You know that dictum, “where there’s a will, there’s a way”? You probably never quite understood until it applied to you.
That item at the top of your adventure bucket list will remain unticked until you win the lottery or a distant aunt names you as the sole heir to her fortune. No chance of any of those happening soon.
Here’s the thing. Some experiences don’t require lots of cash, a passport, or a plane ticket. All you need is imagination and a taste for adventure. Because where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Get Lost in an Escape Room
You’ve always wanted to visit America’s most haunted sights, but your bank balance says otherwise.
We’ll do you one better! Escape rooms take you to a world where you question your own reality. Players are immersed in a game where their minds play tricks on them. Jump scares are served in moderation, especially if it’s lurking terror you’re after.
LA is home to some world-class escape rooms, and word on the street is that an escape room in Silver Lake caters to haunted house aficionados.
Welcome to the Amityville escape room.
The Amityville Horror has for decades piqued the interest of horror fans. It was only a matter of time till an escape room artist thought up a way to scare the pants off people trapped in a room. 60out Escape Rooms explains that the premise is simple: work together with your team to survive your first night in Amityville.
How’s that for an introduction to America’s most haunted sights?
Get Locked up in Prison
The U.S. is littered with defunct prisons, many with dark and unsettling histories. Famous historic prisons to tour include Alcatraz, Eastern State Penitentiary, and Folsom State Prison.
One of the country’s most notorious prisons, San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island, remains steeped in mystery to this day.
While still operating, it was fortified as the “world’s most secure prison,” that is, until the infamous 1962 prison break. According to FBI documents, inmates Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin hatched a plan to escape The Rock using only a spoon.
Despite an intensive two-day search, investigators came up empty-handed, except for paddle-like pieces of wood and bits of inner tube that were found in the water. Up until then, 36 men attempted to escape. Nearly all were caught or didn’t survive. The fate of those three remains a mystery.
Jump off a Bridge
Bungee jumping is an activity that will have you questioning your faith and your comfort level. Both are warranted. Bungee jumping from a bridge? Well, that’s plain insanity.
But imagine the bragging rights that accompany such a feat. Yeah, we thought you’d see it that way.
Navajo Bridge in Arizona sits near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Casual, right? Not quite. The drop is around 470 feet. You stand on the edge. Sandstone cliffs everywhere. Your heart is already negotiating with your brain. Then you jump.
The New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia is a beast. The longest single-arch bridge in North America, it sits 876 feet high. The fall is wild. The views are unreal. Forests stretch forever. Water rushes below. Jumpers say it feels surreal, like free-falling through a postcard.
Feel Like a Kid Again at an Amusement Park
Everybody knows that we have some of the best theme parks in the world, and no, we’re not talking about Mickey Mouse. Sorry, Disney. This is extreme adrenaline-pumping thrills.
Exhibit One: Operated by United Parks & Resorts, SeaWorld Orlando has been making waves since 1973. These days, it’s less “just sea life” and more coaster central. The park is packed with rides, thrill machines, and its splashy sidekick, Aquatica.
Exhibit Two: Lying claim to the world’s fastest triple-launch coaster, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, has a serious reputation. There’s family fun like Snake River Expedition, and heavyweight coasters Steel Vengeance and Millennium Force. Add beaches, live shows, and on-site hotels, and you’ve got more than an amusement park.
Adventure is Calling
Well, there you have it; some amazing adventures that don’t require booking a flight, packing a bag, and hot-stepping it to another country.
Your city is right there, waiting to be discovered. All you have to do is rehash that dream list and think beyond the realms of normal reasoning. Who needs to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza when you can explore them in a 3D escape room?
Remember, with a bit of imagination, you’ll tick off that adventure bucket list sooner than later.