Slow drives, apple picking, or a gentle stroll through a forest? Snooze. It's time to up your leaf-peeping game this fall. So put down the Pumpkin Spice latte and buckle up! These adrenaline-pumping foliage tours aren't for the faint of heart.
(Photo: Foliage Scenery at Hudson Region via Shutterstock)
Ziplining in New Hampshire
Get a totally different view of the changing leaves by seeing them from above-as you speed by on a zipline. New Hampshire's Attitash Mountain is the single-longest zipline in the continental U.S. feet, so you'll have 4,969 feet of uninterrupted gazing.
(Photo: Max Gosselin/Attitash Mountain Resort)
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RELATED: The Top Five Most Requested Activities by Travelers
Off-Road Segway Tour in Ohio
You've probably seen tourists riding Segways down the streets of major cities before, but did you know that these eye-catching devices can go off-road? (Just, you know, don't take them near any cliffs, like the former boss of Segway, who met an unfortunate and ironic end on the machine.)
The expert guides Hocking Hills Canopy Tours will take you on a motorized adventure through Rockbridge State Nature Preserve in Ohio, where the old-growth trees change into vibrant colors in the fall.
(Photo: Hocking Hills Canopy Tours/Zip Ohio)
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Hot Air Balloon Rides in Vermont
New England is known for its quintessential fall foliage, so head on up to Vermont to see the leaves from a different perspective-from the basket of a hot air balloon. Balloon Vermont offers journeys over the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain for classic countryside views.
(Photo: Jason M. Provost)
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RELATED: Top 10 Hot Air Balloon Destinations
Bungee Jump in Canada
Careful-if you close your eyes in terror, you're going to miss out on the blur of fall colors as you plummet towards the earth on the Great Canadian Bungee. This 200-foot fall takes you over a lagoon. The views are gorgeous in the fall, assuming you don’t black out in fear.
(Photo: Great Canadian Bungee/Alex Potvin)
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Motorcycle Tour in North Carolina
You'll need to BYOM (Bring Your Own Motorcycle) for this one, but if you have a bike (or a friend who does) you can explore the rolling foothills of North Carolina on a three-day guided motorcycle tour with NC Touring's Fall Foliage Tour. You'll camp along the way, sleeping surrounded by some of the best color that nature has to offer!
(Photo: Asphalt Road with Motorcycles Autumn via Shutterstock)
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Mountain Coaster in the Great Smokey Mountains
Rollercoasters aren't just for amusement parks-you can find then in way more scenic locals. Like the Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster, which winds through the trees in the Appalachian woods of the Smokies. Coast at a slow pace and take lots of fall selfies, or take your hand off the brakes and go as fast as you want!
(Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)
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RELATED: 13 Best National Parks to See in the Fall
Sidecar Tour in the Poconos
See the scenery of the Poconos without worrying about keeping your eyes on the road as you travel in a vintage BMW motorcycle sidecar with Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz. Choose to immerse yourself in nature at Hickory Run State Park, or take a detour to a local winery for tastings.
(Photo: Courtesy of Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz)
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RELATED: 5 Thrilling Adventure Activities in New Zealand
ATV Tour in New Hampshire
Unlike most fall foliage road trips, this one won't involve traffic jams-because it takes place deep in the Mountains of Colebrook on an ATV. Bear Rock Adventures lets you go off-roading with or without a tour guide, offering plenty of scenic stops along the way.
(Photo: What a Ride via flickr/CC Attribution)
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RELATED: 10 Best Secret U.S. Road Trips
Hang Gliding in Maine
This is no ordinary plane ride. In a hang glider, you're launched off by a tow plane and then soar safely down to the ground without an engine. You'll be able to appreciate the amazing panoramic views of Acadia National Park in complete, dreamy, silence with Acadia Air Tours.
(Photo: TripAdvisor, LLC)
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Read the original story: 9 Crazy Ways to Experience Fall Foliage by Caroline Morse, who is a regular contributor to SmarterTravel.
