Looking for a rush? If you’re craving a little excitement on your next vacation (or just because) look no further than our guide to the best spots to seek a thrill in North America. Our picks offer varying degrees of adventure, but one thing is for sure – all of them will get your adrenaline pumping.
Insanity the Ride, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Las Vegas isn’t just about bright lights, glitzy shows and slot machines. Experience the famous Strip like never before with a thrilling ride at the Stratosphere Tower. You’ll be taken up 274 metres, extended out almost 21 metres via a giant mechanical arm and then the fun begins. Riders are spun around at speeds of up to three ‘G’s and propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees, which tilts your body straight down. Open your eyes if you dare.
SkyRider Tour, Hunter Mountain, New York, United States
The SkyRider Tour is the longest, fastest and highest zip line tour in North America, and the second largest in the world. The ride starts with a chairlift up to Hunter Mountain Summit Lodge where you get prepped for the adventure ahead. Then, you get to ride seven kilometres of zip lines and at certain points will be soaring more than 180 metres in the air at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour.
Mega Zips, Louisville, Kentucky, United States
If careening through the air on zip lines isn’t piquing your interest, what about taking the experience underground? The Louisville Mega Cavern offers an experience called Mega Zips, the world’s only fully underground zip line course. The thrilling and totally unique tour features six underground zip lines, including one dual racing zip line.
EdgeWalk, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
On the roof of the CN Tower’s restaurant, 356 metres in the air, is where you can test your nerves with EdgeWalk. During the 20 to 30 minute walk you will make your way around the roof to experience Toronto’s tallest urban adventure. The view over the city is pretty spectacular – if you’re daring enough to look down.
Ride the luge, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
If you have a need for speed you might want to get yourself to Calgary and head to Canada Olympic Park. Have the ultimate sledding experience by getting to pilot your own luge after a brief lesson courtesy of the Canadian Luge Association. Once you’ve been briefed you’ll slide through five turns and reach speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Goliath, Gurnee, Illinois, United States
Anyone in the mood for some thrills will love Goliath. The wooden coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois is the world’s fastest wooden roller coaster at 116 kilometers per hour. It’s also the world’s tallest wooden coaster at 55 metres, as well as the world’s steepest at an almost vertical 85 degrees. During the adrenalin-pumping ride you’ll experience two upside down maneuvers, three over-banked turns and some stomach-lurching drops.
Heli-skiing, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
What do you get when you combine downhill skiing with helicopters? You get heli-skiing, an extreme way to hit the slopes that shouldn’t be missed if you’re looking for some adventure. Basically, heli-skiing means skipping the chairlift and being taken to remote areas to ski via helicopter. You’ll get to swoosh down bigger slopes in places regular skiing won’t ever take you. Whistler Heli-Skiing gets you access to 174 glaciers and 475 runs.
Flyboarding, Pompano Beach, Florida, United States
One of the newest extreme sports to gain traction among thrill-seekers is Flyboarding and a good place to try it is in Florida with Flyboard South Florida. Imagine wearing jet packs on your feet and you’ll have an idea of what Flyboarding is. A Flyboard lets you – as the name would suggest – get some serious air. The Flyboard harnesses the outflow of water from a jet ski and redirects it to two nozzles under the rider’s feet. A stream of water from a giant hose goes from the jet ski to the Flyboard and that steady stream is what keeps you in the air. The jet ski driver is there to keep you safe and guide you down when the time comes to be back on solid ground. Riders can expect to achieve heights of five to 15 metres.
Bungee jumping, Wakefield, Quebec, Canada
Bungee jumping adrenaline junkies in Canada will want to pay a visit to Great Canadian Bungee in Wakefield, Quebec, where they can experience Canada’s highest bungee jump at more than 60 metres. When you jump you’ll be jumping over a lagoon that is almost 50 metres deep, which means you’ll be getting a “body dip” into the water below.
Skywalk, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Anyone who gets a rush from being up high and having an amazing view will be interested in Skywalk at the Grand Canyon. A horseshoe shaped bridge with transparent glass floor and sides takes daring visitors 1,219 metres above the floor of the Grand Canyon.
Featured image: Kevin Costain
