Are you wondering what outdoor adventure trips you should go on in 2024? Me too. We’re nearing the end of 2023, and it’s time to start planning for next year! Honestly, one of my favorite parts about outdoor adventure is the planning. I love to daydream about the location, I love to feel prepared, and I love to shop for supplies I don’t have yet. Any excuse I can find to visit REI – I’ll take it.
I tend to write more technical blog posts, because I want to provide information that is easy to comb through. This post is a bit different. I’ve been writing these posts consistently for over a year now. I haven’t missed my weekly publishing goal since I began writing consistently last December. By writing a more self-serving post this week, I hope to get over my blog writing burnout!
Here are a few outdoor adventure locations that I’m DYING to visit in 2024. Some are places I’ve never been, and others I fell in love with and hope to return. I hope you gain some inspiration on where you might want to explore in 2024.
Kayaking at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Ever since I found a quarter with the Apostle Islands printed on it, I’ve wanted to go. It seems like the most amazing kayaking location, with sandstone cliffs and gorgeous emerald water. There are 21 islands to explore, each with its own unique history and landscaping. I’m dying to kayak through the sea caves, which are carved out by erosion and large enough that you can paddle under the archways. There’s also a ton of Native American tribal history in the area, and it’s definitely worth learning about and honoring during your visit.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore covers over 700 miles of land and water. You can go on multi-day kayaking trips, sea cave tours, stand-up paddleboard tours, and more. If it were up to me (and I had unlimited time), I would go with an outdoor adventure guide on a multi-day trip. Just imagine kayaking and exploring during the days and camping out on the islands at night. Sounds amazing. You can even explore ice caves if you visit in the wintertime!
Hiking in Zion National Park
I’ve been to Zion before, but I need at least three days at the park to do everything I missed the first time. With only one day to explore the park, I completed The Narrows hike (the bottom-up version). If I were to get the most out of three (or more) days of outdoor adventure in Zion, here’s what I would do.
The Narrows hike is absolutely amazing and unique. The bottom-up hike (out and back) can take over half of your day, and the top down version can take one-to-two days to complete. My dream is to complete the top-down hike and camp overnight on the way down. For some reason, hiking through a river is one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. I enjoyed it more than sky diving, more than water-skiing, and it’s just hiking. Through water. To be fair, the slot canyon that you hike through is gorgeous, and you feel isolated from the rest of the world. Hiking through the river and battling currents is peaceful and chaotic at the same time.
Of course, there’s also Angel’s Landing. An iconic hike, which now needs a permit to complete. If I got lucky, I would definitely add this hike to my Zion itinerary. Even with my slight fear of heights, I believe that the feeling of achievement is worth the risk.
There are many amazing hikes in Zion National Park, but only one more I couldn’t bear to miss. Emerald Pools Trail showcases beautiful waterfalls that pour into shimmering emerald pools of water. Because visitors can’t go into the water or do anything to disturb the wildlife, it is an amazing example of Zion’s natural ecosystems and wild spaces. I can’t wait to see them for real.
Swimming with Whales in French Polynesia
This one stems from some gorgeous posts I saw on Instagram by @andrea.ference. Although deep sea diving is intimidating to me (dark waters and hydrostatic pressure, no thanks), swimming with whales seems magical. From what I can tell, you can pay to join a guide in French Polynesia and swim just under the surface of the water with those majestic beasts. Whales are amazing – the largest living creatures on earth. They deserve to be protected and admired (without being disturbed). French Polynesia is a self-declared Marine Mammal Sanctuary, so I believe it would be one of the best places to go to interact with whales.
French Polynesia would not only be a fantastic destination because of the whales, but also because of its gorgeous beaches and stunning blue waters. Aside from swimming with whales, you can also enjoy surfing, diving, and hiking around the islands. Ideally, you’d be able to visit locally-run areas of the island, where locals profit from the tourism rather than foreign companies.
Complete a Via Ferrata Route in the Dolomites
Trekking through the Dolomites is a dream of mine that was so close to coming true this past summer. Not only did I travel through Northern Italy, but I literally had every piece of equipment needed to use the via ferrata routes. I packed my helmet, harness, via ferrata hookup, crag cloves, and carabiners. I booked my hut-to-hut accommodations 3 months before the trip. In the end, I cancelled it all. Why? Because I failed to figure out transportation (AND I got scared to do it alone). When I arrived in Italy, I realized that I would have probably needed to rent a car to complete the trek. You can take some local buses into the area, but I wasn’t comfortable enough to trust my use of Italian bus systems.
As an American, it can be tough to get used to organizing public transport across a country that you’ve never set foot in before. Rather than risk missing a bus and my reservations in the Dolomites huts, I decided that I would rather try again later. Another trip to Europe with a friend, and renting a car instead.
Via Ferrata routes are the perfect combination between hiking and rock climbing. Most routes are easier to traverse than climbing routes, so they end up being very much like an everyday hiking trail. However, you still get the fun of being hooked up to a harness and navigating across treacherous areas of rock. If you can’t go to Italy to try out via ferrata, there are some located in the United States as well.
Surfing in California
Surfing is one of those sports with a high skill ceiling. It’s easy to get started, but there is a clear difference between casual surfers and dedicated hobbyists or professionals. Being able to stand on a board and soar through the waves is such a unique experience. Anytime I visit the coast, I think about going surfing. Why not? There are a ton of beaches that are fit for beginners, and countless surfing teachers that would be happy to show you the ropes.
California is one of the best places for surfing in the world. No matter the time of year, you’ll likely be able to find some good waves. If you’re planning a trip to go surfing, just do some research on what to wear depending on the temperature of the water. I don’t know much, but typically you’ll see surfers wearing wetsuits to maintain a healthy body temperature.
There’s just something fantastic about being in the water and using the ocean’s energy to move. If you’re a type-2-fun kind of person like me, surfing is just another amazing activity to try as you explore the world.
Fun stuff!