24 fittest travel destinations known to man

Noah Johnson

If the best vacation you've ever taken is that family trip to Euro Disney, well, let's just say you need us--bad. Because you won't find Le Magic Kingdom anywhere near this rugged roundup of the most action-packed travel spots in the world. Whether you're looking for the ultimate spring-break destination or just planning the adventure of a lifetime, we've got the wakeboarding, gator-wrestling, race-car-driving, cliff-diving destination for you.

GATOR WRESTLING MOSCA, COLO.

Colorado isn't just the go-to place for ski slopes and snow bunnies. The Centennial State also happens to be the home of the world's only--and therefore best--alligator-wrestling academy. Offered from April through September, the four-hour course at the family-run Colorado Gators farm attracts about 300 wannabe gatorgrapplers a year. And the best part? Only about one out of every 20 students actually gets hurt ("No missing pieces," assures instructor Noah Mather). But just in case, there is a waiver: "I do hereby admit that if I'm crazy enough to willingly put my hands on an alligator, I deserve to get bit. Furthermore, I promise not to whine too much if I do get a few bumps and scrapes or even a flesh wound." After practicing on four-footers, you work your way up to 11.5-foot gators--in a lagoon teeming with 65 crocodilians. Take that, Dundee!

GATORFARM.COM

RACE-CAR DRIVING MONTEREY, CALIF.

If you're anything like us, you most likely have no idea what sequential shifting is, but that's no reason not to break the speed limit. Instead, satiate your need for speed by hitting the road at racing school. The Skip Barber Racing School--which assumes pole position when it comes to racing academies--is home to alums such as Jeff Gordon and Scott Speed and will instruct you on how to handle everything from a 200-hp minivan to an open-top Formula Dodge. Classes vary from a simple intro to the racing life to a series of intense multiday courses that'll have you making tight corners en the world-famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Afterward, check out historic Monterey and put your new skills to good use while driving down the gorgeous, steep, curvy California coast and into car-crazy Los Angeles. As far as challenging L.A. drivers to race--you're on your own there.

ULTIMATE BASEBALL LANDISBURG, PENN.

While fantasy baseball camps with your favorite major league team only occur one week every year and fall smack in the middle of winter, Pennsylvania's Doubleday Farm operates like your very own Field of Dreams during the actual baseball season. A perfectly groomed diamond is nestled in the country, where you can bring your own team of buddies to play a game, or fly solo and get into a pickup contest. You'll stay at a 19th-century farmhouse, dig into a hearty country breakfast, do some fishing, hiking, or golfing, and then play ball! At Doubleday, you may even have the opportunity to throw or hit against some of baseball's greatest past players, such as George Foster (June 1-3), Bobby Grich (June 8-10), and Tommy John (July 20-22). A-Rod and Jeter are still a few years away from playing there.

DOUBLEDAYFARM.COM/CAT/FANTASY+CAMP.HTML; 717-789-2456

CLIFF DIVING PONTE BROLLA, SWITZERLAND

Everybody knows about Acapulco, Mexico, for cliff diving, but in Switzerland you can watch world champions make a (small) splash--and even do it yourself from lesser heights. Oh, and did we mention the bevy of lovely Swiss misses? The European Cliff Diving Contest is held each summer in the Magic Valley of Ponte Brolla just north of the town of Locarno. Dive heights range from 23 feet for beginners to 66 feet for the ballsy. About 10 minutes away, at camp Piccolo Paradise (meaning small paradise), you can partake in some top-shelf rock climbing. The closest airport to Paradise is in Milan, Italy, so if you have a couple of extra days, explore La Dolce Vita, too.

COMMERCEMARKETPLACE.COM/HOME/ AIRABOVEWATER/SWlTZERLAND.HTML TRAVEL.AWAY.COM/SWITZERLAND/ TRAVEL-FLIGHTS-320790-LOCARNO.HTML

LUGING LAKE PLACID, N.Y.

Want to feel like a world-class Winter Olympics athlete--without all the bothersome training and dedication of a lifetime? On March 10-13 (and in December 2006), partake in the USA Luge Fantasy Camp, where you will stay in the Olympic Training Center, learn the mechanics of the sport from Olympic-medal winners, and whip down the longest luge track in the world. The weekend concludes with a race and a farewell banquet with the USA Luge National Team members.

USALUGE.ORG

BULL RIDING BRANSON, MO.

Whether you're interested in bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, or clown bullfighting (it's time you admit it), the Sankey Rodeo Schools do it best and for a good price. Based in Branson, the school has sessions all over the country at all times of the year. One of only four men to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding, founder Lyle Sankey has an impressive group of instructors and horses, ensuring you'll be treated well no matter what your level of experience.

SANKEYRODEO.COM; 417-334-2513

SPEED CYCLING BARCELONA, SPAIN

Pedaling a bicycle at top speed in circles, without brakes, may seem like a death wish. But when you're doing it in Barcelona--a city with a wacky aesthetic, courtesy of madman architect Gaudi and public installations by baffling artists like Picasso and Miro--it all makes perfect sense. Try it on the Horta Olympic Velodrome, an outdoor wood track used in the 1992 games that offers stunning vistas of the Spanish countryside. Afterward, hop a short train ride to the city center and get your art on, or grab a cerveza and some tapas and sample Barcelona's vibrant cafe nightlife.

BIKECULT.COM/BIKECULTBOOK/SPORTS_VELODROMES.HTML; 212-265-8822

ALL-STAR TENNIS NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS

Want to rush the net against an old tennis pro? Twice a year, the John Newcombe Fantasy Tennis Camp will match you with former greats like Guillermo Vilas, Dick Stockton, Geoff Masters, and Brian Gottfried for up to five days of play. But the real score here is the off-court activities: For the duration of the camp, the pros eat, drink, and party with attendees, telling ribald stories of circuit shenanigans. "It's like a fraternity," says Fantasy Camp coordinator Steve Contardi, "but everyone's got more money."

NEWKTENNIS.COM/TENNIS_FANTASYCAMP.HTML; 800-444-6204

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. (WITH TRIPS TO THE BAHAMAS, HONDURAS, COSTA RICA, GUADALUPE ISLAND, OR THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS)

Deep in the ocean, we're all just tuna--or at least we are to a great white shark seeking a potential entree. For 12 years, Paul Anes has introduced Jaws enthusiasts to tiger, hammerhead, great white, and whale sharks through his San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions, Inc. Destinations and time of year vary, depending on the species you want to swim with, but for beginning divers Anes recommends the great white trip to Guadalupe Island, a tightly supervised, cage-only affair, short on single females but long on thrills. Says Anes: "There's nothing quite like a shark the weight of a pickup truck charging at you underwater." Hey, at least no one can tell when you pee yourself.

SDSHARKDIVING.COM; 619-299-8560

SAILING CROATIA'S DALMATION COAST

A few years after the Balkan war ended in the mid-'90s, Croatia's Dalmation Coast--known as the Pearl of the Adriatic--became one of Europe's favorite playgrounds. And there's no better way to view the region's marble mountains and to island-hop than via a majestic sailboat. Huck Finn Adventure Travel offers seven-night stays on a sailing yacht (captain and meals provided) and includes daytime stops for rafting, bicycling, and sea kayaking. Port of call is the medieval city of Dubrovnik, famous for its 24-hour party vibe at jazz cafes packed with slinky hotties.

HUCKFINN.HR/DUBROVNIK_ADVENTURE_SAILING.HTM

CAVING FLJOTSTUNGA, ICELAND

The land of volcanoes and, yes, ice, Iceland is much more than a remote fishing post on the outskirts of Europe. Here, nature rules and lava caves abound. One of the most spectacular caves in the country is a gated cavern called Vidigelmir. It's the largest lava cave in the world, but because of the gate, you need to book a visit with the landowners in neighboring Fljotstunga before visiting. (A nearby farm provides lodging, equipment--even a guide.) The best time to visit is April through June, when the cave's stunning ice formations have yet to melt. Try to stay an extra day or two--the cave is only 90 minutes from the hipster capital of Reykjavik, home to thousands of Norse goddesses eager to hear a Yankee deliver his finest pickup line.

FLJOTSTUNGA.IS

KAYAKING ZAMBEZI RIVER, AFRICA

Home to the massive Victoria Falls, the Zambezi forms a border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Don't be fooled by the exotic locales: It's extremely accessible and tourist-friendly--from five-star hotels to low-dough hostels, you can make a pilgrimage to this kayaking haven on almost any budget. "Each day is an adventure on and off the river," champion kayaker Brad Ludden told MF. "The river is the best in the world, and the nightlife gets crazy." When you're not paddling the most insane whitewater on the planet in a kayak, you can try it in a raft, check out the animals on safari, or go skydiving. "You can go there and spend a week doing something mind-blowing every day, and then go out every night to the craziest parties you've ever been to," says Ludden, who's kayaked in 40 different countries around the world.

ACCESSTRIPS.COM

SURFING BALI, INDONESIA

Famous, barreling reef breaks like Uluwatu and Padang-Padang provide plenty of big, fast waves and perfect tubes for experienced surfers. There are also many beach breaks with smaller, mellower waves for beginners looking to avoid head-splitting wipeouts. Indonesia relies on trade winds for its swells; peak season is from March to November. But a flat swell anytime of year is rare--that consistency is what makes it such a great spot. To get the full Indo surf experience, make the short journey to the mythical G-Land Jungle Surf Camp in Java, where you can surf world-class waves by day and sip Bintang by your jungle hut in the evenings.

WATERWAYSTRAVEL.COM; INDO.COM

ICE CLIMBING OURAY, COLO.

Ouray is home to the world's first park devoted exclusively to the sport of ice climbing--the Ouray Ice Park, which boasts more than 150 climbs through the mile-long gorge. The climbing facility is free of charge and accessible to all levels of climber, from novice to expert. (Guides are available and strongly recommended for newbies.) If world-class ice climbing isn't enough to satisfy your thrill jones, the champagne powder of Telluride's ski slopes is just an hour away. After a long day en the ice, kick off your crampons and grab a Hefeweizen at Billy Goat Gruff's Biergarten on Main Street, or soak in the steamy waters of the town's natural hot-springs pool.

OURAYICEPARK.COM; OURAYCOLORADO.COM

SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING TURKS AND CAICOS

Jamaica and the Bahamas are fine if you're just looking for a few helpings of rum punch and a good tan, but if you want to truly explore the ocean depths, this chain of Caribbean islands has no equal. Located just 75 minutes by plane southeast of Miami, the 193-square-mile island chain of Turks and Caicos is home to white-sand beaches and the third-largest coral-reef system in the world. Hit the water the day you arrive to encounter whales, turtles, sharks, and more small fish than you'd ever see in your neighborhood PetSmart. Want to take the next step up from snorkeling and explore some of the islands' 1,000 square miles of coral firsthand? Find a local dive shop like Dive Provo (diveprovo.com), which offers what are known as "resort" scuba-diving lessons. You'll learn to breathe underwater in a hotel pool that morning and be swimming 40 feet below sea level--with an instructor--later that afternoon.

TURKSANDCAICOSTOURISM.COM

SNOWBOARDING PARK CITY, UTAH

When it comes to shredding the slopes, nobody does it like Shaun White. So when he told MF that he can always count on the riding being good at Park City Mountain Resort, we knew we'd found the ultimate snowboarding destination. "They focus on keeping the park fun and the pipe well groomed," Shaun told us. If you need to bust out of the resort's confines, take it to the backcountry and carve the famous chalk-dry Utah powder with a guide from one of the local snowcat and heliski vendors. And don't let those blue laws discourage you--there is plenty of fun to be had in Utah. In fact, Park City has more alcoholic-beverage businesses per capita than any other place in the state.

PCRIDE.COM; PARKCITYINFO.COM

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING THE MATTERHORN, ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND

In 1865, Edward Whymper summited the Matterhorn for the first time. He set out with a team of seven men--and returned with only three. Despite the hardship, we're willing to bet he thought the trip was worth it. According to Richard Wiese, president of the Manhattan-based Explorers Club, the Matterhorn is one of the world's must-see climbing spots. "Zermatt really has it down as far as good climbing and ambience," he says. "In addition to stunning beauty, the place rocks at night." That's what sets Zermatt apart from other mountains--you can tackle some very demanding alpine climbing during the day and kick back with a fine meal, a beer, and, with any luck, wake up in the bed of a beautiful slope honey in the morning. One note: If you do take this trip, be sure to book a guide in order to avoid succumbing to the mountain's many potentially deadly hazards.

ALPINEASCENTS.COM/MATTERHORN.ASP

DOGSLEDDING ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Dogsledding may seem cold and lonely, but not when your canines are nipping at the heels of 80 other sleds racing over 1,100 miles of dense Alaskan forest. The Iditarod--the Super Bowl of dogsledding--is a 34-year-old race that follows historic supply and gold-mining routes across the state. For $500-$7,500, you can bid to win a place on the sled of an Iditarod musher at the starting line in Anchorage, Alaska. The ride will take you 11 miles through some of the most pristine parts of Anchorage and grant you access to staging areas where you can hang behind the scenes with all the mushers--which, despite the funny name, is where you want to be.

IDITARODAUCTION.COM; IDITAROD.COM

MOUNTAIN BIKING MOAB, UTAH

The red sandstone of Moab in Utah's Canyon Country has been carved into the world's premier mountain-biking destination. The land seems to undulate with canyons and caves that form trails for all levels of riders on varying terrain. Ironically, Slickrock, the world's most famous trail, is anything but slippery. The gritty sandstone formed out of petrified dunes grips your tires like Velcro for extra traction on insanely steep downhills. Bring as much water as you can carry and lots of sunscreen--the desert is brutal and will waste you if you're not careful. Speaking of, after your ride, refuel at Eddie McStiff's for a specialty pizza and one of their whole-grain microbrews.

UTAH.COM/BIKE

MOTOCROSS DEVORE, CALIF.

In the increasingly popular, air-catching sport of motocross--think dirt bikes on steroids--Southern California is the place to be. For a great outdoor track with plenty of twists, turns, and jumps, go one hour's drive east of Los Angeles to the Glen Helen Raceway in Devore, where both beginners and vet riders are welcome. To race in style and get max riding time, check out Motocross Vacations' package, which includes a bike, pit crew, fuel, and accommodations.

GLENHELEN.COM; MOTOCROSSVACATION.COM; 909-772-8082

ROCK CLIMBING EL CAPITAN, YOSEMITE VALLEY, CALIF.

The world's best rock climbing within 100 yards of your car. El Cap is a piece of exposed granite the size of 275 football fields. "It's not just another big-wall climb," North Face climber Peter Croft told MF, "it's the big-wall climb that all other big-wall climbs are measured against." More than 70 climbing routes up the mile-wide, half-mile-high monolith will get you to the top, but it certainly won't be a breeze. You can hire a guide from the Yosemite Mountaineering School to aid your ascent--but be sure to know your systems and get some outdoor climbing experience under your safety rope before you try to conquer the Captain. Camp 4 in Yosemite is the climbers' hangout where you can soothe your hands with an icy brew and listen to locals break down the legends of El Cap.

YOSEMITEPARK.COM

WAKEBOARDING/WAKESKATING/WATERSKIING ORLANDO WATERSPORTS COMPLEX, FLA.

Orlando Watersports Complex is the premier facility for wakeboarding and wakeskating--and water-skiers can also dip into some serious good times here. Riders come to OWC from all over to hit two cableways that access a beginner and intermediate cable park and a slider park for advanced boarders with lights for night riding. Lessons, clinics, and camps lasting up to five days are available for those looking to boost their skills. If you find yourself getting woozy in the raging Florida sun, OWC also offers a mini motocross course and a paintball field.

ORLANDOWATERSPORTSCOMPLEX.COM

PARAGLIDING LINHARES DA BEIRA, PORTUGAL

With more than 50 flying sites, Portugal is the paragliding paradise of choice. (The great food and wine, beautiful scenery, and even more beautiful women don't hurt, either.) Our favorite launching site: Linhares da Beira, a 12th-century village in the Beiras region. Steel your nerves with the potent "fire water" at local beerhouse Tio Mimoso (because jumping off the edge of a cliff takes serious balls). Once in the air, enjoy an exhilarating 1,150-meter-high flight over Portugal's tallest peaks and the countryside below.

WWW.NCA.PT/HAVEFUN

SKIING CHAMONIX, FRANCE

Widely considered the piece de resistance for alpine sports, Chamonix has been attracting mountaineers for more than 200 years. The glaciated peaks of the Chamonix Valley are famous for long runs, such as the 13-mile Vallee Blanche and the 12-mile Aiguille du Midi (French for kick ass!). The Valley's also home to some of the world's most challenging terrain, such as the steep and deep chutes of Aiguille Verte and Dru Needles. If the conditions on the hill aren't money enough for you, test your luck at the tables of the Casino de Chamonix. And start your apres ski off with a cheesy fondue sovoyarde at Wild Wallabies Bar, then go flaunt your dance skills at one of the local discotheques.

CHAMONIX.COM

COPYRIGHT 2006 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning