Each year thousands hop on planes to explore the historic sites of Europe, the beaches of the Caribbean, and the heights of the Andes and Himalayan mountains. Would it surprise you to find out that there is a treasure trove of new things to see and experiences to be had that most tourists don’t know about? Keep reading to find out about some of these adventures from our travel enthusiasts.
Jason Kraemer
Jason Kraemer is the co-founder of Flashpacker Co where we write about travel gear, unique destinations, and the digital nomad lifestyle.
Carlisle Bay in Barbados
The beaches in Barbados provide some of the best places in the Caribbean for casual swimmers to see shipwrecks or underwater relics from wrecks.
Carlisle Bay in Barbados is a top Caribbean destination for scuba divers who flock to the numerous shipwrecks. For non-divers, the bay is a well-known and popular beach for sunbathing and cooling off in the beautiful water. What many travelers don’t realize is you can swim out from shore with just goggles and easily check out plenty of the wrecks. No dive experience or gear is needed! The wrecks are in shallow, crystal-clear water and easily visible from the surface. Many are just a few yards under the surface for swimmers to explore.
Don’t leave your goggles at the hotel when you go to other beaches on the island! Swimmers can stumble upon pieces of shipwrecks in waist-deep water in the areas surrounding dozens of the local beaches. Pop on your goggles when you’re swimming around and keep an eye out for intact canons or anchors that litter the rocky shallows, often mere feet from the shore!
Nikki Webster
Nikki Webster is a travel writer at Brit on the Move, who covers how to travel while grinding a day job and travel without breaking the bank, hotels, cruising, and off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Florida’s East Coast
One of the most unusual water activities can be found on the east coast of Florida via a bioluminescence Tour.
Bioluminescence is the emission of light by a living organism, which essentially turns the water luminous. If you kayak through the water while bioluminescence is present, the water glows blue when touched or moved. In Florida, you’ll encounter many manatees as well. The season runs through September or October in the state’s brackish, warm waters. To experience this [phenomenon], you have to head out at night. You can launch your kayak, but most people take a tour.
There are several tour providers across the state. Some popular locations are:
- Titusville
- Merritt Island
- Mosquito Lagoon
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that most people do not even know is a thing.
Adanna Jideofor
Adanna Jideofor is the PR Manager of Oliver Wicks, a Menswear Clothing Brand. She loves to travel on a whim.
Shipwreck in the Red Sea
The Red Sea in Egypt is a popular water adventure spot for tourists and divers. If you’re looking to explore the remains of The SS Thistlegorm shipwreck, which was a British cargo ship that sunk in 1941 after a German air attack, then Egypt is the place to go.
Treasure Island, Florida
Who would have thought that you can use a scooter to roam around and see the beauty of the underwater? It is a fun alternative for people who’re afraid to go diving.
Well, it is an easier version of diving, yet you can still get the same adventure. You can see the corals, different fishes and water creatures, and the entire marine life. Aside from its fun, it’s very safe and easy as well. There’s no need to worry, as you will be accompanied by a professional diver for assistance.
Christine Cunningham
Christine Cunningham, Assistant to City Manager at Kenai.city. She is also the author of “Women Hunting Alaska, an Outdoor Columnist, and a freelance writer.
Russian River Falls
Just a one-hour drive from the City of Kenai, the largest and oldest city on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, is the prospect of wild salmon leaping a waterfall right in front of you. Russian River Falls is a 5.1-mile trail good for all skill levels.
The best time to go is April-October, when you can catch thousands of sockeye salmon attempting to leap the falls to reach spawning grounds upstream. You can also catch a plethora of other wildlife, including bears, harlequin ducks, eagles, moose, and more!
Mike Flores
Mike Flores is the owner of several Alaskan companies including Ninilchik Charters, Destination Alaska, Soaring Eagle Lodge, and Seward Fishing Club.
Alaska’s Wilderness
Located on the Kenai Peninsula, Soaring Eagle Lodge offers all-inclusive packages including a plethora of water activities with unique attributes. Where to start?
Take a guided boat tour in the Kenai Fjords Park. Not only is this an eco-friendly tour, but the wildlife sightings are truly unique to Alaska. Study the incredible glaciers, along with birds, eagles, and marine life in all their natural beauty.
Need something a little more thrilling? You can’t get more adventurous than a bear viewing tour while out on the water.
Too much? Take a trip on the water and come back with gold in a gold mining tour!
Soaring Eagle Lodge offers one-of-a-kind tours you can’t get anywhere else in the world.
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