ADVENTURE TRAVEL
Why do people travel? Well, many people travel because they want to see other countries and visit places that are famous, interesting or beautiful. People also travel to meet new friends, to try new kinds of food, to experience life in other parts of the world or simply to get away from cold weather. Yet there are other reasons why people travel. Many of today's travelers are looking for an unusual experience and adventure travel is becoming more and more popular. Here is a quick look at two popular activities: hiking and rafting.
HIKING
Instead of spending your vacation on a bus, in a hotel or sitting on the beach, you may want to try hiking. Hiking is a great way to travel. You will get close to nature and take exercise at the same time. Hiking is easy to do and doesn't have to be very expensive. You can hike close to home or travel to other places. The basic equipment you need for hiking is simple: good shoes, clothes and a backpack. You can hike in the mountains, in a forest or along a river. You can also go for a hike in the city. Hiking is fun and exciting, but you shouldn't forget safety. Here are some basic tips for successful hiking:
◆ Don't hike alone.
◆ Tell someone where you are going.
◆ Bring water and a good map.
◆ Watch out for dangers, such as spiders, snakes or poisonous plants.
◆ Wear a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
◆ Bring a cell-phone if you have one.
RAFTING
Another exciting adventure is rafting. A raft is a small boat that you can use to paddle down rivers and streams. Rafting is a good way to experience nature. If you want a normal rafting trip, choose a quiet stream or river that is wide and has few fallen trees or rocks. If you are looking for more excitement, you may want to try whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting is more adventurous and difficult than normal rafting. It is done on rivers and streams where the water moves quickly. You have to be careful not to hit rocks, trees and other dangers. The name “whitewater” comes from the fact that the water in these steams and rivers looks white when it moves quickly. As with hiking, you should always think about your safety and wear good clothes. You also need to learn the basic skills of rafting, such as how to handle the raft, how to paddle and how to get in and out of the raft. You should not go rafting unless you know how to swim, and you should always wear a life jacket.