There is a wide variety of soft adventure opportunities in the United States
Maybe you’re the type of person who relishes the challenge of extreme sports like mountaineering, off-road cycling, or spelunking into ocean caves that have historically enticed divers to their deaths.
Or maybe you’d rather take it easy and take a stroll through some beautiful landscape, ride your bike along some flat routes, or go snorkeling to see some fish.
There are people out there that enjoy extreme adventure trips and wouldn’t have it any other way. Soft adventure, on the other hand, attracts a far wider audience, including kids and those who have blown out dozens of birthday candles.
One of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism business is soft adventure travel. It covers a wide variety of pursuits that people of varying degrees of physical ability can participate in and enjoy. One of the most rapidly expanding demographics in the USA is the over-50 set.
Outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize relaxation over adrenaline will find a plethora of options.
IF YOU CAN WALK, YOU CAN HIKE
If you can walk, you can trek, and there are usually plenty of pleasant walks within driving distance of your home, if not further.
The “High Line” is a park in Manhattan that runs along an old elevated train corridor. Decorated with vibrant plants and artwork, it looks out over the Hudson River and the metropolitan skyline.
Hikers of all ages and skill levels can enjoy the northerly hikes to breathtaking vistas of Niagara Falls. They might be anything from easy strolls to difficult scrambles over rocky terrain.
There are several beautiful natural areas in the vicinity of Fort Worth, Texas, which are accessible via the city’s 100 miles of Trinity Trails. One of these is a waterfall that the Monarch butterflies use as a resting place on their yearly journey north.
The historic Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys is a favorite of locals and tourists alike for its easy hiking terrain. Since a second overpass was erected nearby for cars, pedestrians and cyclists have flocked to the first flyover, which was built between 1909 and 1912. So many anglers congregate there that the bridge is often called “the longest fishing pier in the world.”
CATCHING YOUR DINNER AROUND THE COUNTRY
Good fishing spots are usually not far from where people reside. Those in search of the pinnacle of fishing have many options.
California’s Lake Tahoe is the continent’s largest alpine lake. Its deep holes are crawling with kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, and mackinaw during the warm months.
Charleston, South Carolina is located at the meeting point of three rivers and is encircled by salt marshes and tidal streams. There are plenty of red drum, flounder, and speckled trout in the waters of the Lowcountry. Billfish, yellowfin tuna, and other fish of the deep are drawn to the Gulf Stream’s offshore location.
SURPRISING PLACES FOR SUPER SAILING
There is a diverse range of choices if sailing is more your speed than fishing. Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania is located on a sandy peninsula that protrudes into Lake Erie, giving visitors the illusion that they are at the beach. Wind-driven sailboats are a common sight in the lagoon, joining motorboats, swimmers, fishermen, and divers.
Kansas’s location on the flat plains means there are plenty of prevailing winds, making it an unexpectedly attractive state for sailing. Cheney Lake, which is located near Wichita, has the greatest average wind speed in the continental United States. This makes it a top candidate for the title of “best sailing lake in America.”
If you’d rather float effortlessly across the water and occasionally dive down to explore the world below, you’re in luck. You could be closer than you think to some excellent snorkeling and diving spots.
Coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and seagrass beds fill the 178 square miles that make up Florida’s John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Scuba divers and snorkelers will be greeted by over 600 different species of fish and more than 50 different types of colorful coral.
Snorkeling is a fun activity for admiring marine life up close. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is a great place to go snorkeling if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary in the state of Mississippi. Tropical fish like pinfish, pipefish, seahorses, and more lurk in the seagrass, waiting to be seen by divers.
SOFT ADVENTURE CAN BE FOR THE BIRDS
Sightings aside, bird watching is a wonderful way to enjoy nature while also taking in the fascinating sights, sounds, and smells of our winged friends. The National Park System’s more than 400 locations, spread throughout all 50 states, provide exceptional venues for mingling with the clouds above. Forty of these locations have been designated as “Globally Important Bird Areas”.
Some locations are like little continents packed with opportunities for gentle exploration. Myrtle Beach was blessed by Mother Nature with a bounty of breathtaking scenery.
Located on the coast of South Carolina, it offers a plethora of choices for outdoor recreation, such as canoe and kayak tours of beautiful marshes and cruises to see animals such as dolphins, alligators, and sea turtles.
When it comes to available activities, some resorts are like miniature versions of the country as a whole. Hiking, kayaking, fishing, treetop adventures, archery, badminton, beach volleyball, and more can all be found at Mountain Lake Lodge, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
This list demonstrates that there are various gentle adventure options that may be enjoyed by just about anyone. And you can get them from all over the place.
