Ropes courses and zip lines in the treetops? What a great way to spend an afternoon! Elevate your vacation at some of these awesome adventure parks. And don’t worry, at adventure parks, you’re harnessed in, so have no fear! We’re not going to let you down.
What are Adventure Parks?
Most adventure parks offer ropes courses, obstacle courses, and zip lines. The origin of ropes courses is a little unclear, but the first noted one was built in 1875 in France for an activity that would challenge participants physically. They’ve also been widely used as part of military training exercises. Zip lines have been used for a long time as well, including as a mode of transportation in the mountains of many countries, and to deliver supplies to workers that were separated by obstacles in Australia. Ropes courses and zip lines are usually the main attractions of adventure parks as they offer a thrilling experience high off the ground. Adventure parks are springing up everywhere! Some are stand-alone adventure parks, while others can be found in ski resorts for summer entertainment or as an additional feature of an existing amusement park.
Adventure Parks in Michigan
There are quite a few adventure parks right here in our home state of Michigan for locals and tourists alike to enjoy!
The Adventure Park
The Adventure Park has many locations in the US and two of them are right here in the Mitten State: The Adventure Park at West Bloomfield and The Adventure Park at Frankenmuth, both located on the east side of the state. These parks are great for anyone 7 years old and up and offer tons of climbing opportunities. Night climbing is available on certain days of the week, which offers a whole new adventure! These parks are both outside in nature so keep the weather in mind as you plan your visit. Both parks are open in the spring, summer, and fall, but closed during the winter months. Check out their websites for exact dates and pricing.
Places with Small Courses
Michigan is known for its winter ski resorts, and a few of them have adventure parks that you can enjoy in the warmer months too. Boyne Mountain and Crystal Mountain, both in northern Michigan, offer exhilarating, high-flying adventure for the whole family. Boyne’s Adventure Zipline Tour features 10 lines that allow you travel at up to 20-25 mph! The course starts at the top of the mountain and sends you through the trees along the ski slopes. This course is even open in the winter! Crystal Mountain’s Edge Adventure Course is an elevated rope and zip line course that stretches across their outdoor pool! You can also find smaller, less expensive courses at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids and the Howell Nature Center in Howell!
Adventure Parks Around the US
Adventure parks can be found all over the US, so swing by one of these fun spots the next time you’re on a vacation!
The Adventure Park
The Adventure Park, noted above, has many locations out east, including Sandy Spring, MD, Long Island, NY, Virginia Beach, VA, Bridgeport, CT, Storrs, CT, and Cape Cod, MA. For more information on each park, click on the “Find Your Park” page on their website. This will direct you to each location’s specific website.
Catamount Aerial Adventure Park
Adventure in the trees awaits in Egremont, MA, at Catamount Aerial Adventure Park. Anyone over 7 years old can climb, jump, and balance across multiple courses of varying difficulties. The zip lines shoot you down a huge hill at awesome speeds! Feed your appetite at the concessions if you like. They also offer hiking and fishing (catch and release) for bass in their pond.
Go Ape Treetop Adventure Courses
At Go Ape, their mission is to “encourage everyone to live life adventurously …” and boy do they! With locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, you should be able to find one that isn’t too far from your destination!
Wild Blue
Seventy two different challenging features that are 35 feet off the ground can be found in Charleston, SC, at Wild Blue. They offer 3 different levels of difficulty to suit any participant. They even have a special area for kids ages 4-9 (most adventure parks limit participants to 8 and up). Find your challenge today at Wild Blue!
High Gravity Adventures
You can reach heights of up to 50 feet at High Gravity Adventures in Blowing Rock, NC. They offer over 70 different challenges that range in difficulty for all skill levels. If you like, attend “ground school” where they will show you how to use the tethers and how to get in and out of the park. Rise to the occasion and try a new adventure at one of these great parks as part of your next camping trip! Not only will you have a great time, you’ll get in a workout while you’re at it!
