Adventure Travel
Thanks to Excursion Tourism, You Now Have Countless Adventures At Your Disposal

Published
4 years agoon

The holiday season is upon us and most of us would be planning for large meals and stay-in family vacations at home, this is the norm and a yearly routine for most individuals.
But then there are those of us who know how to break from that routine while also keeping their sense of leisure intact. We are, of course, talking about planning various fun and outdoor activities with the people that we get together with over the holidays.
The activities could be as extensive as taking a complete vacation or as time-friendly as a quick weekend excursion just a few miles away. It is prudent to note that the latter trend of excursion and weekend tourism has gained significant traction lately due to the thrilling options that it brings to the table, while also keeping the average American’s busy schedule in mind.
Regardless of whether you are a large family reminiscent of the Brady Bunch or a very small group of people, you can still enjoy these short yet memorable trips with ease. With a large number of platforms facilitating these activities and providing various options to those who are interested in them, the process of putting your adventurous plans to fruition has never been easier.
While there are several options available in these excursions, there are two that stand out to most people in particular, largely because they offer activities that are highly adventurous while remaining easily accessible. Since both of these options are available from a local standpoint, tedious and time consuming logistical planning is not necessary.
Take a Skydive
Starting from Michigan City, Indiana, and ending around Illinois, this skydiving adventure is gaining popularity among locals in the vicinity as well as those who belong to adjacent states.
The reason behind it being so sought after is that it offers you the chance to jump down from 14,000 feet in the air and have a fall at 120 MPH – all while maintaining the highest of safety standards to ensure that you will have a fun yet healthy experience. At an affordable price and taking only a half day of your time, this truly remains an excursion that you as well as your family and friends would like to take.
What’s more is that it gives you plenty of pictures and a video of your experience, so you could relive it countless times in the future (and maybe come back for more).
Climb a Mountain With a Bed of Water Under You
This option which is available at Malibu, California, remains just as special for its scenic views as it is for its level of adventure. That is why it is also one of the most popular options for a weekend excursion to those who could manage the trip (getting to Malibu from even another city remains easy to accomplish).
What this trip offers is a chance for you to indulge into real life rock climbing at the Westward Beach Road in Malibu. With the sun shining bright as you spend the day conquering a mountain, not many experiences can hold up to this one. This adventure also practices safety precautions, where all activities are performed under an instructor certified by the Professional Climbing Guides Institute.
What’s also great about this option is that you’ll be provided with snack to keep your energy up while climbing the mountain. We almost forgot to mention that you will also get climbing equipment to enjoy for the day, and proper rock climbing training that you could keep with you for the rest of your life.
The Options Are Only As Limited As Your Reach for Them
The choices for these short trips range from weekend getaways in the forest to a few hours’ adventure with the great white sharks in deep seawater.
Simply put, the choices are only as limited as your imagination – all that you have to do is to pick a spot to visit with the kind of adventure you seek, and find yourself experiencing it within days or even hours, depending on your specific location.
Writer for fourjandals

You may like
Adventure Travel
Medieval Towns with German Castles Near Munich & Frankfurt
Published
3 months agoon
May 17, 2022
Our favorite castles in Germany near Frankfurt and Munich:
We were crazy enough to visit Neuschwanstein Castle on a public holiday. This meant that along with all the Asian tourists, there were an awful lot of Germans. Plus, even though we arrived by 11 am, the soonest tickets we could buy were for the German tour at 2.30 pm, as the terms in English were sold out until 4 pm. So, if you don’t have German friends at hand to translate the tour for you, we recommend booking in advance online. The castle was impressive, and the time was undoubtedly fascinating! Don’t worry, I won’t spill the beans, but the manmade Grotto room made my jaw drop!
Mespelbrunn Castle is located on a pond between Frankfurt and Wurzburg. Unfortunately, we arrived 30 minutes after its closing time of 5 pm, but it looked cool from behind the fence!
Lichtenstein Castle is located on a clifftop near Stuttgart and costs 6 euros per person for a tour in German; however, they did give us a very informative written guide in English. This castle is small compared to Hohenzollern castle, but its story is fascinating. Tanks shelled it in World War II, and today you can still see the cracked mirror from where a small fragment of a tank grenade ricocheted!
Hohenzollern Castle is not too far from Lichtenstein Castle. It is located on a hilltop near Hechingen, and we enjoyed the guided tour. Along with getting to wear GIANT slippers, make sure you explore the casemates and secret passages. One sign made me want to learn more. It read, “Exactly where these steps lead to is unknown. More casemates and secret passageways are likely waiting to be discovered in the heart of the mountain”!
Heidelberg Castle was a lot larger than we expected! Unfortunately, we had spent far too much time at the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim, so we did not have time to explore this castle. But if we get the chance, we will explore the town and its castle next time in Germany.
On our drive from Munich to Frankfurt, we also loved:
The beer garden at Andechs Monastery was just like Oktoberfest but amongst trees and more family-friendly. The beer was cheaper, and the food was great, including the giant pork knuckle, which Moss could not finish. It was also fun walking up multiple flights of stairs to the tower’s very top.
Three hours in Rothenburg was not enough to explore this wonderful medieval town! We recommend getting your hands on a city map from the tourist information office. We enjoyed Roder Gate, walking along the wall and exploring the 17th-century spital bastion, plus Moss lost me in the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop for over half an hour, and I didn’t even buy anything!

Bamberg was a neat town with old buildings in the center of the river and had a famous smoked beer which Moss just had to try!

I’m not the hugest car or plane fanatic, but even I enjoyed the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim. A highlight for me was sliding out of an airplane (from the museum’s roof)!

Don’t go out of your way to see it, but the world’s narrowest street in Reutlingen is worth a photo if you are passing through.

In Frankfurt, go to the old part of town for an apfelwein and see the Frau Rauscher statue – watch out, she spits about every 12 seconds!
The average person would Google Munich to Frankfurt and see that it only takes about 3 ½ hours depending on how fast you wish to drive on the autobahn! However, we are NOT typical. We took one look at train prices and decided that hiring a car wouldn’t cost too much more.
Suppose you’re interested in traveling to Germany for a damn good deal. In that case, plenty of tour companies have some pretty unique and affordable vacation packages to Berlin, Munich, and Bavaria.
We aren’t going to tell you our exact route. Still, after surviving Oktoberfest in Munich, we did a giant zigzag to see as many castles and medieval towns as possible. So to save you doing so much driving, we have picked our favorite cities and castles. First of all, ‘Ausfahrt’ is not a destination accessible from every off-ramp! It means ‘Exit’! Another word of wisdom to keep in mind is that the autobahns with speed limits do have speed cameras… and the flash is blinding!
Adventure Travel
Running with the Bulls Video
Our shaky Running with the Bulls Video footage from the Festival de San Fermin in 2012. Experience it first hand in Pamplona. Enjoy.
Published
4 months agoon
April 22, 2022
We recently wrote about our life or death experience of Running with the Bulls this year at the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona. On that run, I carried along with our GoPro video camera and tried to shoot some footage for our running with the video of the bull.

Running with the Bulls
All our travel video shooting techniques went out the window when the bulls’ hooves started to shake the ground beneath our feet.
Once we had lined up for the running with the bulls, there was no escape from it as we were walled in by apartment blocks, shopfront windows, and 3-meter high wooden barriers packed with photographers along the entire length. At one end lay the relative safety of the bull ring pulsating with the cheers of the crowd who were still partying from the night before. Behind me, a dozen wild bulls pawed the stony ground looking for freedom.
Unfortunately, I was standing in their path.
What we ended up with is below. However, I think what we filmed for our running with the bull video captures the chaos, craziness, and complete madness a lot better than if I had stood my ground.
Enjoy it and watch for the guy that nearly gets trampled to death near the beginning!
Running with the Bulls Video
Would you ever consider running with the bulls?
While we are very aware that not all people agree that the San Fermin Festival should be allowed to go ahead mainly due to animal cruelty, we think there are two sides to every story. We wrote a post about the controversy surrounding Bullfighting in Spain and the Festival de San Fermin.
We would love to hear your thoughts on the Festival de San Fermin and whether you would ever consider running with the bulls.
If you want to join the next Festival of San Fermin or any other wild festivals in Europe, such as Sail Turkey, book with our partners Busabout.
Adventure Travel
Outdoor Activities in Bangkok – Adventure City Guide
Find out how you can explore the streets, canals and local markets within minutes of Bangkok with our Outdoor Activities in Bangkok Adventure City Guide.
Published
4 months agoon
April 22, 2022
Are you looking for an insider’s adventure travel guide for the best outdoor activities in Bangkok?
As part of our Adventure City Guide series, Ian from Where Sidewalks End shares his expert insider tips on the top adventure and outdoor activities to do in Bangkok.

Outdoor Activities in Bangkok – Adventure City Guide – Photo by Evoflash
Why visit Bangkok for adventure?
Bangkok is one of the world’s largest metropolises and a gateway for most of the world to access the rest of South East Asia. With numbers surpassing 14 million people in the Greater Bangkok Region, this is no small player in the world’s super-cities. Of course, having such a long history with foreign visitors, the city has become incredibly established in the world’s tourist sector.
This has allowed it to grow many facets of adventurous activities – making access to something for everyone!
Outdoor Activities in Bangkok
Exploring the Klongs

Outdoor Activities in Bangkok – The Klongs
Klongs are canals that used to feed the entire city with life-giving water, branched off from the city’s main artery – the Chao Phraya River. Today, the locals wouldn’t drink the water if you paid them, but there is still a fascinating life along the Klongs’ banks. There is so much to explore, from floating markets to old houses on stilts, and it gives insight into this ancient way of life!
What’s it cost, and how to get to the Klongs?
You can usually arrange the Klongs from the pier “Saphan Taksin” along the Chao Phraya River. This is conveniently a stop on the Skytrain, making it very easy to access. Usually, you will be renting the entire boat for the day (about 1000 THB, or USD 35) and not paying a per-person rate. So if you can find a few people to go with, the price will drop significantly per person.
Rickshaw City Tours
If you’ve never been to Asia before, Rickshaws are one of the most fun ways to get around. Although they can often be a little more expensive than metered taxis, you get an experience (and a view) that is unparalleled, especially in the busy streets of Bangkok.
What’s it cost?
Occasionally, you can even haggle a deal for a city tour for next to nothing (50-100 THB or $1.50-3 USD), as long as you visit a couple of affiliated ‘custom suit tailors’ throughout the day, as they’ll get a kickback from the shops just for bringing you there… No purchase is necessary.
You can often find Tuk Tuk drivers willing to do this standing along the perimeter of the Kings’ Palace. It may take a few attempts of asking for a ‘special city tour,’ but you will be bound to find someone ready for a cut of this business.

Outdoor Activities in Bangkok – Rickshaw Tours
Local Secret Spot
Chatuchak Market
Though most people wouldn’t consider going to a market an adventure, they probably have never experienced the likes of Chatuchak (also known as JJs). This is one of SE Asia’s LARGEST outdoor markets. It’s so prominent that you can find maps of the market to help navigate. It’s roughly the size of 4 city blocks and is divided into various sections.
You’ll find everything under the sun here, from clothing to handicrafts, food, mobile phones, and even puppies and other cute critters for sale!! It’s bonkers. If it gets too much for you, you can take a break in one of Bangkok’s most famous parks (Chatuchak park), located next to the market.
How to get there?
You can get here via Skytrain (BTS), subway (MRT), taxi, bus, you name it – it’s very accessible! But it’s only open on weekends, from about dawn until 5 or 6 pm at its peak. Some shops stay open longer, but most will be closed by dusk. It’s free entry and a perfect place to buy ANY souvenirs at the end of your time in Thailand.
Suppose you can coordinate to be here on the weekend. I generally hate shopping for ‘stuff,’ but I love this market and its energy!

Outdoor Activities in Bangkok – Chatuchak Markets
Best time of the year to visit Bangkok for adventure?
Bangkok is in the tropics and quite close to the Equator. Of course, this means it’s hot on a year-round basis.
It’s considered the rainy season from May to October, though showers can happen at any time of the year. This is generally a less busy time for tourists, though the rains are not quite as bad as expected and often only last 30 mins-1 hour, cooling the city’s heart. Peak season is in December-January when temperatures are at their most astounding ad driest… though it’s still pretty hot!
And if Bangkok isn’t to your taste, the luxury Koh Samui will be. Endless sandy beach, beautiful clear waters, and nightlife that could be lived in forever. The luxury rental properties are stunning, and we recommend Tempston Luxury villa rentals.
Finally, the reason I love Bangkok for adventure is that…
It’s never-ending. This city is SO BIG that you could get lost in a new neighborhood almost every day. Single. Day. And still find new, exciting things to explore. On my list for the upcoming weeks, I’ve got the Scala Cinema, the Thai Air Force Museum, Papaya Vintage Shop, and the Erawan Museum – to name a few. Every time I explore one place, I learn of 3 more!!
BIO:
From a young age, Ian was always a wanderer. He’s since travelled to all 7 continents, and has spent the majority of his life pursuing this passion. You can follow him in his off-the-beaten-path adventures and discoveries on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and his travel blog Where Sidewalks End.
Have you been to Bangkok? What were your favorite outdoor activities in Bangkok?
Meet Cole and Adela
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We think our blog is thought provoking and a little witty. But we have been proven wrong before. Find out more about us here...
Find
New on Four Jandals
- My Insane The Red Light District Tour of The Amsterdam Peep Shows August 9, 2022
- Paris on a Budget: Best Cheap Eats in Paris August 9, 2022
- Travel Tip: Train to Pisa from Florence August 9, 2022
What Are You Looking For?
- Adventure Travel (234)
- Africa (25)
- Asia (30)
- Auto (2)
- City Guides (25)
- Entertainment (6)
- Europe (176)
- Food (16)
- Inspiration (12)
- North America (51)
- Oceania (32)
- Other (219)
- Personal Musings (9)
- Reviews (16)
- Technology (11)
- Travel Blogging Tips (9)
- Travel Tips (266)
Subscribe
See Our Favorite Topics
- Europe1 week ago
My Insane The Red Light District Tour of The Amsterdam Peep Shows
- Europe1 week ago
Travel Tip: Train to Pisa from Florence
- Asia3 weeks ago
Devouring seafood at the Fethiye Fish Market
- Europe1 week ago
Paris on a Budget: Best Cheap Eats in Paris
- Travel Tips3 weeks ago
A Quick Guide to Some of the Best Restaurants on Timog Avenue
- Europe1 month ago
Cooking tips while traveling in Italy
- Travel Tips3 weeks ago
Las Vegas Restaurants You Need to Visit
- Asia1 month ago
10 Things You Didn’t Know About China