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Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Summer Travel / Base Jumping / Adventure Travel / Videos / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Booming B.A.S.E., Phobics Need Not Apply

If this video whets your appetite to take a short leap off a tall object, you're probably not as afraid of heights as we are. Base jumpers leap from buildings, antennae, spans and earth with special suits, parachutes at the ready but unopened.

There are plenty of videos of jumps gone awry on YouTube, but the right shots capture a pure surge of adrenaline like nothing else. Do it safely by taking a three-day course with APEX Base in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they'll help you get the blood pumping safely.

Related Stories:
· APEX Base [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]

Summer-Vacations-with-an-Edge / Active Travel / Summer Travel / Biking / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Biking the Maze

If our previous biking suggestion didn't get your tires spinning, maybe something more challenging is in order? Canyonlands National Park is chopped up into a number of different sections, the least accessible of which is The Maze. A bike tour here is way more edgy than a ride around Paris.

But don't try it alone. If you're headed into The Maze, go with Escape Adventures. Their tour takes riders down Flint Trail and curves along the canyons to The Maze Overlook. You'll then hop off your bike for a bit as you and the group hike through the heart of this deserted outback. The journey ends at Lake Powell, where your tour guides will get you back to base with a flight over the country you just crossed.

Last year, Escape Adventures started using vegetable oil-powered support vehicles, but we don't think the flight back is powered by Crisco. The tour will set you back about $1,200 and includes just about everything.

Related Stories:
· Escape Adventures [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]
· Biking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: James Gordon]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Outdoor Travel / Active Travel / Summer Travel / Climbing / Hiking / → All Tags

Summer Vacations With An Edge: Climbing the Grand Tetons

Jackson Hole is famous for being the adopted home of VP Dick Cheney, being on the fringe of Wyoming and not having a home for sale for less a couple million. While these three facts may deter some, it's also a mecca for American climbers and average people who want to be guided to the top of the Grand Teton, one of North America's coveted mountains.

Lucky for those with little or no climbing experience, Exum Mountain Guides has been in business in the Jackson Hole area for 79 years, offering more expertise and successful summits of the Grand than anyone else. This isn't for the faint of heart or those inspired from watching those Everest reality shows. If you decide to tackle this in your lifetime it's time to take out your polishing cloth and get those cojones their shiniest.

Trips up the Grand can be arranged in private or group trips, and the Exum guides are always mindful of your skill level, safety being their top priority.

Related Stories:
· Exum Mountain Guides [Official Site]
· Climbing coverage [Jaunted]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Adam Dale]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Music Travel / → All Tags

Summer Vacations With An Edge: Be Your Inner Freddie Mercury

Inflict some extreme ear damage on yourself this summer at Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp, where your counselors are members of famous rock bands, writing your own song is the new making your own lanyard and there are no swim tests.

Your basic option is a day camp that includes a concert you play (as the opening act to a real band), but you can also choose to go "on tour" with the camp for five days, being a camper in each city and hanging with Elliot Easton of the Cars on the (no doubt wild) days off.

Some campers last year got to play at BB King's in Times Square and rock out with Paul Stanley from KISS! Be in the first class at rock school when Fantasy Camp kicks off July 9 at the Rocklahoma Festival in Pryor, Oklahoma.

More money but less time this summer? Book yourself now into camp in London this November, which traces the Beatles' early years with jam sessions at Abbey Road Studios and a performance at Liverpool's Cavern Club. Your $13,000 fee doesn't include lodging, though, so jog over to HotelChatter to beat the Euro.

Related Stories:
· Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ewbeyer]

Summer-Vacations-with-an-Edge / Ecotourism / Canada Travel / Adventure Travel / Summer Travel / Animals / Bears / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Even More Bear Watching

So checking out the wildlife at your local ski resort doesn't do it for you? That's where Great Bear Tours comes in.

The swanky outfit has its own floating wind-and-solar-powered lodge, which you can only reach via seaplane. On arrival, you'll be whisked away to your room--surprisingly complete with private bath. Depending on how much you want to see and how much you have to spend, you can stay for up to seven nights.

Each day you'll head out in a small group with a wildlife expert. You'll check out estuaries by kayak and inlets by boat, all in search of Yogi and friends. Best of all, when you return each night you'll be pampered with fine food and wine--no "pick-a-nick" basket meals here.

You have to get in touch for pricing info so you can bet your trip won't be cheap. But isn't it worth paying those professionals a little extra when wild animals are within striking distance? Better start listing your teddy bears on eBay now to fund your adventure.

Related Stories:
· Great Bear Tours [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: chascar]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Rafting / Outdoor Travel / Adventure Travel / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Rafting Cherry Creek

Ever wonder what it would be like to shrink yourself and get inside your washing machine, but instead of your whites, it was full of huge granite boulders? We don't know who these masochists are, but if water, rock, adrenaline and a rubber boat filled with 10 of your buddies sounds appealing, then rafting on Cherry Creek--outside Yosemite National Park in California--is your gig. Cherry Creek is without question the most difficult whitewater run in the state and people argue whether it is the most difficult in the country.

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Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Summer Travel / Clifton Hill / Niagara Falls / Waterfalls / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Niagara Falls? Really?

Yes, you've seen Niagara Falls before, but have you ever ventured over the edge in a barrel? No? Here's a tour that's the next best thing--and probably a lot safer.

Available on either the Canadian or American side of the border, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours offer a ride in the rapids just before you would otherwise plummet to your death below. The 1,500 hp boats go up to 65 mph during the tour, and stop just short of the falls at a rough patch of class six rapids. The less adventurous can choose an enclosed vessel for the 60-minute journey, but for the full experience take one of the "Wet Jets" and get soaked.

The ticket will set you back $56, but they're hiring for the summer season so maybe you can work for some free rides. After you've changed into some dry clothes, go grab a bite to eat at one of the, uh, "wonderful" restaurants on Clifton Hill.

Related Stories:
· Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: wjklos]

Active Travel / Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Mancations / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Harry Stunts and So Can You

Harrison Ford received a high-octane ovation on Sunday at the world premiere of the new Indy flick, and rightfully so. At 65, Ford's kicking bad-guy ass while most American men his age are "seated on a bass boat or in a golf cart," says MSNBC.

To avoid becoming another lame statistic, take some cues from Indy and spend your summer vacation in Vegas learning death-defying stunts under the watchful eye of Hollywood professionals. We'd suggest the five-day package from Thrillseekers Unlimited. The company's film credits include "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Vegas Vamps" (not a skin flick!), so they know what's up.

After signing your life away and reading the fine print, you can attempt a zero-G fall, a high speed car race, a bungy jump and some man-to-man combat with weapons. You'll even be set on fire at no extra cost.

Afterwards, douse the flames in a cool pitcher of sangria over at Rao's summer bocce courts and brag about your stunt-liness to those hot Bocce Bellas.

Related Stories:
· Thrillseekers Unlimited [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage[Jaunted]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Africa Travel / Active Travel / Adventure Travel / → All Tags

Summer Vacations with an Edge: Kenyan Revival

We're all about supporting the underdog. In tourism terms these days, that'd be Kenya. But last week European travel agencies publicly endorsed the recently troubled country as a recommended and safe summer safari destination. Sweet!

This summer we're backing an awesome Kenyan adventure from UK-based Exodus Holidays called the Classic Kenya Safari and Kili Climb. A word to the weary: It's not your grandmother's safari.

The 14-day excursion takes you from Nairobi to stunning Lake Nakuru National Park, then on to the Masai Mara Reserve where big time animal migrations start in July. After sleeping in a bush camp and comparing battle stories with local Masai warriors, it's off to Tanzania where it's man versus mountain. You'll spend the next six days climbing Kilimanjaro's Rongai Route until reaching the summit where you'll do that tribal victory dance your Masai friends taught you.

The safari departs from Nairobi on Aug 10 and costs £1,399 ($2,717), not including flight.

Related Stories:
· Exodus Holidays [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with An Edge [Jaunted]
· Africa Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Steve Taylor]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Labor-Day-Travel / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: The End of Summer

We were gonna send you off in to the long, Labor Day weekend with a preview of Burning Man, which wraps up this Saturday. But after the Burning Man himself got prematurely torched more bad news struck Black Rock City: An attendee hung himself while at the festival. The burn is still on for Saturday, but we're glad our end-o'-summer plans haven't gone up in smoke.

We hope yours don't end with a shark attack, flight glitches or having to switch rooms in a beat-up boutique hotel.

See you on Tuesday. And have fun out there:
· But Be Ready For Airport Nightmares... [Perrin Post]
· Because Fewer People Are Driving [CNN]
· Summer Turns to Fall at 6 Columbus [HotelChatter]
· The Jersey Shore Says Goodbye to Summer [NYT]
· Speaking of, Wherever You Are This Weekend, Don't Be a BENNY [WNYC]

[Photo: Tatiana Sapateiro]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Active Travel / Live Music / Rafting / Kayaking / Labor-Day-Travel / → All Tags

Summer Vacations With an Edge: Rockin' and Rapids

Summer's winding down, but the long Labor Day weekend means there's still time for one last Summer Vacation with an Edge.

Those looking back and finding their summer deficient of both blues licks and whitewater rafting might want to head out for Wildman Whitewater Ranch's Labor Day Music Fest in Athelstane, Wisconsin. You'll run rapids by day and get juiced up to the sounds of the finest Chicago blues and jug bands every night. Admit it, its been awhile since you've sat down to be entertained by a jug band.

Wildman's stock in trade is serving up barbecue and adventure adapted to all tastes and all levels of death wish. River runs are anywhere between spicy (class IV rapids) and extra mild (lazy river tubing), with kayak touring thrown in to round out the watersports. Dry land offers horseback riding, rappelling and ATV trails with an ever expanding list of other seasonal activities and amusements.

The place is unabashedly family friendly, though maybe not so much this weekend: The food remains authentic hardwood smoked pit BBQ served up in a joint that's been standing since it served hooch on the sly in the Twenties.

Related Stories:
· Wildman Whitewater Ranch [Official Site]
· Wisconson Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: whitneynmatt]

Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge / Hot Air Balloons / Labor-Day-Travel / → All Tags

Summer Vacations With An Edge: Hot Air Ballooning

Summer's winding down, but the long Labor Day weekend means there's still time for one last Summer Vacation with an Edge.

What better way to honor the workers whose blood and sweat built America's prosperity than by indulging in the fruit of their labors? This Labor Day weekend, soar above the amber-waves-of-grain and purple-mountain-majesty in a hot air balloon. For about $500 a, uh, pop, couples can hire a balloon for a private romantic ride.

Northeast city dwellers have plenty of options on the outskirts of town. Bostoners can head to High 5 Ballooning in nearby Derry, N.H., while New York City residents have multiple options in nearby New Jersey and upstate New York, including Alexandria Balloon Flights.

For the frugal traveler, group flights cost between $150 and $200 per person, meaning ballooning isn't exclusively for the uber-rich. Take that, Branson.

Related Stories
· High 5 Ballooning [Official Site]
· Alexandria Balloon Flights [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations With An Edge [Jaunted]

[Photo: heartlover1717]