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Cheap thrills: the 10 best places in the US to have an adventure for free
Lonely Planet Editors
Oct 14, 2021 • 2 min read
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From bouldering to storm-chasing, here are the best places in the US to have an adventure for free © Corey Rich / Getty Images
In search of budget thrills and spills in the land of the free and home of the brave? This extract from Lonely Planet's new edition of The Best Things in Life are Free can help you find the ideal places to go for budget adventure sports and experiences.
Bouldering, California
Another essentially equipment-free pursuit, bouldering is all about solving small climbing problems on, yep, boulders. Bishop, in California’s lower Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, is one of the world’s best bouldering destinations.
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San Francisco Parkour, California
It’s hard to keep flowers in your hair during a monkey vault, but whether you’re a trained traceur or a free-running virgin, the SF parkour scene is both developed and welcoming. Complimentary intro sessions offered.
Storm-chasing, Oregon
The self-proclaimed "storm-watching Capital of the World", Bandon-by-the-Sea’s beaches become wind- and wave-whipped once winter riles the Pacific into a rage. Watch the action from behind the sea stacks and spires on Bullards Beach.
Canyoneering, Utah
A non-technical introduction to an addictive art, the spectacular Peekaboo–Spooky Gulch Loop and Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument in Utah can be spliced into easy 3 mile (5km) return scrambles, with plenty of slots and arches to explore.
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Trail-running, New York
In autumn, go trail-running around Lake Placid, NY, and explore the tracks that wend through vast, fantastic forests in the Adirondack Mountains to experience an explosion of leaf-turning color.
Snorkeling or diving, Florida
Armed with fins and a snorkel set, explore Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which protects the planet’s third-largest reef and contains the submerged statue Christ of the Abyss.
Body-surfing, Hawai'i
No board? No money? No worries! Point Panic beach in Hawai’i, in the midst of a surfing mecca, has a wave so tailormade for bodysurfing that boarders stay away, leaving it to the penny-pinching purists.
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Glacier-spotting, Alaska
In summer, the roadside Child’s Glacier near Cordova, Alaska, sees a collapse of ice every 15 minutes. In winter (Oct-Apr), head to the Mendenhall Glacier, a popular walking stop with free winter entry, accessible by shuttle bus from Juneau ($8).
Deepwater soloing, Utah
DWS is rock climbing without the encumbrance (and expense) of safety gear – it’s just you, the rock and the water below. Lake Powell’s extensive shoreline in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is the perfect spot to give it a try.
Nordic skiing, Michigan
Forget expensive lift passes, extortionate accommodation rates and crowded runs, and try your arms (and legs) at Nordic skiing somewhere like Higgins Lake, Michigan, where you can ski a groomed 11-mile (18-km) network of trails for just $9 per day.
You might also like:
20 unmissable extreme sports (and where to try them)
Are these the craziest sports in the world?
5 alternative winter sports and where to try them
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