Taking Leaps

Every trip I try to do something adventurous. Even in a pandemic, I still planned to do something that would give me a rush.

Jamaica is an adventure enthusiast’s dream. Depending on the side of the island you choose, there are several packages and create your own options. Since this was technically my second time in Jamaica, I knew what I didn’t want to do on this vacation. My first visit was to Ocho Rios and we opted to go on a tour that included Dunn’s River Falls. It’s a tour through waterfalls and plunges into pools of water. If you plan to visit, make sure you have water shoes, it will help with your traction on the rocks.

There were packages that included horseback riding, ATV rides, river rafting and more. I’m allergic to horses so I knew I couldn’t do that excursion. I’m afraid of ATVs, there is something about going top speed on a motorbike on unpaved trails that doesn’t excite me. One thing I was all game for was ziplining. It’s not as scary as bungy jumping but being secured by a harness up in the trees can give someone pause. However, that was the only activity I wanted to do when I arrived in Jamaica. We swung from seven different posts at various heights and lengths for the afternoon. The velocity your body has from one post to the next is amazing. On my first line, I was going so fast that when they went to catch me, my safety helmet came off. That being said, I needed to tighten it on the next line.

I’m not sure if I would call myself an adrenaline junkie but I’ve been parasailing, jet-skiing, snorkeling, and now ziplining. I think I want to whitewater raft on my next adventure. Even though I cannot swim (good), it looks thrilling. I know there is a place in Charlotte that has a facility, but I think I want an open water experience rather than man-made.

Do you tend to be adventurous on vacation or do you use that time to relax and sit by the pool?