Looking for a good place to go on your next adventure? Use our destination guides and plan the perfect outdoors getaway. Whether you’re looking for an epic backpacking adventure or a fun kayaking trip, we share our top tips for making the most of your active weekend away from home.
Here at Active Weekender, we focus on destinations with a lot to offer the active traveler. Our guides are created based on real experiences from our contributors’ real holiday travel excursions. As our contributors travel more, we will update this page with more destination guides.
Of the big four islands in Hawaii – the Big Island, Oahu, Maui and Kauai – Kauai gets the fewest number of visitors each year. Averaging just over 100,000 tourists per month, it’s graced by only a quarter the number of visitors of Oahu and less than half the visitors of Maui. That limited tourism
The best spot for snorkeling in Hawaii isn’t on one of its islands. It’s in a caldera off the southwestern coast of Maui. Molokini is a crescent or moon-shaped formation often referred to as a small island. But, technically, it isn’t. What you see jutting out of the ocean from Maui’s shores is the ridge
Maui, Hawaii has some of the most rugged, most alluring ocean scenery in the world. And some of the most active ocean wildlife. The last time we were in Maui, we saw whales, dolphins and schools of fish swimming just off shore, crabs crawling over the lava rocks, and turtles out sunning on the beach.
Las Vegas is known more as a place to let go and relax than to get active. Unless, we’re talking about one of their notorious pool parties. But the Las Vegas valley is surrounded by amazing outdoor destinations. If you can get away from the city for a day or two during your Vegas vacation
The Greater Philadelphia Area offers a network of recreational trails with something to please everyone — serious road cyclists, weekend mountain bikers and tourists alike have access to an unprecedented network of trails. Many of the these trails can be found in Philadelphia’s diverse park system. But because they touch on urban and suburban neighborhoods,
Las Vegas might be a bustling metropolis, but its big city vibe (and its naughty reputation) overshadows the fact that it’s also an oasis in the middle of a desert. Its nearest major cities are a half day’s drive away, and the second biggest city in the state – Reno – is a whopping seven
Las Vegas is a city that has become almost synonymous with its vices. For good reason. It did actively court the reputation. Since the launch of its “What Happens Here, Stays Here” ad campaign in 2003, Las Vegas is largely regarded as a place to go and let your lusts run rampant. But you can’t
As outdoor enthusiasts, wintertime in New York City can feel endless. But you don’t have to let the plummeting temperatures and snow squalls put a damper on getting your outdoor adventure fix. There are tons of things to do within a short drive or train trip to get your blood pumping in the crisp winter
You’ve seen the photos of the Milky Way on social media, right? You know the ones, where someone has spent the night camping in Joshua Tree or some other location with minimal light pollution – and the stars look simply amazing. Heck, it might even have inspired you to look up information on the best
In the cold months, northern states are a winter wonderland. For snow-enthusiasts, it’s time for ski season. Technically, you can ski anywhere with an incline and powder. Yet not all slopes are created equal. Discover the best places to ski in Vermont and what you can do at each. 1. Okemo Mountain Resort Okemo Mountain
A couple of years ago, Shawna and I went on a three-week road trip through some of the most popular national parks in the country. The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, just to name a few. Of the parks we visited, Badlands National Park was the most surreal. Dramatic landscapes that changed with each passing
We’re enjoying the first week of fall in most of the country, and it’s the perfect time to start planning your winter hikes. Winter is the best time to hike if you enjoy cold weather and having the trails to yourself. If you’re not sure where to start looking, here is a list of the
While there’s no shortage of amazing outdoor destinations in the American Southwest, one that should not be overlooked is Sedona, Arizona. It took me a while to actually make it out to Sedona, despite living reasonably close in Las Vegas, because I thought it was gonna be all hype and super touristy. But it was
Are you looking for a backpack that is strong and comfortable enough for all of your adventures? If so, the following article may be of particular interest to you. Here we will review two very durable and versatile backpacks—the Osprey Farpoint 40 Backpack and the Osprey Porter 46 Backpack—and highlight the pros and cons of
If you’re taking a trip to Hawaii for some island hopping, you might be going for the incredible weather and pristine beaches – or you may be going for the hike of your lifetime. Because of Hawaii’s volcanic activity, the terrain is extremely varied, mountainous, and beautiful. If you can go hiking anywhere in the
If you’re contemplating an Australian holiday to take advantage of our hiking trails, you’re certainly going to be spoiled for choice. One of the biggest perks to a country as large and as open as Australia is that there are so many fantastic hiking spots, regardless of the capital city or state you’re staying or
Is there any other destination that’s as polarizing as a trip to France? Talk to anyone who has visited the City of Light, and you’ll either get a glowing review or a scowling condemnation. But those in the latter camp may have left with a rosier view if they knew a few things beforehand. So,
It’s no secret that our kids spend far less time outdoors than we do. Glued to their digital devices, most kids are more than happy to spend their entire winter vacation in front of a screen. Although the last thing you want to do is fight with your kids over their excessive screen time, research
There’s something about Canada’s diverse landscape that calls to the outdoor adventurer in us all. Maybe it’s the rushing rivers, rugged coastlines or picturesque lakes. Sometimes, you can find all these things in one small town. Canada is a veritable paradise for outdoor enthusiasts who can choose from a wide range of activities, including whitewater
Memorable side trips, when on the road, are a special treat. So we are always on the lookout for that unique opportunity to jump off the main roads. Truly in the middle of nowhere, a vacation in Glacier National Park is usually a day long road trip through some of the most beautiful land in
When it comes time to make plans for adventure travel, it seems like the same destinations get recommended over and over. And those of us who have hiked the Grand Canyon, mountain biked in Moab, and went diving while visiting Australia, it can be a challenge to find a cool new place to visit for
When I planned my trip to Jordan, visiting Petra was #1 on my priority list. I couldn’t wait to go hiking in the Rose City and see Al Siq and all the other famous sites that I’d seen in travel magazines. Having never been there before, I had no idea where to stay. I just knew
Most closely related to thoughts of traveling to Paris are romance, history, architecture, art, or love. Perhaps wine, fine dining, or delectable pastry and sweets cross your mind. Paris is also well known for high fashion and shopping sprees for the ages. While these are all easy to find in Paris, the city also offers
Some might say zip lining is for people who want to feel a thrill, but are too afraid to skydive or try a more ‘extreme’ sport right off the bat. I suppose maybe zip lining could be the ‘gateway drug’ of adventure sports, but it certainly doesn’t lessen the experience. Zip lines have their own
Most people don’t often attribute the word ‘adventure’ to Germany, even though the country sports a huge variety of rough terrain and relatively untapped wilderness locations, and as a result some of the more spectacular outdoor activities and trekking in Europe get overlooked (especially in favor of surrounding countries like Spain with the Pyrenees and
Although lacking the infrastructure of more prosperous nations, countries like Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina boast some of the biggest – and relatively untouched – wilderness areas in the world, with National Parks ranging in landscape from high desert-like altiplano cordillera to humid cloud forests with some of the densest ecological diversity on the
When it comes to adventure, Canada is one of the premiere destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, whether it be whitewater kayaking, epic canoe trips, alpine skiing, or extensive trekking into untapped wilderness. But while Canada is huge, most of these activities are centralized either in the west or east, and the most popular cities that cater
When people think of South America, surfing isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind, and yet all up and down both the east and west coast are excellent hubs, for both world professionals and beginners alike. So, if the only beach that you can think of in South America is Rio’s Copacabana Beach, then
If you’re looking for some fun ways to spend an active weekend in the state of California, there is no shortage of national parks where you can enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, camping and hiking (just to name a few). And while I think everyone thinks about places like Joshua Tree for such weekends, there
When you’re spending quality time on the basketball court, the last thing you wanna be doing is standing around checking out the scenery. And since most courts are wedged between city buildings, you’re really not missing out on much. But there are a few basketball courts scattered across the world that boast some amazing views. These
When it comes to national parks in the United States, you are probably familiar with places like Yosemite, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Denali (just to name a few). But there are a lot of national parks where you can go hiking, camping and exploring. So, why go to the most popular ones
If you find yourself visiting Hawaii and staying on the island of Maui, then there is a great coastal trail in Lahaina that you can spend an hour or two doing while you’re there. Before you start making plans though, remember that the sun is brutal in Hawaii and no one wants to end up
When you spend a lot of time outside in the sun doing things like riding your road bike, paddling on your iSUP, hitting the slopes with your snowboard or hiking, then you run a risk of getting sunburned. This is true even if you’re using sunscreen since it has to be re-applied regularly. For me, one of
For a lot of people, Petra is best known as ‘that location in that Indiana Jones movie.’ In fact, while I was at Petra, I saw more than one person watching that scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade while walking through Petra – not looking at the scenery they were in the middle
When I visit a new place, I like to stay in a central location so that I can fully explore the area on foot. And sometimes, I ended up in a new place because of its conveniences. That’s how I ended up in Madaba, Jordan in November. My flight into Amman was scheduled to land
When you want to get around Jordan, you don’t really have a lot of options. You can take a taxi, but there is supposedly little regulation and you could end up in a car with an uninsured driver and an unreliable vehicle. Not to mention that message boards led me to believe that you could
When you think of great places to go have a fun, active adventure on a long weekend, the country of Jordan is probably not the first place to come to mind. And if it does, then the ancient city of Petra is likely the go-to choice. But, the southern city of Aqaba is another good
Once you start planning a trip to Cappadocia, it is hard to avoid the countless blog posts and travel recommendations on seeing the region from the air. In fact, it seems that this is one of the most (if not THE most) popular things to do on a visit to this area of Turkey. And
From where I stayed in Göreme, getting to Çavuşin was very easy. I’d guess that it was less than 3 kilometers total and I walked it. The most direct route between the two is to just walk along the main road that heads toward Avanos (the opposite direction from Uçhisar). The village of Çavuşin is
While I was staying in Göreme, I knew that I definitely wanted to make my way over to Paşabağı Valley. This area is also known as Monks Valley and it is probably the most well-known and visited place the area for seeing fairy chimneys. There seem to be more of these rock formations concentrated in
When talking with the owners of the hotel where I was staying in Göreme, they suggested a hike up to Uçhisar castle. You can see the castle from pretty much any point in Göreme and it doesn’t look all that far away. I was told that visiting the castle is a definite must-do while visiting Cappadocia. So, I set
Since I stayed in Göreme while visiting Cappadocia, the trail through Pigeon Valley was one of the closest ones to my hotel. In all honesty the day that I did this hike my intention was to hike up to Uçhisar to see the castle (you can see it in the far distance in the center of the
If you are planning a trip to the Cappadocia region of Turkey for a bit of hiking, then it helps to choose a place to stay that gives you the most access to trails without the need for a taxi or other transport. When I planned my trip, the first thing that I did was
I’ve been spending some time in Bodrum, Turkey just relaxing before making my way to to Cappadocia to do a bit of hiking. If you have never been to Bodrum, then it is definitely something worth checking out. Mostly because it is right on the Aegean and it is just beautiful here. However, it is
Last month, I happened to be visiting Scotland when the World Highland Games Heavy Events Championships were scheduled to take place in the small town of Dunfermline, which is located about a half hour train ride from Edinburgh. Until then, I’d never heard of the Highland Games but since it took place on a weekend
If you’re interested in taking in some of the amazing scenery in Norway, then it is something that I definitely suggest that you jump on. But do know that everything that they say about the food prices in Norway is 100% accurate. To give you an example, this weekend while in Bergen, a meal of
North Wales isn’t just about stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, tumbling rivers and magnificent mountains. Throw in a region full of majestic castles, railways, music, history and festivals and you’ve got yourself the perfect holiday destined for fun, adventure and memories. With the adventurous and adrenalin junky in mind, we have shortlisted 5 must do activities
Though Oslo, Norway doesn’t have any of those fjords that you’ve no doubt seen countless photos of online, they do have some great options for cycling and hiking. If you’re going to be in the area for a while, then you should definitely check out the list of hiking and biking trails on the visit
If you are traveling in France and want to save a few euros, then camping is a great option just like in the United States. Your camping options are quite varied – from unique lodging like gypsy caravans to cabins to your own tent. Of course, the cheapest options for camping in France is with
One of the best things about living in Southern California, or even just visiting the area, is the excellent year round weather. If you enjoy spending time outside, then there is no better place to be. Granted, the air quality is not that great, so some days it is not in your best interest to
