SUMMER
ACTIVITIES FOR JEWISH JUNKIES
By
Alon Krausz, Reprinted from the Blueprint
Tired of hiking? Bored with canoeing? Is rollerblading in Central Park losing
its appeal? Surely, there must be more, say you, the Jewish adrenaline junkie
(what kind of junkie did you think I was referring to?).
There is indeed more, and for the unusual Jewish soul who'd rather watch the
X-Games than the Expos, read on, and learn how to quench your thirst for
thrills and chills.
Skydiving
Not nearly as terrifying or as dangerous as it sounds, skydiving does make for
a darn good story at the office the next day. So how do you do it? Check out
"Sky's the Limit" at http://skydive.skysthelimit.net/. The thrill of jumping
out of a plane at 12,000 feet does not come cheaply - the lowest cost option, a
one time tandem jump, will set you back $185 on a weekend. If you have a lot of
wild and crazy friends, bring them along, and go free as a group organizer.
Hang gliding
If you decide to spend a Sunday learning to hang glide, you won't exactly be
leaping off cliffs as part of your initial education. But you will be learning
the sport and getting some air while jumping off a training hill. The place to
do it is Mountain Wings, in Ellenville, about 2 hours away
(http://www.flightschool.net/). While not death-defying on day one, it sure is
fun, and if you wish, you can take up the sport in earnest, and earn a pilot's
license in just 10 days.
Tubing
Tubing the Esopus Creek in the Catskills is no "hidden gem". Many organizations
and camps head to Phoenicia for this fun outing every summer. But what most
people don't know is that once a month in July and August, there is a dam
release that turns a fun trip into a wild adventure. If you are lucky enough to
hit the Esopus on such a day, expect to get a little banged up as your tube
flips, or as you veer uncontrollably into boulders. To find out when the Esopus
is flooded, contact either one of the two tube rental places in the area, FS
Tube Rental (http://www.catskillpark.com/fs.html) or The Town Tinker
(http://www.towntinker.com/).
Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping is surely one of the most terrifying activities that exists; it
is in a league of its own, even as compared to skydiving and hang gliding.
Wanna give it a shot?
There are three ways you can go bungee jumping. One is to head to your nearest
amusement park, such as Six Flags NJ or Lake George, and check out the
skycoaster, the only legal bungee jumping anywhere within 3 hours. It is good,
clean, safe fun, and you won't get arrested. Of course, if escaping the law is
part of the thrill you seek, then do a little homework, and you'll learn how to
illegally jump off the Manhattan Bridge. Sorry- can't help you with the details
lest I become an accomplice. For the best of both worlds- legal jumping off of
a bridge, you need to get on a plane. Head to Costa Rica for Tropical Bungee,
or to New Zealand, where it all began, or to South Africa for the highest
bungee jump in the world. Prepare your will prior.
