Never Stop Chasing: Top Daring Activities to Regain your Youth
Everyone knows that certain person who’s always testing the boundaries, chasing that free-falling, blood-rushing, adrenaline-flowing feeling. Frank Farley, a professor of educational psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, says these people have a Type T personality. The “T” stands for thrill. They crave excitement and novel experiences. Fortunately, this thrill-seeking behavior is due to both psychological and biological factors and isn’t necessarily going to fade with age. There are still plenty of exciting endeavors for those who are in their fifties and later.
Learn to Fly a Plane
Depending on the type of certificate you are seeking, the frequency of flight lessons, the weather, and type of aircraft you are training in, learning to fly can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $9,000 according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. However, for a real adrenaline junkie, flying a plane may just be number one on the bucket list. Plus, it’s common for beginning pilots to actually be retired and fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Wildlife/Hunting Tours
Throughout all areas of the United States and beyond, there are companies specifically operated to help give tourists a true appreciation for the local environment. Whether it’s just sightseeing, nabbing an alligator, or shooting a trophy whitetail deer, experiencing a wildlife tour or going on a hunt with a professional can give a thrill like no other. Most hunts are going to cost a minimum of $2,000, with the more exotic animals and locations costing much more.
Zip Lining
Using a harness, a cable and a removable trolley, a zip line is an exciting means of carrying a person from point A to point B, usually as part of a more challenging ropes course. The popularity of zip lines has increased greatly since around 2009. While smaller zip lines are popping up everywhere, including local zoos and other attractions, larger, professional zip line courses are hot spots for travelers to Costa Rica and Puerto Vallarta.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
A one hour balloon ride in the southwestern area of the United States will cost around $200 per person. Riders enjoy beautiful views from 1,000 feet up in the air and memories to last a lifetime. What else could an adrenaline-charged adventurer ask for?
Skydiving
Quite possibly the first thing that comes to people’s mind when they think of a thrill-seeking past time, skydiving is available all over the country. With some skydiving companies setting upper age limits in the 70s, Skydive New England says, “An 80th birthday is as good of a reason to skydive as an 18th birthday is!” A tandem skydive ranges from $200 to $300 and includes instruction, equipment, a scenic plane ride and of course, the skydive!
Age is just a number. The search for exhilaration and excitement is never-ending and there are plenty of bold and daring activities out there for men and women over 55 to take part in. As a French romantic writer, George Sand, once said, “Try to keep your soul young and quivering right up to old age.”