Kate Maxwell, contributing editor for Condé Nast Traveler, and the editor in chief of Jetsetter.com, talked today about vacations that keep you moving. When you want more out of your trip than just a beach and a book, try some of these adventure destinations.
SCUBA DIVING
Location: Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos is a popular romantic getaway, but it’s also popular for those who love to scuba dive. The islands are surrounded by the third largest coral reef system in the world, and you’ll find some of the best diving here thanks to six-thousand-foot vertical walls and drop-offs adorned with coral and sponge —a draw for reef sharks, eagle rays, and tropical fish.
SURFING
Location: Barbados
Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean, and because of its location, a wave can travel nearly three thousand miles in the open ocean undisturbed by sandbars, reefs, or land, before it breaks on the eastern shore. That’s why it’s such a terrific surfing destination. Don’t miss the Soup Bowl —one of the world's greatest surfing breaks, near the town of Bathsheba, which has gigantic limestone boulders casually strewn in the shallows.
SURFING/PADDLE BOARDING
Location: Montauk, N.Y.
Montauk is the best break on the East Coast and it attracts a lot of very good surfers in the water, so drop in at your peril. Also, be sure to wear booties while surfing at Ditch Plains Beach (the most famous spot out here) because the bottom is rocky. If the waves are too much for you, try stand-up paddle boarding on Fort Pond — it's a terrific core workout.
HIKING/ROCK CLIMBING/MOUNTAIN BIKING
Location: Telluride, Colo.
Telluride is typically thought of as a ski town, but summer offers plenty of adventure, too. Hiking is the most popular activity in the warm weather — you’ll find an abundance of scene nature trails, expansive jeep roads, as well as plenty of less-traveled paths. Mountain bikers can take on the vertical terrain, and climbers can try to summit a few fourteeners (peaks that exceed 14,000 feet) or hike from one alpine lake to the next. The area is home to amazing natural sites, including Bridal Veil Falls, the longest free-falling waterfall ins Colorado, and the town of Telluride itself is a sight to see: clapboard storefronts, independent galleries, old-time bars — and no chain restaurants or shops.
BOATING
Location: San Diego, Calif.
About 70 miles of coastline and adjacent blue waters make San Diego a top destination in the USA for sailing and boating enthusiasts. Whether you prefer a sightseeing boat, a whale-watching excursion, a private charter, or a leisurely trip around the bay, there are plenty of options to get out on the water.
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