type of outdoor thrill. Well, we can't cover the outdoor action every state in this series of recommendations, but we'll provide you with ten of them that rank right up there at the top.

Channel Islands National Park : If you live in Southern California , then you may have heard of the Channel Islands , but we're guessing you've never been to them. This little cluster of islands lies some 20 miles off the California coast near Ventura , and while they are a prime spot for paddling, hiking and camping, visitation at the park remains relatively low. The highlight of any visit to the Channel Islands includes paddling the sea caves around Santa Cruz island , where if you're lucky you might spot sea lions cavorting in the shallows.


Scuba Diving the Northwest: It may seem odd to suggest that some of the finest diving in the country is in a place better known for its rainy days, but if you're diving, hey, you're already wet anyway. But the fact is that while tropical diving in places like Florida may be good, the diving in the Northwest really is superb. The array of undersea wildlife in the Northwest may not be of the type you'll find in a restaurant aquarium, it is as diverse as it is unusual. Picture sea anemones the size of puppies and primeval-looking Ling Cod that weigh 80 pounds. And then, of course there is the magnificent Giant Octopus, who lurks in the chilly waters of the Northwest and makes for one of the most spectacular sights a diver will ever experience.


Rafting the Grand Canyon : consistently ranked one of the best rafting adventures in the country, the Grand Canyon offers a mixture of lazy, sun-addled floating and heart-stopping rapids. The scenery that unrolls before you as you come down the Colorado River literally reveals a history of eons, and provides a lesson in the earth's geography as you attack the white water with your paddle. But plan early. These trips fill up quickly.


Try an Outdoor School : City-slickers might think that the idea of attending outdoor school rather odd, but the fact is that there are several superb outdoor programs in the country that can help you learn how to rappel a cliff, pull a J-stroke in your kayak, or just discover a bit more about yourself. T he National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound both offer extensive programs that last a few days to several weeks.





Body-Surfing the Wedge : You may not find yourself sitting next to singer jack Johnson on the beach because, well, this is California , not Hawaii , we're talking about. And also, you can forget about needing a surf board, because the Wedge, the famous body-surfing beach in Newport Beach , California , is all about hanging your torso, not ten toes, as you ride the waves. During certain parts of the year, especially winter, the waves here are far too large and powerful for mere mortals, but when the surf is calm, even newbies can get out there and catch a wave or two.


Mountain Biking Crested Butte : Whether you're a beginner or an expert to the fat tire phenomenon, you'll find trails aplenty in Crested Butte Colorado. The single tracks here wind through aspen glades and across sprawling plateaus that glow when the golden hour falls. You'll also find yourself pedaling through desolate ghost towns and past abandoned mines that reveal the region's rougher past.


Hiking the Lost Coast : The Lost Coast Trail in Northern California is one of the last truly undeveloped areas in the state. The trail here winds along a blissfully beautiful 25-mile stretch of coastline that takes you along rocky beaches and over wild-flower carpeted bluffs. Along the way, you'll trek pass a sea lion rookery where a legion of sea mammals fill the air with their lusty, full-throated groans.


Paddling Manhattan : Few people, even those who live in the city, are aware that New York Harbor and the Hudson River constitute one of the richest marine estuaries in the country. That is good news for paddlers, who might consider a day out on the river when visiting the city. For those who just want to get out on the river, the New York Boathouse offers free kayaks to paddle within and enclosed area, and for the more ambitious, the Manhattan Kayak Company offers sunset tours on the Hudson River or a few hours' paddling to the Statue of Liberty.


Kite-Boarding the Keys: While it is rumored to be one of the more difficult new outdoor sports to pick up, those who put in the hours of practice to learn, attest that kite-boarding is one of the most exhilarating outdoor experiences around. And one of the best places to learn is Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Shallow waters make for easy launching and thankfully the winds blow at a steady 20 or so knots. If you've ever wanted to learn how to ride the winds and the waves, this could be the ideal spot.


Climbing the Capitol: while National Park Service police likely would frown upon you trying to set a rope into the side of he Capitol Building itself, if you venture just a stone's throw away, you can find some excellent rock walls at C&O National Historical Park . Here you'll find craggy 60-foot faces with over a hundred challenging routes that will burn your arms and get your heart racing.

Re: top outdoor places in the US to vacation

Yea!! I am going to 2 of them on my HM

We will visit the Channel Islands and do some hiking on the Norht coast of CA

Re: top outdoor places in the US to vacation

I agree with the diving in Pacific NW. It's so much better around Seattle than in FL. Most of the reefs in FL have been destroyed by the pumping of sand on beaches or by some wierd bacteria that is killing everything. I would add the San Juan Islands in Washington State too.

Re: top outdoor places in the US to vacation

They all sound like so much fun!!!

i love the outdoors, but the closest we are getting to outdoors is the Wilderness Lodge at Disney.