Let us not forget the people who enjoy a good burst of adrenaline and testing their skill and nerve. If you crave adventure vacationing, the kind that gets the ol’ blood pumping, rest assured you can find that in Tennessee as well.
Some of Tennessee’s best whitewater rafting is along the Ocoee River in the southeast corner of the state. It was here that the whitewater events for the 1996 Summer Olympics hosted by Atlanta were held. Several companies offer whitewater trips. Some, such as High Country Adventures in Ocoee, also offer other thrilling excursions such as rock-climbing, caving, kayaking and rope courses. These other adventures can be enjoyed when the whitewater isn’t running along the river.
Whitewater adventures also can be planned for the warmer months at the Big South Fork. Though some areas have already closed to rafting for the season, some are still open until late September or early October.
In addition to whitewater, Rafting the Smokies in Hartford also offers zip-lining, which has become popular in recent years. It’s an entirely new and thrilling way to see the world. But the eastern part of the state isn’t the only place you can try this exciting way to spend a day. If you’re in Middle Tennessee, the Eco-Adventure Canopy Zip Tour offered by Adventureworks takes you to the heart of a 40-acre forest near the Harpeth River. Special nighttime zipping adventures are also available.
Have you ever stood on the edge of a mountain and wondered what it would feel like to soar like the birds in the air? Then hang-gliding might be for you, and one of the most beautiful spots to try it out is on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga. You can learn to hang-glide through training at places such as Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Rising Fawn, Ga. Not quite ready to go it solo? Tandem hang-gliding is an option at places such as Thrill-a-Minute Sports in Dunlap.
More information:
Type these destinations in your Web browser to go to their websites:
- High Country Adventures
- Big South Fork rafting
- Rafting the Smokies (zip-lining)
- Adventureworks
- Lookout Mountain Flight Park
- Thrill-a-Minute Sports
