The best adventure vacations in the USA for thrilling experiences

Getting an eagle's-eye view of Vegas is thrilling in itself, but pulling Gs in an aerobatic plane takes a sightseeing flight to heart-racing new heights. For the full Top Gun experience, Sky Combat Ace lets you take over the controls. Your pilot demonstrates each maneuver, such as a barrel roll, loop, and hammerhead, before letting you test your own skills. For your next Vegas bachelor or bachelorette party, skip late-night bottle service at the club and go as a group to fly a plane instead–parties of three or more get a better deal.

Average cost: $1,999.00/person for parties of three or more; for parties of two, $2,499/person; for parties of one, $2,999/person.

Best time of year to try: This experience is available year-round, with the exception of being closed every Tuesday and Wednesday. To beat the sweltering desert heat, avoid Vegas in the summertime.

One of the most popular ways to experience Alaska is via cruise, and should you choose to go with Holland America Line, your unique forms of transportation won’t stop at just a ship. The Helicopter Glacier Trek takes travelers off the ship in Juneau and brings them up close and personal to a glacier via helicopter. Soar over the Juneau Ice Field to the glacier, where you’ll then have the opportunity to embark on a two-hour hike in a glacial icescape, with ice axes, proper boots, and a harness to ensure maximized safety.

Average cost: $584.95

Best time of year to try: If you want to experience Alaska with daylight, you’ll want to plan your trip between May and September, with July and August being prime months.

Move over, Peru! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande Gorge, Wild Earth Llama Adventures offers treks accompanied by a team of rescued llamas who carry your gear alongside you as you summit Wheeler Peak, the highest peak in New Mexico. At 13,161 feet, the trek offers dramatic views of other nearby peaks, alpine lakes, sprawling forests, and wildflower meadows, all alongside a furry companion. You can opt for a day hike, or extend your stay by up to five nights.

Average cost: For a day trip, the cost is $189.00/per person.

Best time of year: It’s best to hike when there’s minimal chance of snow, since the trails will be clearer on this already-difficult hike. An ideal time to hike with llama companions is June and September.

Part skydiving and part cliff jumping, BASE jumping is one of the most extreme thrills you can pursue, largely because the relatively low-altitude launch points mean less time to deploy your parachute. Perched nearly 500 feet above the Snake River, Perrine Bridge is known worldwide for its adrenaline-charged activity and, unlike many other destinations for the sport, doesn’t require a permit. The only prerequisite is courage, but TandemBASE guides newbies through the experience.

Average cost: $399/per person

Best time of year to try: You can base jump all year long, but one of the most beautiful times to do so, if you can bear the brunt of some frigid temperatures, is in the winter. Regardless of the time of year, TandemBASE recommends you choose your jump during the week instead of a weekend.

Have you ever watched Cirque du Soleil and wondered what it takes to become a trapeze artist? Well, wonder no more. Located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Trapeze Co. delivers acrobatic thrills in a safe, beginner-friendly environment. Learn techniques like mid-air transfers (or “catches”) and a variety of other techniques, with options available for all skill levels. While extreme adventurous activities often aren’t childproof, Santa Barbara Trapeze Co. has plenty of options for kids as young as 4 years old to participate, making it the most family-friendly option on this list.

Average cost: $100/person

Best time of year to try: To best enjoy trapeze training along with all Santa Barbara has to offer, plan your trip in late summer or early fall.

Why chase waterfalls when you could climb them? Few things are more exhilarating than lowering yourself down a rock face amid a deluge of foamy spray. While waterfall rappelling is often associated with far-flung destinations like Costa Rica, you need only travel to New Hampshire’s White Mountains to experience it. Climbing outfitter Northeast Mountaineering welcomes adventurers of all skill levels. Take a short hike to the top of a 100-foot fall before rappelling down it with the help of a guide. Just be prepared to get wet.

Average cost: Prices range based on group size. For one person, it’s $325/person; for two people, it’s $275/person; for three people, it’s $225/person; and for four people, it’s $210/person.

Best time of year to try: You’re going to get wet, and the northeast is not particularly the warmest part of the U.S. This excursion is only bookable on weekends after Memorial Day until the end of September.

I loathe the cold, so skiing was never on my radar. However, I made a pact to try more new things this year, and while going through some personal turmoil, I knew the one way to snap me out of my funk was to get out of my comfort zone. So, with little hesitation, I booked a last-minute trip to Sun Valley, Idaho, where I would immerse myself in ski culture for a few short days. As a non-skier, I chose boldly: Sun Valley Resort is home to the highest slopes in Idaho on Bald Mountain, a whopping 9,150 feet. To get up there, take the chair lift, which is one of the ones at Sun Valley, home to the world’s first. After your long day of hitting the slopes, head over to Limelight Ketchum’s The Lounge to sip a Ski Bunny, made with Prosecco, vodka, and passion fruit, for the perfect aprés-ski.

Average cost: The average cost of skiing at Sun Valley Resort depends on several factors, including age and how many days you plan to spend, but an average day pass for an adult is around $209.

Best time of year to try: While you can visit Sun Valley, Idaho anytime of year and have a great time, if you’re headed there specifically for skiing, February is your month.

Proving the USA really does have it all, a small town, Elmira, in Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region, is known as the “Soaring Capital of America.” Get your thrill by soaring on a Schleicher ASK-21, which is a two-seat glider plane allowing room for both you and the pilot. Harris Hill Soaring, one of the oldest glider clubs in the country, offering rides to the public, is the place to book. The rides are approximately 20 minutes long and there’s a weight limit of 245 pounds per passenger.

Average cost: $240

Best time of year to try: Without a doubt, you’ll want to do this experience in the fall. The Finger Lakes have some of the best foliage in the country; what better way to take it in than from high up in the sky?

If it's an adrenaline rush you're after, look no further than this iconic Vegas attraction: bungee jumping off of the Stratosphere. The Strat SkyJump is the only sky jump in North America and the highest in the world. You'll leap from the 105th floor of the STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower, a cool 855 feet up in the air with views of the Vegas Strip, descending at speeds over 40mph. Not for the faint of heart!

Average cost: For a SkyJump only package, it’s $149.99/person. However, there is a local’s discount at $99/person, and if you decide you liked it so much that you want to do it a second time, stay strapped into your gear and pay $59.99 for a second round.

Best time of year to try: With your adrenaline pumping as much as it’s bound to be for an excursion like this, it’s best to avoid extreme heat. Anytime outside of summer is ideal. If you want the stellar sights of the Vegas lights, book a time later in the day to witness the lit-up Strip.

I used to think I had to fly to far-out destinations like the Philippines or the Maldives to get my dive fix, but when international travel was off the table in 2020, I started doing a little digging in my own backyard to see where I could use my PADI skills. While obvious contenders like Florida and Hawaii popped up, one of the most intriguing finds was scuba diving in Wisconsin along the Shipwreck Coast. With 36 historic shipwreck sites dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, Wisconsin’s Shipwreck Coast was designated as a national marine sanctuary in 2021. For the best sites, book your dive with Shipwreck Explorers, and head to Port Washington, Milwaukee, Cedar Grove, and Sheboygan, all located along the eastern side of the state in Lake Michigan.

Average cost: $749.00 for two days of diving

Best time of year to try: Diving is not available in the colder months, with the season running from May to the second weekend of October. For the warmest weather, plan your dive for July or August, noting that dives are only available on weekends.

Despite having personally dived all around the world, though I had seen my fair share of nurse and reef sharks, the first time I saw a shark larger than me was a lemon shark in Jupiter, Florida. There’s really no way to prepare you for such a moment, but as most sharks will just swim right by you without a care in the world that you’re there, it’s one surefire way to get over the misguided fears that sharks will chomp on you like Jaws. Florida has the highest concentration of large sharks on the East Coast, and shark diving trips with operators like Florida Shark Diving let experienced divers and novices get in the water with various kinds of sharks, including tiger, great hammerhead, and reef sharks. You don’t even need to be scuba certified to partake, as snorkeling is an option. Depending on your risk tolerance, choose to dive in a cage—or freedive.

Average cost: $195/per person

Best time of year to try: In Jupiter, shark diving is available 365 days a year, but you’ll see different species depending on when you go. In January, you have a higher chance of seeing bull sharks and lemon sharks. In the summer, expect to see sandbars, hammerheads, tigers, Caribbean reefs and bull sharks.

What better way to experience the world’s largest dormant volcano than by paragliding off its slopes? Daily flights with Paraglide Maui, the oldest and only full-time paragliding school in Hawaii, take off from the slopes of Haleakala, the highest peak on Maui at 10,000 feet. Beginners can test their mettle with the shorter 1,000-foot descent, but for the true adventurer, the 3,000-foot option features up to 15 minutes of airtime over the island’s lush tropical landscape and lavender farms.

Average cost: Prices range between $195 and $395 per paraglide, but the most popular option, the 3,000-footer “Top Gun” flight, is $395/person.

Best time of year to try: Maui is a stunner year-round, but for the most pleasant weather in a generally very hot island, April and May or September to November are your best bets.

What’s a 14er, you ask? As the name suggests, it’s a mountain at least 14,000 feet tall, and there are over 50 to choose from in Colorado—from the 14,007 feet Sunshine Peak in the San Juan Mountains to the 14,443 feet Mount Elbert, the highest summit in the Rocky Mountains, and the second highest in the lower 48 US states. One of the most popular in the state is Pikes Peak, near Colorado Springs, which is a lofty 14,115 feet tall. A number of trails ascend to the top, including the most popular, the 13-mile Barr Trail.

Average cost: Hiking 14ers in Colorado is generally a free activity. However, there are a few exceptions: if you plan to hike Longs Peak mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, there is a $15 park entrance fee. Plus, if you choose to hire a guide, that price will vary depending on which mountain you tackle. You can search 14er guides on GetYourGuide.

Best time of year to try: Hiking a 14er is challenging in itself; don’t increase the risk factor by going when it’s snowy, and instead, plan a summer hike between June and early September.

Want to get in touch with your inner caveperson? Not only can you explore Cumberland Caverns, which has more than 27 miles of underground passageways complete with cool rock formations, waterfalls and pools, but you can sleep over, too. Spend the night 333 feet underground, with options like “Skylight Sleepover,” where you’ll squeeze through tight passageways, “Into the Dark,” where you’ll scale underground canyons, or for the most extreme, “Lights Out,” where you’ll traverse the cave via handlines.

Average cost: Each package has a different cost, with the average price being $120/person.

Best time of year to try: The cave is consistently 56 degrees, year-round, meaning it’s entirely up to you when you want to visit. Cumberland Caverns is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The “Hot Air Ballooning Capital of the World” is right here in the US at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fly high in the sky to get stunning views of the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande, and keep a lookout to spot more than 500 different species of animals in The Bosque. Hot Air Ballooning is so serious in Albuquerque that there’s even an annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. For one of the most reputable tour companies in town, go with Rainbow Ryders, and for one of the most stunning backdrops, suffer through the early wakeup call for the reward of a sunrise ride.

Average cost: $179/adult (prices vary)

Best time of year to try: For minimal chance of rain and high wind, late April to early October is a prime time to float in the New Mexican sky.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “Via Ferrata” is the Italian translation of “Iron path,” and is the adventurous practice of climbing via steel cables, metal rungs, anchors, and more, along a mountainous path. While the majority of via ferratas exist in Italy and Austria, West Virginia is home to the longest Via Ferrata on the East Coast. You can join a guided adventure with NROCKS, where you’ll ascend West Virginia’s majestic mountains while climbing metal rungs and crossing wooden bridges. As you embark on your Italian-Austrian adventure, swap the Alps for views of Almost Heaven (yes, that’s the real name), while crossing rock formations more than 200 feet above the forest.

Average cost: $150/person

Best time of year to try: Anytime from early June to late September will provide the best temperatures, though note that you’re bound to sweat on a Via Ferrata, and July and August are the hottest months.