My favorite travel tip? Get high on vacation.
Over oceans. Above waterfalls. Across gorges. Beyond skylines. Among mountain peaks.
I love seeing the world from above. I’ve parasailed over the ocean, zipped over waterfalls, paraglided above mountain peaks, floated over valleys and climbed plenty of mountains to see what was waiting at the top.
And I’ve discovered that getting high doesn’t always require a harness, a helmet or hours of climbing. Sometimes I work really hard for the view. Other times, I happily ride a gondola, take a train across a gorge, drive to an overlook or step into an elevator and push the button for the top floor. They all count.
That’s the idea behind my Get High adventures: finding ways to get above a destination and see it from a different perspective. Some require courage. Some require serious effort. And some require nothing more strenuous than getting out of the car.
A beautiful view doesn’t have to be earned to be appreciated. However you get there, look down, look out and take it all in.
Because adventure always looks better from above.
Get High on Your Own Two Feet
I’ve climbed enough mountains to know that there is something especially satisfying about reaching a high point on my own two feet. The view is wonderful, but so is knowing exactly what it took to get there.
Of course, not every summit requires an epic climb. Some of my favorite high views have come after relatively short walks. Others require miles on the trail, thousands of feet of elevation gain and a lot more determination.
But a summit isn’t the only reason to climb. I’ve found incredible views from the tops of waterfalls, along cliffside trails, from fire towers and observation decks, and standing high above the ground in historic church domes and government buildings. I’ve climbed bell towers and centuries-old staircases, stood atop historic landmarks and taken in city skylines from the roofs of high-rises.
If there’s a way to the top, I’m going up!
Let Something Else Take You Up
I also have absolutely no problem letting something else do the climbing.
Gondolas, aerial trams and scenic chairlifts can carry you into the mountains without the long hike. Scenic trains can hug mountainsides, cross high trestles and travel above gorges, making the ride itself part of the adventure.
In cities, I look for ways to get above the skyline. Observation towers, skyscrapers and rooftop viewpoints give me a chance to see how a city fits together in a way I simply can’t from the sidewalk.
And sometimes I let the car do all the work. I enjoy pulling into a scenic overlook, stepping out of the car and being awed by the view. As much as I love a challenging hike, I don’t believe every beautiful view has to be earned the hard way.
Sometimes the best travel decision is simply to go up.
Soar Above It All
Some of my favorite Get High adventures have involved leaving solid ground behind.
I’ve parasailed above the ocean, zipped over waterfalls and paraglided above mountain peaks. Each one gave me a completely different view, and each required that moment when I had to trust the equipment, the person in charge and my own decision to do this in the first place. Because in a flash, I was rewarded with views that I could have easily missed.
These adventures aren’t about the adrenaline for me. It is all about the perspective. For a few minutes, I’m not looking up at the mountain, waterfall or coastline. I’m above it, looking across it and down into it.
Float Above the Landscape
Hot air ballooning is a completely different kind of high.
There is something wonderfully peaceful about quietly floating above the landscape while the busyness of the world continues far below. Roads, rivers, vineyards, valleys and towns stretch out beneath the basket, but from above, everything seems to slow down.
There is no trail to follow, no summit to conquer and nowhere I need to hurry. I can simply float and admire the vastness and beauty of the earth below me. It’s quiet. It’s beautiful. And gives you a chance to slow down and simply appreciate the view from above.
Cross Something Really High
Then there are the times when getting high means crossing from one side to the other.
I’ve walked suspension bridges with rivers and gorges far below and taken in views from places where looking straight down is part of the fun or, sometimes, best avoided.
Skywalks, glass observation platforms and high train trestles offer that same change in perspective. You’re simply suspended above the landscape long enough to appreciate that you are just one tiny part of this incredible world.
The View From Above
From above, the places I explore look different. Mountains stretch farther than I imagined. Cities become patterns of streets and rooftops. Rivers wind through valleys I couldn’t fully appreciate from the ground. And sometimes the world below simply becomes quieter.
Getting high gives me a chance to see the bigger picture.
Sometimes reaching that view has required plenty of effort or a little courage. Other times, I’ve simply stepped out of a car, onto a rooftop or into a gondola. How I get there matters far less than taking the opportunity to go.
So when I travel somewhere new, I inevitably find myself looking up and wondering:
Can I get up there?
If the answer is yes, I am definitely going!
Because adventure really does look better from above.
