Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-rock-formation-near-green-trees-under-cloudy-sky-939479/
Life without adventure is just…going through the motions. Many of us live stressed-out days, waiting for weekends to binge shows on Netflix. Zero-leeway routines mean that spontaneity and rejuvenation are distant concepts.
Adventure can be the balm that heals and empowers, helping you look forward to the future for reasons other than vegetating on the couch.
You have no excuse to refuse adventure if you live near Colorado Springs. The US city has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the country, from the gigantic Pike’s Peak to natural mineral springs. Abundant scope to feel one with the outdoor world and energize yourself for mundane responsibilities and tasks.
Take Yourself Rafting on the Arkansas
The Arkansas River has a stellar reputation for its majesty. It’s completely well-deserved. Think breathtaking landscapes, bird sightings, and the deep Royal Gorge.
But its most powerful gifts to the world are the breathtaking rapids, so many of them, from calm and family-friendly to true-blue wild!
Arkansas River whitewater rafting can be an outdoor adventure that appeals to people of all age groups. For instance, you can select a gentle float when out adventuring with the family. You may even spot wildlife, surely building fabulous memories and collecting dinner-table stories.
No-holds-barred thrill seekers can try Class III-V rapids to experience nature’s potential for headiness.
According to Echo Canyon River Expeditions, adventure seekers should be cautious about picking their visiting season. For example, June to July is a peak time to feel balanced flow and temperature. However, August to September could be better for family-friendly conditions.
Hike Up Pike’s Peak
Have you often felt claustrophobic in your office or household, wishing you could escape into the open air to breathe easily?
Colorado Springs is home to Pike’s Peak, which stands gloriously at over 4,000 feet tall. The views from the top are surreal: miles and miles of greenland and blue skies, a distinct chill even in the summer months.
If you are physically fit and don’t have respiratory issues, you can try hiking up to the summit. True exhilaration and a sense of achievement await. Another option is to bike or ride your car all the way to the summit. Traveling on such a high paved road, mesmerizing sights all around you, is a thrill in its own league.
You can always treat yourself to snacks at the visitor center after all that rigorous exercise. They sell special donuts (cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, and fudge) made with high-altitude ingredients that help the donuts’ texture stay wonderful. Lonely Planet agrees that these fluffy donuts are “mountaintop masterpieces,” but warns that they will deflate if you bring them down.
Scale the Rocks at Garden of the Gods
Many geologists can spend hours on end observing rocks. It may seem mundane to those not interested in the natural world…until you realize the rich history and exciting stories behind the formation of rocks.
Colorado Springs’ Garden of the Gods boasts stunning rock formations dating back over a million years. Today, thrill seekers can scale up these formidable structures, testing their skill and resilience. It can be an adventure that also becomes a character-building exercise.
It’s important to remember that adventures like this have associated risks: you don’t want to perform rock scrambling or end up hurting yourself. The local authorities permit only “technical climbing,” which requires you to bring proper equipment. At least, you require a good, strong rope. You may also consider having a companion you can fall back on (not literally).
Another word of advice: undertake this expedition after assessing your stamina. They don’t allow rappelling in a bid to safeguard the delicate sandstone. It means you’re in for thrill, sure, but also hard work.
Earlier this August, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went hiking here with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Medicare administrator. Their video became quite popular online, especially the part where they wonder, “How do we get down?”
Seriously, though, their motivation behind this adventure makes sense. Secretary Kennedy proclaims that the activity has improved focus and clarity. All that therapeutic sunlight can also open up new creative vistas in the mind.
So, how charged up are you feeling now?
For many of us, the very thought of spending time outdoors, letting the winds brush our cheeks, can be energizing. Still, we spend so much time cooped up indoors attending to work responsibilities, household errands, and, let’s admit it, screen addiction. Embracing adventure with open arms can be just the kick our lives need from time to time to feel fresh and revitalized.
The next time you are near Colorado Springs, let yourself go all out and soak in the many treasures of nature. The spot has plenty to offer, from quiet, Zen-like breathing space to adrenaline-pumping thrills you will remember forever.
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