6 offbeat adventures across the USA
The United States of America is vast and diverse. It has a multitude of options and opportunities for ‘adventure heads’. From hiking in national parks to random roadside attractions, offbeat travel across the USA is endless. Here are a few offbeat adventures you can take in the USA.
Sleep in a Treehouse
Feeling one with nature and spending a night in a treehouse is a unique experience. Many people spend a lot of free time in treehouses. Across the USA, many places specialize in treehouse accommodation, such as Treehouse Point in Washington, the Treehouse Grove in Florida, and Out’n’About Treesort in Oregon. These treehouses range from rustic to luxurious.
Take a Train Trip
The landscape across states and regions in the USA is diverse and stunning. The Western Coast Starlight route from Seattle to Los Angeles offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The Amtrak California Zephyr route from Chicago to San Francisco gives passengers scintillating views of the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada range. If a luxurious train ride is what you want, consider the Napa Valley Wine Train or the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
The diverse landscape across the USA is a thing of beauty. Tourists from across the world come to the country to experience this beauty. A hot air balloon ride allows you a bird’s eye view of these picturesque landscapes. The Napa Valley Balloons in California take passengers over the rolling hills and vineyards of wine country. The Letchworth State Park balloons offer scenic flights over the park. Sedona, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico also offer stunning views.
Explore Abandoned Places
Urban exploration is an activity that has been gaining popularity lately. The USA has no shortage of abandoned places to explore. A popular tourist attraction is the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which used to be a former prison. Now it is a National Historic Landmark. Centralia in Pennsylvania is known for its underground coal fire that has been burning since 1962 and is another famous attraction. Detroit, in Michigan, houses the abandoned Michigan Central Station. It is a hauntingly beautiful example of Art Deco architecture.
Go Whale Watching
Whales are stunning creatures. Watching them in their natural habitat provides a thrilling and unforgettable experience. This experience is available in several locations across America. The waters off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean are a popular whale-watching spot with constant sightings of gray whales, humpback whales, and blue whales. Visitors to Alaska can spot the unique beluga whales and orcas. In the east, the waters off Cape Cod in Massachusetts are home to the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Explore Caves
Several stunning cave systems across the country are open to the public. There are over 100 caves at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, including the famous Big Room. The longest known cave system, with over 400 miles of explored passageway is at the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. The Meramec Caverns in Missouri offer guided tours and underground boat rides.
