5 Best Outdoor Adventures to Try in the USA

Posted on: Feb 6, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

5 Best Outdoor Adventures to Try in the USA

The United States of America is a country filled with numerous renowned tourist attractions, each offering scope for a wide range of fun activities. From beautiful snow-covered mountains and pristine beaches to dense forests and vast deserts, the USA is a land blessed with impressive natural diversity. If you want to add a thrilling element to your vacation, where you can explore the beautiful wilderness and engage in exciting outdoor adventures in the USA, go through the entirety of this page for ideas.

Best outdoor adventures to try in the USA

The list of thrilling outdoor adventures that can help you get the true essence of the USA’s natural beauty and uniqueness includes activities like caving, kayaking, snowboarding, ziplining, desert camping, mountain biking, etc. Among the various choices, the following are some of the best outdoor adventures in the USA that you can consider during your trip;

1. Hike the gorgeous trails

Hiking is one of the best adventure activities you can try during your USA visit. The country has some of the most gorgeous hiking trails in the world, each surrounded by stunning natural landscapes and various other geographical features. You can either take on a popular hiking route or go with an off-beat path that is, by no means, less beautiful or adventurous than the former choice. It is a perfect activity for all types of tourists, with the availability of both easy and difficult trails. You can find just the right hiking route for your adventure, depending on the experience you are looking for. For instance, if you want to cover dense forests, explore caves, and witness the remarkable sight of a waterfall by a glacier, go with the Nugget Falls Trail in Alaska.

• Best places for this activity:

Halema’uma’u Trail (Hawaii), Appalachian Trail (Virginia), Charlies Bunion Hike (Tennessee), Grinnell Glacier Trail (Montana), etc.

• Best time for this activity:

The time from October to February is a great window for most kinds of hiking adventures.

Experiencing unforeseen events during the trip, such as flight delays, emergency dental expenses, trip curtailment, loss of passport, etc., can ruin the flow of your holiday. So, consider buying a travel insurance plan which covers such issues so you can enjoy your vacations without any worries.

2. Camp amidst the beauty of nature

Another great way to experience and explore America’s wilderness is by engaging in camping adventures. It is a very popular outdoor activity among the locals as well as foreign tourists visiting the USA. Spending time in nature while applying various skills to action, such as setting up a tent, preparing a fire, cooking meals, etc., offers a unique sense of thrill. You can go camping in the USA solo or in a group and choose from a diverse range of locations, such as at the beach, by a lakeside, amidst a dense forest, in the middle of nowhere in a desert, and so on. Learn the rules and regulations for camping in the USA before scheduling a plan. While doing so, make sure to also look into an international travel insurance to secure your journey against various medical and non-medical-related contingencies.

• Best places for this activity:

Acadia National Park (Maine), Shenandoah National Park (Virginia), Big Bend National Park (Texas), etc.

• Best time for this activity:

The best window for camping in the USA is from late May to mid-August and then from mid-September to October.

3. Observe America’s diverse wildlife

One of the most fun adventures to try during your stay in the USA is wildlife watching. The diverse geographical features of the country make it a massive hotspot for various kinds of wildlife. The national park areas are perfect for this kind of activity, where you can find wild animals, insects, birds and lots more. Be it photographing the majestic black bears, American bison, elk, wolves, etc., in their natural habitat at Yellowstone, searching for Channel Island foxes at Channel Islands National Park or spotting white-tailed deer and Cerulean Warbler at Shenandoah National Park, the options are plenty. Also, to make the most out of your outdoor adventure in the USA, you can pair wildlife watching with other activities, like camping, hiking, mountain biking, etc.

• Best places for this activity:

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Idaho and Montana), Channel Islands National Park (California), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee), Katmai National Park (Alaska), etc.

• Best time for this activity:

The summer season in the USA is a great time for wildlife-watching activities.

4. Explore the fascinating caves

If unusual natural structures intrigue you, consider caving adventures in the USA. The country is home to several ancient cave structures, each having a compelling history and unique characteristics that draw massive tourist crowds throughout the year. While this can be a fun adventure solo or with family and friends, exploring certain sites does test you mentally and physically. If you are a history buff, consider checking out the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. And if you want to witness beautiful underground rock formations and structures, such as an underground lake with mirror-like reflection, a "frozen fountain" made of calcite, etc., check out Luray Caverns in Virginia. When planning the trip itinerary, make sure to look for suitable travel insurance for USA . You can choose from a wide list of plan types, including travel insurance for individuals, families, students, frequent flyers, and more.

• Best places for this activity:

Mammoth Cave (Kentucky), Meramec Caverns (Missouri), Wild Cave National Park (South Dakota), Craighead Caverns (Tennessee), etc.

• Best time for this activity:

You can go caving during fall, spring and summer.

5. Go for skiing adventures

Skiing is one of the best outdoor adventures in the USA that you can go for. You not only get to explore and soak in the heavenly beauty of the snow-covered landscapes and tall mountain peaks but also obtain thrilling experiences when engaging in skiing adventures. The country has several prominent destinations for this activity, with established ski resorts featuring shops, cafes, restaurants, spas, and more. If you are a beginner, you can book lessons to learn and improve your skiing skills at these ski resorts. Skiing in the USA can be enjoyed as a solo adventure or in a group with friends and family. While on your ski trip, consider exploring the local town and its surrounding region for photography, wildlife spotting, etc.

• Best places for this activity:

Park City Mountain Resort (Utah), Beaver Creek (Colorado), Vail Ski Resort (Colorado), Snowbird (Utah), Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (Wyoming), etc.

• Best time for this activity:

The ideal window for skiing is between December and April.

Conclusion:

This was the list of some of the most sought-after outdoor adventures tourists like to engage in to experience the natural beauty and diversity of America. If you are planning on adding a thrilling and adventurous twist to your USA holidays, consider adding similar activities depending on your requirements. Also, buying travel insurance for the USA can help keep your trip smooth flowing. It comes with extensive coverage to help you efficiently tackle various types of medical, baggage and journey-related contingencies.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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