Ever wondered what it’s like to roll down a mountain in a huge inflatable globe? Experience the thrill that comes with white water rafting? Feel your adrenaline rush as you chase a tornado from its source?
Now you can. Visit New Zealand’s North Island to go "ZORB globe riding" down that mountain. You can also ski on an active volcano, ride a rocket ship on a wire or shoot your body through white water rapids while you’re visiting. If you don’t feel like traveling halfway around the world in search of a thrill, there are plenty of white water rafting, parasailing and jet-skiing opportunities at various rivers and lakes throughout the United States. One can also go tornado chasing throughout the entire Midwestern United States with the help of an experienced tour guide from Storm Chasing Adventure Tours.
Rather than simply sitting on the beach and sipping margaritas, many vacation goers are choosing to pursue such adventurous endeavors, or “thrillcations.” There are a number of reasons why the popularity of thrillcations’ has exploded in recent years.
“One reason might be that everyone is trying to outdo everyone else on their social network and cocktail party sites,” explains John DiScala, better known as “Johnny Jet,” founder of the nationally recognized travel website JohnnyJet.com, and South Island enthusiast. “Going to [a place like] South Africa in and of itself may not guarantee to gain attention, but if you say you went sky-diving in South Africa, now that’s a different story!”
“Some [also] probably do it for a good story or to cross a particular experience off their bucket list,” adds DiScala.
Anne Banas of SmarterTravel.com offers an economic reason for thrillcations’ rise to prominence. “People want experiential travel; they want to be active participants in the culture they are visiting. People aren’t simply going to Paris to eat the delicious food or take a market tour; they want to learn how to cook the food themselves.” In other words, thrillcation seekers hope to get the most value for their trips, to come home feeling more knowledgeable and cultured, to feel as if they have experienced something new. In today’s tight economy, they want “more bang for their buck.”
Banas’ descriptions of thrillcations demonstrate that these adventure seekers going on thrillcations do not necessarily hope to accomplish daring feats, such as bungee-jumping or sky-diving. Many simply want interactive experiences, such as learning how to cook a new dish from a Parisian chef or sharpening their surfing skills with the help of an experienced pro-surfer. While one may believe that thrillcation seekers are essentially young and daring, they are, in reality, people of all ages and incomes, according to Banas. “We’ve been noticing a lot of baby boomers booking such kinds of vacations,” she adds, “most likely because they are retiring and have more discretionary income to spend.”
In spite of their daunting name, there are thrillcations for all types of people on any kind of budget. Whether you’re a daredevil who is up for any adventure, or a person who is simply looking to learn something new, there is a thrillcation out there for you.
To learn more about thrillcations, visit www.SmarterTravel.comor www.JohnnyJet.com.To find more specific information about zorping or Storm Chasing Adventure Tours, visit www.zorb.com or www.stormchasing.com.
