The creation of the first permanent platform by A J Hackett at Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, New Zealand in the late 1980’s saw bungee jumping take off as an extreme activity. Variations on fixed-platform jumps are now also popular, as are leaps from hot air balloons and helicopters. Listed below are ten top bungee jumping locations.

1. Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge, Canon City, Colorado

The highest suspension bridge in the world is 321m (1053ft) above the Arkansas River. Bungee jumping from the bridge takes place during the Go Fast Games once a year, making advance booking a necessity. Adding to the dizzying effects of the height is the walk across the wooden boards to the jump site; looking straight down through the gaps you can see the river below. Take in the majestic view of the canyon walls, the distant river and the trains passing below before leaping into the air.

2. Nevis Highwire Bungee, Queenstown, New Zealand

Set between two hills and suspended on steel cables, the jump pod can only be reached by cable car. The drop looks much further than 134m (440ft) when viewed through the car’s glass floor. Take a minute to enjoy the scenery while your safety equipment is checked. The canyon you are about to jump into is wide at its top but narrows dramatically. There is also plenty of time to enjoy the scenery on the way back up too.

3. Colorado River Bridge, Costa Rica

A tropical rainforest with lush green vegetation as far as the eye can see, this is one of the most beautiful bungee locations. The bridge is 81m (265ft) high and has been closed to traffic for many years. As you stand at the edge of the bridge, heart-in-mouth, waiting to jump, you get to really appreciate the majestic nature of the rainforest. The site is a real must for adrenalin lovers, as once you have completed your jump you can try also rock climbing as well as paragliding.

4. Verzasca Dam, Val Verzasca, Switzerland

The dam is 220m (721ft) high with the huge Lake Vogorno as its backdrop. Since James Bond was filmed jumping here for the film ‘Golden Eye’, this has become one of the most popular bungee destinations. Now you too can be an undercover agent – if just for a few seconds. Courage and determination are needed for this one, as well as real faith in your equipment – beginners should think twice.

5. Volcano Bungee, Pucon, Chile

Not for the faint hearted, this jump involves leaping from a helicopter into an active volcano. The jump itself is about 106m (350ft) from the helicopter to the furthest reach of the cord. Be prepared to feel the heat, as you come within 200m (700ft) of molten lava. The excitement doesn’t end there: You then dangle from the cord beneath the helicopter as it returns to base, over 35 miles away. Jump and ride.

6. Blue Thunder Bungee, Centre of Gravity, Edmonton, Alberta

Located at a the World Water Park in the West Edmonton shopping mall and at 32m (106ft) above the wave machine, this is the highest indoor bungee in the world. Once you have committed to jump, you then get to select a full or ankle harness and can also opt for a full body dip in the pool’s 1.8m (6ft) of water. With shoppers stopping to look through huge glass windows and swimmers in the neighbouring pools, this must be one of the most intimidating bungee audiences.

7. Bloukrans Bridge, South Africa

Bloukrans Bridge is a single-span arch in the Western Cape above the Bloukrans River. As part of the Tsitsikamma national park it guarantees fantastic views. You can walk under the road to the top of the arch or use the Flying Fox, a zip wire, which will deliver you at speed to the jump site. After the countdown the jump of 216m (710ft) is smooth, as it utilises pendulum technology. After conquering your fear of heights, perhaps enjoy the rest of the Garden Route from the water in canoes, or take a walk into the mountains.

8. Ledge Urban Bungee, Queenstown, New Zealand

Imagine the fear moments before a jump, now imagine taking a running jump: the Ledge Urban Bungee takes you to this place. A runway leads to the edge, allowing jumpers to run, then leap out into the sky above Queenstown . If that isn’t terrifying enough, do it at night with the town’s lights twinking 400m (1312ft) below.

9. Bhote Kosi River, Himalayas, Nepal

A steel suspension bridge connects two sides of a valley through which the Bhote Kosi River races. Here, freefalling for 160m (524ft) is an exhilarating experience, made more intense by the view across the Himalayas. To keep the adrenalin pumping and see the river from a different angle, why not later raft its white-water rapids.

10. Victoria Falls Bridge, Zimbabwe/ Zambia

On the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is a spectacular sight, and stretches more than 1.6km (1m). The bridge is roughly 152m (500ft) above the Zambezi River and commands an awe-inspiring view. Plummeting towards the fast-flowing water, you soon appreciate the expertise of the safety crew and their equipment. A crew member retrieves you after the jump, then you are winched back up – all the while probably asking for another go.

So what’s next on the list, what’s next year’s adventure sports darling or future Olympic hopeful?

Here’s a few sports that are appearing on our radar – some are genuine, others less so – let’s see how many you can add to the list.

Wave-skiing?

Born after professional skiers Mike Douglas and Cody Townsend decided to ski on waves, instead of surfing them.

Snow-surfing?

Taking the board back to the slopes, and why not? Using a longboard without its fins provides the most stable platform, which is great for beginners. And freestyle fans can take to the half-pipes, cutting back off the lip, just as they do when at sea.

Freefall-Paintball?

A Bond-style battle between bat-suit wearing free fallers, the winner is established when both are on solid ground and splats are checked.

Climb-diving?

A coastal sport, that combines the physical strength of the climber, with the suppleness and skill of the springboard diver. Points are awarded on technical difficulty, but multiplied by the height that each competitor free-climbed to.

So, wrack those brains. Which sports can we expect to see next?

It has always been a place of adventure, and one of real significance in the history of exploration. The Cape of Good Hope, battered by the colliding Indian and Atlantic oceans, was always a landmark for sailors.

For them, just getting this far was a real achievement. And those who first settled soon discovered the precious minerals, which later helped fund the country’s development.

Nature has created a country rich in wildlife, and intriguing in its geology and climate.

South Africa is also a doorway to Africa. Overland travels often begin here, with routes north taking the more intrepid traveller into Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

On its western plains South Africa is arid and mountainous, but to the east vegetation is lush. And believe it or not, you can even ski; just head to the Drakensberg mountains and find powder and temperatures well below zero.

The Garden Route is the trip of choice for travellers not wanting to venture outside of its borders. Ending in the Tstisikamma forest, this 200-mile stretch of coastline is a showcase of southern African natural splendour. And where there’s coast, there’s sport!

South Africans love the great outdoors and their adventure sports. If you’ve visited and found a gem or two, let us know.

The Aboriginals in Canada has a number of festivals that they celebrate. Some of them still exist, while others have swept away with time.

The Morning Dance

The Morning Dance takes place every Spring by the Ojibwa, Southern Ontario. It can also be called as Wabeno. The Aboriginals fast and cleanse themselves before an elder male member plays the drum and the leads the dance in a clearing around a selected tree. They dance around the place from dawn to noon. As each dancer goes around the tree, the drummer signals the dancer to touch the trunk of the tree and give thanks for providing them with shelter and the means to cook food. A huge feast of fish and meat is served around midday.

The Sun Dance

This is a summer festival of the aborigines that take place in the Great Plains. This festival lasts over a period of eight to sixteen days. The circle is an important symbol for the aborigines and they acknowledge and respect the sun as the “giver of life”. They dance around a “central cottonwood pole” or the “tree of the universe”. The dancers embed sharp wooden hooks deep into their chest and connect the skewers to the leather thongs, that trail from the top to the bottom of the cottonwood pole. As they dance, they pull back on the thong and tear their flesh. They believe that if they sacrifice themselves to the Creator, they and their following generation will be blessed.

The Potlatch Ceremony

This festival takes place in the NorthWest Pacific Coast nations. The aborigines usually celebrate this festival to feast, distribute wealth, share songs, and dances. The host organizes this feast to celebrate an important event like a marriage, or naming of an heir etc. Songs and dances are performed in honour of the Creator or the “Great Spirit”.

The Shaking Tent

This ritual is performed by the aborigines from the subarctic to the Great Lake region. It represents the supernatural world of the aborigines and their belief to the close relationship with the living. The ceremony is always celebrated at night and poles are dug deep into the soil and made to form circles to allow the spirit in.

These are some of the interesting festivals celebrated by the aborigines across Canada. The movie Australia (though based upon aborigines in another continent) is a classic example of the beliefs and the traditions of the aborigines. One must visit these places to know about them and the fact that some of them still prevail in the developed world!

Naadam Festival in the Ulaanbaatar of the Mongolia

From the time when reign of the invader Genghis Kahn, Mongolians have adhere intensely to their traditions and ways of life. Keeping the traditions and old customs revival there is the coveted the Naadam Festival which is held in July. At this festival herders come from far across and for two maddening days of clamorous fraternizing contest of horse racing, then competitions of wrestling and challenge of archery. I bet when you will sight and be part of this festival where you will hear the hoofing sounds of 600 horses that go stamping over plains is bound to stop your heart with all excitement.

Betrothal Festival of Atlas Mountains in the Morocco

In September every year, before countrified Berbers stay down for the cold winters, they emcee a rendezvous fair which is an engagement festival which is kind of the Moroccan Sadie Hawkins affable where single girls find themselves their life partners. With fun and entertainment and so much of frolic and merriment with music, dance, and girls wearing fineries, lots of jewelries exhibited, fair is held for three days. This like some big Morocco wedding where there is collections of all wedding ceremonies which you may have ever been to.

Oktoberfest IN Munich IN Germany

It’s the most outrageous and utmost party – with emphasis on drinking BEER zealously for heavenly sixteen days meanwhile you are in company of zealous robustious strangers. And not just drinking but eating all the local delicacy which is all lip smacking other then the all bounty of girls. The festival starts with ceremony lead by dobbin-drawn beer carriage followed by a caravan of people with floats and in audacious costumes and it stops at fairgrounds where there is oomph concerts, gut nerving drives and with possibly of a katzenjammer.

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally of Sturgis in South Dakota

Commenced in year 1983, Sturgis became class of the bacchanal eternalized in The Wild Ones. Today Sturgis is just about family destination, with prevailing of law and order. But every person takes part in climbs up hills, various concerts, and even lurches streets, while admiring chromed out pigs.

The Gypsy Pilgrimage of Camargue in France

The Camargue is well known and so famous for the pink flamingos, colorful western look like cowboys, riding on the white horses, and raging black bulls. Gypsies who are at least 20,000 in crowd, all get together hordes streets of this village of the Stes, and get on in company of enthusiastic music playing out loud and all people dancing even if rooted to spot.

The White Party on the Miami Beach in Florida

Approx twenty years ago, this started and during its earlier days, The White Party was AIDS fund-raiser which used to last only for one single night. Now White Party is seven-day celebrations, which is so well known and coveted for having outstanding events, with much of the happening crowd of Miami, much of celebrity watching, and some 15,000 gay men and lesbians, who are young, looking fit, and all astoundingly elegantly dressed in whites.

Opening Night at La Scala in Milan

The Opening night which is held on December 7th at La Scala has been always a spectacularly ceremonious occasion – in audience and on stage. The shows that are been put are marvelous and will leave astonished. And after successful $67 million cost of renovations, Opening Night has become more splendid than it ever was.

Heilala Festival of Tongapatu in the Tonga

King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV celebrate his birthday on fourth July with seven-day of celebrations of marathon with concerts, numerous parties, exciting yatch races, with military parades, and some ravishing beauty contests. Entire island is part of celebrations and even you are invited.

The urban is up-and-coming as an important economic hub within the Rocky Mountains region. Since the year 2001 the number of natives living inside the region of the Salt Lake Valley has scaled from 720,000 to over 1 million. As a manifestation of this expansion, an energetic skyline has developed, by the side of with forever-widening loops of suburbia. Occasionally smog bedevils the township, as well as a little crime exists, however Salt Lake is functioning hard to stay behind as a miniature, likable city.

In the early 1860s, profits from railroads as well as mines shaped an affluent industrialists class who constructed mansions close to downtown in addition to whose businesses got a huge numbers of workers, for the most part from Europe as well as the majority of whom weren’t Mormon to the territory of Utah. By the instance Utah turned out to be a state in the year 1896, Salt Lake had develop into a miscellaneous and prosperous city. Even though the majority of the metropolis was Mormon, it declared a vigorous blend of Protestant, Jewish and Catholic citizens.

In the present day the urban is a chief western hub for medicine, education, culture, and business. The Church of Jesus Christ that belongs to the Latter-day Saints (LDS), since the Mormon belief is formally called, even than has its head office located at the Temple Square. A number of high-rise hotels spot the skyline, various restaurants that serve a complete globe of tastes, stylish retail communes are emerging everywhere in the town, moreover the city is blessed with a hopping nightlife. Amplified promise to the arts as of the public as well as private sectors has shaped a cultural prospect as extraordinary as you’d anticipate in a metropolitan two times the size of Salt Lake City. When something has to be said about the sports of the city, the society takes immense smugness in its NBA squad, the Jazz of Utah. And no problem, nobody can fail to remember the huge number of volunteers who come together to assist Salt Lake City crowd the Olympic Winter Games of the year 2002.

Located very close to Salt Lake City, Antelope Island has outstanding hiking, wildlife watching, and mountain biking. American olden times rub may select to take a trip to one of the most excellent conserved segments of the unique Pony Express track, the section which is 133 miles long, all through the desert region of west-central Utah.

Salt Lake City events and concerts are one of its kinds, and hence should not be missed by any of the tourists arriving at the city.

I have recently visited Salt Lake City; Thank god it was during the best time to visit Salt Lake City, which is in the months starting from mid-November and continuing up to early-March. I looked a lot on the net for the Salt Lake City transportation options and at last came to the conclusion that the best mode to reach was through airways and I booked direct tickets to Sun Lake City International Airport, which is the only international airdrome in the city.

10. Antarctica

If you think you have mastered every quest, head down south. Antarctica is a place where swimming with seals is fun, but water can freeze your blood. Climbing a peak is entertaining, but the ice can throw you down, 2000 feet down. However, don’t fret because this place also has many professional adventure-providers for novices. This are the best places for top ten adventure vacations.

9. Australian Outback

For those you don’t like adventures, this place is a dead, inert area. And if you get this feeling, get out of here because this place requires experience, professional guides, knowledge, and braveness. The 40,000 years old desert may seem to be a dead area but it offers numerous adventures.

8. Grand Canyon

This enormous structure doesn’t need much introduction. It is one of the most imposing structure man will ever encounter. It is around 18 miles wide, 277 miles long, and 6000 feet deep. A helicopter ride is enough to explore the vastness and conceit of Grand Canyon. Very few will get down the helicopter to endeavor any audacious escapade.

7. Alaska

The best way to explore the chilly corners of this continent is sailing though a small ship, instead of a cruise ship. These diminutive ships moves through corners and places where a cruise can enter. Hence, such tours, though not really an adventure, brings you very close to the artifacts of nature. This place also has some very wild rivers of the world, do you want to try river rafting?

6. Africa

If you adventure itinerary involves wildlife safari, what else can be better than jungles of Africa. Many such tours are offered by locals in Burkina Faso, Morocco, Egypt, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Cape of Good Hope, and Mali. Along with wildlife adventures, there are many other adventure you can indulge. So, do your research before you head toward Africa.

5. Peru

Everyone who has been to The Inca Trail would agree with me if I say this 35-mile trail is probably the best hiking destination on earth. A strenuous 5-day adventure leads you to coarse fortress of Machu Picchu. And for those who are too busy to know about this place, Machu Picchu is ranked among the Seven Wonders of the World. Hey, the journey has just begun. Peru has much more to offer with presence of Amazon Basin, Andean Islands, Atacama Desert, and Lake Titicaca.

4. Galapagos Islands

This is a small group of islands in Pacific, which offers adventures both from water and land. Tourists, scientists, and adventurers always occupy the popular destinations of these islands. Why scientists? This place is home to many plants, trees, and insects that are really bizarre and not found anywhere else on earth. Another surprising thing – although it is located on the equator, you can effortlessly spot albatrosses and penguins, and there are no coral reefs.

3. Around the world

This isn’t a location. If you are a daring adventurer, slip into your trekking shoes and travel around the world and explore your own audacious locations. Don’t forget to carry some communication device and canned food with you.

2. Sky Diving

There isn’t any place on earth where you can’t find sky, except you are hidden in a cave. For me, skydiving is one of the most entertaining and courageous adventures ever introduced. For people seeking more courageous things get a blend of skydiving, bungee-jumping, and white water rafting.

1. Mount Everest

If you can conquer this peak, you probably have the right to rule the world. In short, this is the most dangerous, most enthralling, and most courageous adventure of the world.

As an introduction to a city after arriving on a Friday evening, it’s hard to imagine anything more spectacular than Djemaa El Fna. Marrakech’s main square provides an unparalleled assault on the senses. From the edge of the square, it looks like it is on fire. Smoke billows up from the hundreds of food stalls, the barbecues overpowering the white canvas roofs.

The night market at Djemaa El Fna

Part of the fun is deciding where to eat, and touts for each stall are rather keen to sway your decision. They come armed with anecdotes for every nation, a desire to talk about football teams and a bizarre array of British supermarket advertising slogans.

“Safer than Heston Blumenthal, better than Gordon Ramsay, tastier than Nigella Lawson,” says one.

“Taste the difference – like Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference – for ASDA price,” tries another.

Take it in the right spirit, indulge in a bit of the banter, and it’s hilarious. You become part of the great Djemaa El Fna show. Supplementing the barbecues and benches are stalls selling snails, piled-high spices and freshly squeezed orange juice for an absolute pittance. It’s a gastronomic experience to be cherished. But Djemaa El Fna isn’t all about the eating – this is one of the world’s greatest entertainment centres too.

Eating at the night market

Storytellers and musicians

In the evening, huddles of people can be found dotted across the square. Some are playing sideshow style games where they try and put a hoop over a bottle of Coke, others are listening to storytellers and many are taking in musicians and dancers.

The pounded drumbeats are a constant soundtrack, but join the huddle and an elaborate game unfolds. Half of the fun is waiting for the musicians to play. They build up the excitement, talking to the audience and conversing with each other. The audience slowly grows in expectation, and coins are handed over to whoever is playing ringmaster at that moment.

And when enough money is handed over, then motley band launches into it, jigging around the temporary pen with instruments in hand. This is what has happened here for years, and it beats TV in the hotel room any day. But the important thing is that it’s not just for tourists – the locals find the charade just as fascinating.

Shopping in Marrakech’s souks

The biggest game of all awaits the next morning. Marrakech is one of the world’s great shopping cities, and while international designer stores can be found in the Europeanised New City, the souks of the Medina are what really mesmerise.

Shopping for shoes in the Marrakech souks

Marrakech’s souks have been called a warren, a maze and a labyrinth before. None of those descriptions really comes close, however. They come with a cast iron guarantee of getting lost at least twice, but this is also where the charm lies.

The stalls sprawl out in all directions, diverting along laneways, into small courtyards, up and down stairs and underneath basic wooden shelters. Each is a riot of colour, and each comes with a determined little man who wants to sell you his traditional slippers/ lanterns/ leather bags/ ceramic pots.

In truth, a trip through the souks is far less mentally exhausting than it once was. Police have cracked down on the hordes who would harass you into accepting them as a guide, and joining in with the stallholders is tremendous fun. Approach the whole experience with a smile, a sense of humour and a willingness to play along, and it’s wonderful.

The theatrical pleading of poverty, the ‘special price for you this morning’, the ebb and flow of the bartering process and the ritual drinking of sweet tea have an element of pantomime. But for those prepared to run with it rather than yearn for fixed prices, it’s the quintessential Marrakech experience.

Jardin Majorelle and the New City

Marrakech’s heart is the Medina. The old city, surrounded by the red earth city walls is a hive of mosques, palaces, Kasbahs and riads (small courtyard hotels). But it could never be described as relaxing. And for respite, it’s better to walk out of the city walls to explore the more modern side of Marrakech. The New City is almost completely different – glass fronted shops, French restaurants and cool cocktail bars rub shoulders.

Most of the upmarket chain hotels and resorts are outside the Medina, and so are the gardens. For such a dry, dusty city, Marrakech has an astonishing selection of carefully maintained gardens. Each has its own character – some play on the mountain views, others on the olive groves, others on the presentation of the plants.

The latter is certainly the case at the Jardin Majorelle. It’s a gorgeous oasis surrounded by snarling main roads, where the tall bamboo and cactus fields are complimented by a bright colour scheme. Pots and walls are painted in vivid blues, oranges and yellows and if a certain amount of design flare is apparent, it’s because the garden was owned by Yves Saint Laurent.

The French fashion guru had his ashes scattered there when he died in 2008, and a small memorial to him can be found on along one of the pathways.

Caleche rides and snake charmers

From the Jardin Majorelle, the most endearing way to get back to the Medina is to hop on a caleche. These horse-drawn carriages are fairly ubiquitous, and the horses must have nerves of steel to trot along the main roads through the swerving ranks of motorcyclists and hair-raising taxis. A major caleche stop can be found just outside the Jardin Majorelle, and the drivers are only too happy to take you back to Djemaa El Fna.

Once there, the afternoon scene is rather different to what will follow later on. A few musicians are still there, but in the afternoon, Djemaa El Fna is largely the domain of fortune tellers, snake charmers and what can only be described as a Moroccan take on clowns.

The show may have a new set of performers, but it still rumbles on almost continuously. Just before the sun comes down, the stalls go up and the smoke billows out again. A million meals, songs and stories await.

Although there are numerous roller coasters in America, let’s have a look at the 10 scariest and best ones.

Steel Roller Coasters

• Kingda Ka in Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
  The tallest point of this roller coaster is 456 feet (tallest in USA) and the speed of plunge is 128 miles per hour (fastest in USA). You will probably reach the end point in a blink of an eye. Okay, may be not. It takes 50.6 seconds to be precise. However, the level of anxiety, fear, and enthrallment that’s generated in these 50 seconds will make your heart thump for another 50 days. Okay, it’s an exaggeration again, but how else can I define this structure. It’s the best ride you will ever have in your lifetime.

• Top Thrill Dragster in Cedar Point, Ohio
  A bit shorter than Kingda Ka is the Top Thrill Dragster with an altitude of 420 feet. It reaches the speed of 120 miles per hour within 4 seconds; however, within 17 seconds you will be sitting dumbstruck at the end point. Rightly named, this roller coaster endows you with an experience with thrill that reaches the top-most level.

• Millennium Force in Cedar Point, Ohio
  One of the best roller coasters of USA with a blend of fastest, longest, and tallest, Millennium Force is another attraction in Cedar Point. However, this attraction immediately transforms into repelling machine after to spend few seconds in it. It is around 310 feet high with a 300-feet plunge and cover the distance of 6595 feet at the speed of average 93 miles per hour. This roller coaster was introduced in 2000, hence named millennium, and was also awarded as the “Best Steel Coaster in the World”. However, with development in technology and ease of construction, other coasters snatched the first position from Millennium Force. But it still is a heart-shrilling machine.

• Goliath in Six Flags Magic Mountain
  This amazing structure is a mixture of a roller coater and a twister. And hence, it becomes one of the most entertaining rides in USA. The tallest point of this ride is 235 feet and it carries you at the speed of 85 miles per hour. The remarkable roller coaster momentarily held the world record for top speed and tallest drop, when it was launched in 2000. Later, Millennium Force took over. Although it isn’t the tallest now, the sights around are quite imposing. Among all the rides, this orange track is clearly visible from any point when in Six Flags Magic Mountain.

• Superman: The Escape in Six Flags Magic Mountain
  A sturdy neighbor of Goliath in Six Flags Magic Mountain is Superman: The Escape. Although this enormous structure doesn’t hold many records, it is still a superhero in the roller coaster world with a plunge of 328 feet at the pace of about 100 miles per hour. This ride has a fifteen-passenger vehicle that carries you straight at the height of 41 story building and drops you at a storming speed. The structure’s height is about 415 feet. It took more than 20 million dollars to erect this entertaining structure.

Wooden Roller Coasters

• Son of Beasts in Kings Island, Ohio
  This beast has an altitude of 218 feet and a plunge of 214 feet. With a speed of 78.4 miles per hour, this roller coaster is still the fastest and tallest in wooden category. The amazing experience of The Beast roller coaster is more of fun than fear. It seems that the son of beast has arrived to seek beast’s family vengeance. However, his enemy is each one of us, who agrees to take a ride of this structure. Beware.

• El Toro in Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
  This structure is an answer to those who argue that Six Flags Great Adventure is dominated by steel roller coaster rides. It is one of the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coasters in the USA with an elevation of 181 feet and a plunge of 176 at 70 miles per hour. In Spanish, El Toro means “The Bull”. And the entwining route will definitely remind you about a bull, untamed.

• The Voyage in Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Indiana
  One of the longest wooden roller coasters of the world is The Voyage in Holiday World and Splashin Safari because the distance is over 6442 feet. Though there are many drops and many rises, the tallest point is at 173 feet and the tallest plunge is 154 feet. The average speed of the passenger coach is 67.4 miles per hour. It has three 90 degree banked turns and finishes the trip in 24.2 seconds. Due to its magnificent architecture, mind-blowing panoramas, and remarkable excitement, The Voyage won the Golden Ticket Award as Best Wooden Roller Coaster in 2007.

• Mean Streak in Cedar Point, Ohio
  One of the meanest wooden roller coaster in USA is Mean Streak in Cedar Point. It takes you to the height of 155 feet and splashes down 161 feet at the pace of 65 miles per hour. It is a structure with around 1.7 million board feet of yellow pines from southern region. This giant edifice is like a wooden cobweb, where riding is fun. Its remarkable height and speed also creates a sense of insecurity.

• The Boss in Six Flags St. Louis, Missouri
  With a long stretch of 5051 feet, altitude of 150 feet, and a speed of 66.3 miles per hour, The Boss has managed to rank itself in the list of top ten roller coasters in America.

So, is it appropriate to name USA as the ‘land of roller coasters’? No, America has many other things to boast about, which better then these crazy arrangements.

This list can definitely be read by weak-hearts. However, trying any of the above rides can be fatal.

Eastern Europe by bike, minus the crowds

When most people think of a bicycle trip through Europe, they picture bucolic rides through southern France, or perhaps the green fields of Ireland or Wales. These eastern European routes are far less crowded, however, and cost far less. In many cases the trails are better marked as well, so you can easily do them on your own or with an independent group.

This surprisingly well-developed network of trails covers the most scenic parts of these countries. They often go right through vineyards and farms, past towering Czech castles, and across national parks. Inns along the way are affordable (usually $75 or less per double) and are well-equipped for cyclists, with secure bike areas and places to wash your sweaty clothes.

Here are some of the highlights. You can do any of these independently, through a rental and pick-up service, or through an organized tour.

Czech Republic by bike

Biking in the Czech Republic is no secret to nearby Europeans, but it’s seldom a crowded affair on any of the green ways. The flattest part to explore is the Moravia region, in the southern part of the country near Austria.

Bike trails aplenty in the eastern Europe

Here you can find a loop to fit your ability, with wine tastings along the way and grand castles built by the Lichtensteins. Nearly every town has wineries to visit and the National Wine Salon in the village of Valtice, is a real treasure. There you can sample a range of the 100 best wines in the country, judged annually by a panel of experts. Other routes traverse the Cesky Krumlov area or the Prague area, with trails in place that connect all of them for longer trips.

Slovakia by bike

Few cyclist travelers have discovered the Czech Republic’s once-joined neighbor Slovakia. Excellent greenway systems are in place here as well though and you can have them mostly to yourself much of the year. The shortest is a 4-day Danube Trail from Bratislava to Sturovo, with an easy 103 miles along mostly flat trails. Others can take nine days—for the truly dedicated cyclists with well-toned leg muscles!

Hungary by bike

The best-known biking route in Hungary is an approximately 125-mile route around Lake Balaton, the center for many of Hungary’s mineral-rich, quality white wines and a big European Spa destination. Many vacationers choose to just do a round-trip journey of a day or two rather than circumventing the whole lake.

There are less organized routes in the Villany wine region in the south and around the historic town of Eger. Or you can explore the capital on two wheels with a Budapest bike tour.

Poland

The Greenways Program of Poland started establishing trails in 2001 and linking them up with others in the region. The granddaddy of all options is the 10-day, 226-mile “Amber Trail” journey from Krakow to Budapest, which crosses mountains of 3,600 feet (1,100 meters). It retraces the ancient amber transportation route from the Baltic to the Adriatic Sea.

The “Necklace of the North” trail is flatter and longer, covering a 540-mile loop around the lakes and villages of northern Poland. Viator also offers a scenic half-day sightseeing bike tour of Krakow that’s easy and flat.

Biking Resources

Top Bicycle can set up local rentals or full-blown tours with accommodation arranged in any of the greenway regions. Prices start at $30 a day for a well-maintained hybrid bike with all necessary equipment and are $80 to $200 a day for a tour with meals and hotels. Tandem, kids’ bikes, and child pull-along trailers are available. For Hungary tours check with Hooked on Cycling or Velo-Touring. Set up city sightseeing bike tours in Europe with Viator.