Matador Network's Blog, page 2244

What you'll miss from Charleston, SC

Photo: John Piercy

1. Oysters from Bowens Island

I am a strong believer in the aphrodisiac quality of oysters, and I have yet to top the sensual experience produced at Bowens Island. This place serves the freshest genital-esque morsels to ever go down your throat (that are not actually human genitalia). If you’re not Kosher and love seafood, you will miss this no-nonsense establishment located en route to Folly Beach.

Bowens Island serves these love-globs right off the dock. The restaurant doesn’t waste time with fancy plating; eat from a paper plate or directly off the wooden table. You will definitely miss that primal human satisfaction of shucking meat from a shell and slurping down the gooey goodness.

2. Horse cops busting house parties

I miss the initial confusion of witnessing a horse nose on my porch. I also miss drunkenly petting said horse nose, then petting the cop, then trying to get the cop to come inside and failing miserably…then having to tell my DJ friend to turn down the Major Lazer jams as I sip the last disgusting drops of the Four Loko I purchased at the T & L grocery.

3. Jasmine-scent-drenched-sidewalks in the spring

The scent is so alluring it will make you want to caress and kiss things.

4. Upper King Street bars

Sure, I could bourgeois-it-up Southern Belle-style near The Battery or Market Street area, but my fondest nights were spent at the grittier watering holes north of Calhoun Street. I downed White Gummy Bear shots at A.C.’s Bar and Grill (which serves the best chicken and waffles hangover brunch), sipped beers at Closed For Business, stumbled into Dellz Deli for a midnight sandwich, and tongued my ex on the way to Recovery Room, where I delighted in the PBR-soaked, dirty hipster love under the Crosstown overpass.

5. Running into Bill Murray

Yes. Bill Fucking Murray lives there. I miss spotting him at Kudu Coffee, or at Charleston Riverdogs games. He’s known for making appearances at super weird places and times, especially near the College of Charleston campus. Apparently he recently crashed a bro’s bachelor party. I’ve never wanted to be a soon-to-be-married bro more.

6. Blue Bicycle Books

As someone who discovered her love for modern and contemporary poetry while in Charleston, I will say this is THE best used bookshop around town (and probably in the world). It’s the only independent bookstore on the peninsula, and the owners are helpful and welcoming. The sleepy cat that lives in the store could turn any feline-hater around.

7. Sippin’ sweet tea vodka on the “veranda”

Yeah, they call porches “verandas” down there. The verandas slope downward because of hurricanes, and many were erected by ship-builders in the 1800s. I know this because pretty much any apartment available for rent is a historic Charleston single house. Doesn’t matter if the banister is full of splinters, or the floorboards creak loud as hell during a public sex act — it’s still a veranda, and nothing less.

And when in Charleston, you must have an experience “sippin’ sweet tea on the veranda.” Sweet tea alone is too saccharine for my Northern palate, but Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka? No mixers needed.

8. Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island

Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island from 1827-1828, and this is where he set his 1843 short story “The Gold Bug.” The relatively quiet beach community pays homage to “The Raven” writer with a place to get awesome burgers, aptly titled Poe’s Tavern.

With Poe quotes scrawled across the floor and walls, a fish taco menu, and a laid-back vibe, it doesn’t really make much sense. But, it’s fucking lovable. Anything that strives to keep literary greats alive in this day and age gets a thumbs-up from this gal.

9. The Unitarian Church Cemetery

Located on Archdale Street, the Unitarian Church Cemetery might be the place I miss the most in Charleston. It makes me a bit morbid, but if ever there was a place for the dead that teemed with life and lots of greenery, it’s this graveyard. I spent countless hours writing here. Live oaks grow into headstones. Spanish moss sways amongst the grave plots of families dating back to the Revolutionary War. Palmetto branches shade you, and wild flowers grow everywhere. Basically, the dead people give you high-fives.

When you die, you will luck out if you somehow score a plot here.

'Without Tits There Is No Paradise'

Sin Tetas no Hay Paraíso. Image via formulatv.com

Fluorescent light flickered from above as I looked around at the other patients. Men and women of all ages each had a different body part either bruised or bandaged. Some sat in relief, others stood or limped with the assistance of a partner. They all had something sliced back, sewed on, pumped out, or lasered-off. The waiting room seemed more like a triage facility than a clinic. Judging from the number of surgeries they had collectively undergone, I felt I could have spent all day running from ward to ward to seek out any change to my body that a dollar could buy.

I was focused on the teenage girl across from me when the nurse called my name. It was evidently several days after her rhinoplasty — she had two black eyes and swollen cheeks; the joy of her new nose seemed yet to kick in. At her side was her mother, undoubtedly in full support of the operation. I could almost see the girl’s future in the history of her mother’s surgeries. With a Grand Canyon of cleavage, a face held up by botox, and lips built from silicon, she clearly had a passion for “corrections.”

This is Colombia, where cosmetic surgery is a part of the nation’s culture. I had come here for a friend’s wedding, but I’d also made the decision to opt in and get some work done myself.

Life in plastic

By the time I reached Colombia, I was two months into my journey along the Pan-American Highway. Every day, a different part of the 48,000km network of roads across the Americas was a place I called home. Along the section that also makes up the South American backpacker trail, from Tierra Del Fuego to the Panama Canal, all the guys I met had one thing in common — a love for Colombian women.

As soon as I hit the streets in Bogotá and Medellín to go suit shopping for the wedding, I too fell head over heels. Everywhere, low-cut tops revealed perfect boobs, and skinny black jeans showed off J-Lo designed bums. From my first day, I couldn’t wait for a chance to hit the clubs and dance some reggaeton.

In Colombia, there are zero qualms attached to cosmetic surgery. It’s a place founded on an industry of perfection. There are over 500 clinics in Colombia, making it the fifth highest nation of people going under the knife per capita. This huge stat even ranks it above the United States. In his song “International Love,” Pitbull raps: “In Colombia women got everything done, but they some of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.”

It’s 2014 — Google a doctor.

It’s not just Colombians that are having work done. Tens of thousands of gringos flock to the Latin American nation each year as a part of a package deal. Medical tourism is not a new idea, but what draws tourists to Colombia is that the surgeons are actually world-renowned, especially in body sculpture.

I began my own search for a doctor with Google. On the fourth link down, he was there waiting for me in my browser window. He stood proud and confident in an image from the early ’90s on the cover of Time’s magazine. Yes, Time’s, not Time. He was supposedly an expert in LASIK eye surgery. I had been wanting to get my vision corrected ever since I heard it was possible. I know it’s not peck implants, but it’s about as close as I was willing to go to body modification. I called, and within an hour I was in the waiting room.

Kids and scalpels

A friend of mine told me she had her ears pinned back at the age of 12. It’s a tough time for anyone when puberty begins, but she told me in Colombia it’s far worse. Social pressure is placed on those little imperfections which, in another culture, might be considered a cute feature. It’s a place where growing sexual tension is met with an even greater need for a sexual image. And all this comes with full parental support.

But what makes colombianas want a breast augmentation for their 15th birthday instead of a date with One Direction goes deeper, and into the darker part of Colombia’s past.

Narco beauty

During the late ’80s and early ’90s, the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar and his Medellín Cartel ruled over Colombia. At the height of his power, it’s estimated he controlled 80% of the world’s cocaine market, and was listed as one of Forbes magazine’s 227 billionaires. The lifestyle was glamorous, and so were his women, the “Narco Novias”. Escobar and his henchmen were obsessed with a body image of a woman that puts Barbie to shame.

His all-encompassing influence sifted down to the “ordinary” people, so that his tastes came to define beauty in Colombia. For the women who wanted in, cosmetic surgery became less about fixing what your mama gave you and more about buying social status. Being a Narco Novia was a way to climb out of poverty.

Today in Colombia the cartels have lost their power, but this idea of beauty, and what it can get you, remains. In Escobar’s hometown of Medellín there’s even a free cosmetic surgery program on offer to the city’s poorest. The medical students are able to practice their skills, and the community can get the breasts and bums immortalized in Colombian pop culture. One of the most popular telenovellas (TV soap operas) from the past few years was Sin Tetas no Hay Paraíso — “Without Tits There Is No Paradise.”

The obsession with perfection

Just prior to having my corneas detached and a laser sent through my eyes, I had a moment to talk to my doctor about the Colombian obsession with perfection. I asked him why it is that Colombians have such a desire for cosmetic surgery. His response: “I think because they can do it cheaply and easily, and they all want to follow what their image of beauty is.”

Back home in Australia, more than half the kids I went to school with had braces on their teeth. When cosmetic surgery is used to enhance sexual image, there’s a certain stigma attached to it. In Colombia this doesn’t exist — if anything it’s encouraged. But it’s with the greatest irony that two of Colombia’s most famous women, Shakira and Sofia Vergara, have never had any work done, at all.

17 signs you're from Kentucky

Photo: Cosmo Spacely

I’VE LIVED ALL OVER the country, but I was born and raised in Kentucky. I’ve been to every part of it and, while there’s definitely some variety among the different regions, for the most part it’s full of kind and caring people who work hard and appreciate quality time with family and friends.

Here are 17 signs you were born and raised in the Bluegrass State.

1. You’ve tried to hold your breath while driving through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel.

2. You’ve fished every lake from Lake Cumberland to Lake Barkley to Laurel Lake.

3. You’ve driven past the Florence Y’all water tower on multiple occasions.

4. You tell people what county you’re from instead of the city or town.

5. You know that a Southern accent doesn’t automatically deduct IQ points.

6. You know Ale-8 is good in the can, but if you want to do it right, you have to drink it in a glass bottle.

7. If Ale-8 wasn’t your thing, then you may have drunk Ski.

8. You’re used to people asking if you watch Justified when you tell them you’re from Kentucky.

9. You fish with “minners” instead of minnows.

10. When you buy Grippos, you know to open the bag from the bottom so all the BBQ powder gets on top of the chips.

11. You know who Travis Ford, Doug Pelfrey, and Cameron Mills are, and you probably have one of their jerseys somewhere in your house.

12. You know there are two types of tea: sweet tea, and tea that hasn’t been sweetened yet.

13. If you’re from Eastern Kentucky, you know the worst road ever to drive on is US-119.

14. You still hate Duke, and you may still have one of the shirts that says DUKE on it but has the D and the E crossed out so it says UK.

15. You say hello to people on the street even if you don’t know them. It’s just a nice thing to do.

16. You know the grass isn’t actually blue.

17. You probably related to some of these but may have no clue about the others, because each part of the state has such a different feel and culture.

How to piss off your teenager abroad

Image: Meral Crifasi

Take him on a trip.

Yep, it starts with the trip itself. Maybe there are some 15-year-old boys who would enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to be their mother’s travel companion, going off on wild adventures in exotic lands. Mine doesn’t. “Grudgingly agrees” would more aptly describe his attitude to our current five-month Ecuadorian escapade. In fact, just being here seems to elicit “this sucks” from him.

Take his picture.

He may even be laughing and I’m sure he’s having a good time (yay!), but the scowl will be out before the shutter opens, guaranteed. And no amount of teasing, cajoling, or outright begging will turn that frown upside down. I shudder to think how many albums, iPhones, and Facebook pages around the world are now graced with his menacing evil eye.

I can’t wait until we sit down together in 20 years and go through the photos of this trip, when he has matured (and is well past the age that social services could be involved). I’m sure we’ll have a good laugh over it…NOT.

Ask him what he wants to do.

Forget it. It’s much more fun to let me choose — the restaurant, hostel, day’s activity, you name it. That way, if it doesn’t turn out perfectly (which it never does), it’s my fault, and I can be berated accordingly. He sure seemed to have his own mind at home, but I guess choosing what to make for dinner or which movie to watch tonight are less threatening choices.

I keep reminding myself that the arrogant facade of self-confidence is just that — a facade — and that even small decisions in a foreign country can be intimidating. It doesn’t really help.

Encourage him to use the local language.

We speak two languages at home, and have done so since my son was born. So while I knew he wasn’t looking forward to speaking Spanish, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. And he does seem to pick it up easily — at least I think that’s what the exasperated look (often accompanied by eye roll / heavy sigh) means when I offer to translate a conversation for him.

Of course, he won’t go so far as to participate in that conversation past the level of a nod or unavoidable response. “Repeat after me” has a 100% piss-off success rate — only to be used when I really want to fire him up.

Reflect on how wonderful it is to have this quality time together.

And it really is wonderful…just better not to mention it. We’re getting to know each other on a different level. We have to trust and take care of each other. We’re thinking and talking about things we never would have back home. And we laugh a lot together.

It’s only a five-month trip, and his friends / school / life will all still be there when we get home. Someday he may even consider himself lucky to have gone on this trip with me…hopefully!

London public transport vs your bike

Image: Is it quicker to take public transport or cycle in London?

The world’s largest cities share trends in conversation. Arguably, getting around the city and dialogue on public transport dominates. Within that, there’s often the fiery exchange that’s defined by your preferred mode. Young eco-warriors and über-cool cyclists in London argue for the overland freewheeling option, whilst the suited and booted and vast majority opt for buses or tubes.

Now the debate as to what’s quicker can end, thanks to this interactive map allowing you to plot your course and find out if you’ll get around faster on two wheels, four, or by rail.

Southeast Asia's wildest temple

OVER 40,000 BUDDHIST TEMPLES can be found in Thailand, most of which are decorated in lacquer and gold. One exception is Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple. Clad in white and silver, the Chalermchai Kositpipat-designed site attracts locals and foreigners alike to gawk and photograph.

You begin on the pat that leads towards the main temple entrance. The walkway is surrounded by hands reaching up from hell, elaborate dragon figurines, seemingly demonic severed heads, and horned warriors protecting the entrance. A likeness of Predator can be found on the grounds, among other unconventional features, including figurine heads of Hellboy, Pinhead, and Freddy Krueger hanging from a nearby tree.

Chalermchai requests that the inside of Wat Rong Khun not be photographed — murals featuring images of Keanu Reeves, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Spiderman, and Superman (among other interesting characters and designs) are found within.

With all the numerous features uncommon with regards to a Buddhist temple, it’s no surprise that so many people make the journey to visit Wat Rong Khun. Below, enjoy 21 great images of Wat Rong Khun’s exterior, courtesy of some of these photographers from around the globe.

1


Photo: Robert Seitz





2


Photo: Tessy Och and Maddie Paaventyr





3


Photo: Jon Eickmeier












4


Photo: David Poppe





5


Photo: Poas Travelers





6


Photo: DSWarthout





7


Photo: Wanderlust Mike






8


Photo: Katerine Griffiths





9


Photo: Annalisa Marie













10


Photo: Annalisa Maris





11


Photo: Purpleish





12


Photo: Katrina Lennon





13


Photo: Karli in Korea





14


Photo: Revealing World





15


Photo: Greg Goodman












16


Photo: Joanna Hutchins





17


Photo: Katherine Griffiths





18


Photo: Taylor Record

Inside the Darien Gap [pics]

THE DARIEN GAP is a remote, roadless swath of jungle that straddles the border of Panama and Colombia, a part of the world rarely seen by outsiders.

When asked what my favorite experience is after two years of travel, I usually describe camping on an erupting volcano in Guatemala, or my journey into the Darien Gap. The Darien has an almost mythical quality to it — a dangerous land full of exotic plants, wildlife, and indigenous people that’s largely untouched by the modern world.

I spent five days inside the Darien, exploring its formidable wilderness, to discover if the myths were true. The photo essay below should give you a small glimpse into this fascinating and mysterious area of Latin America.

All photos by author

1

Entrance to the Darien Jungle
This simple footbridge in the town of Yaviza marks the only break in a 29,000-mile road network known as the Pan-American Highway, stretching from Alaska to Argentina. The 99-mile section of impassible jungle between Central and South America is called the Darien Gap.





2

Local transportation
Most of the Darien rainforest is roadless, so long Piragua canoes like this are the primary mode of transportation. Locals with some money are able to afford an outboard motor, but most people propel themselves with hand-made wooden paddles—difficult due to strong river currents.





3

Traditional Emberá home
The Emberá Indians build their homes on stilts to protect against animals and flooding. The log ladder serves two purposes. Along with providing access to the home, if the notches are facing out visitors are welcome—if they are rolled under it means “do not disturb.”












4

Senafront base
These guys may look like military soldiers, but technically they are Panama’s elite border police. Drug smugglers use the Darien to transport their goods over the border from Colombia. Access to most areas in the Darien without Senafront’s explicit permission is impossible.





5

Poison dart frog
The Darien is home to many different species of frog. This is a type of poison dart frog, but I’m not yet sure what kind. If you happen to know the name of this species, let me know in the comments.





6

Darien National Park
The Darien rainforest is a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. With proper permissions you can go hiking and camping inside, as we did. It doesn’t get many visitors these days, though, so a machete is useful for clearing overgrown trails.





7

Big jungle scorpion
There are all kinds of dangerous creatures in the jungle, like this black scorpion we found while hiking. The Darien is also home to painful fire ants, deadly fer-de-lance snakes, jaguars, bot flies that lay eggs under your skin, wild pigs, and other animals you probably don’t want to meet up-close.





8

Chunga palm tree
This tree does not like to be hugged. You’ve been warned hippies! The Chunga palm (also called black palm) is found throughout the rainforests of the Darien. Their long, very sharp, bacteria-covered spines can be pretty nasty if you’re not careful.





9

Plantain banana farm
A majority of the indigenous people who live in the Darien earn money by growing plantain bananas, which are then shipped upriver to Yaviza and eventually sold in Panama City. This is a relatively new development—money was not a priority before hunting was banned in the national park.












10

Indigenous tribes
Along with some other kids, this girl came out in the rain to say hello as I stopped at a riverside security checkpoint in the Wounaan village of Vista Alegre. A few minutes after this photo was taken, the kids helped me save our canoe from floating away down the river with all my gear inside…





11

FARC anti-government guerillas
Meet Gilberto Torres Muñetón, aka “The Calf,” a commander of the notorious Colombian FARC guerrillas. He's wanted for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, kidnappings, and a bombing that killed 80 people along the border of Panama and Colombia. Wanted posters like this are found all around the Darien.





12

Security checkpoints
Private Wilson here guards a Senafront checkpoint on the road into the Darien. The Panamanian government is trying to reclaim the jungle from smugglers, bandits, and paramilitary groups. To be sure, there are plenty of camouflage uniforms and machine guns around.





13

Fishing the Turia River
One day, our Kuna guide Isaac took us hand-line fishing on the Turia River outside the village of El Real. This was our catch that afternoon, some of which we proceeded to cook up and eat for dinner. The rivers are absolutely full of fish. Throw your line in and 1 or 2 minutes later there will be something attached to it.





14

Kuna Indian woman
This is Mariana, our guide Isaac’s mom. She stopped in to say hello with her husband and show off their handicrafts, like this Mola bag. The Kuna are just one of three major indigenous groups that call the Darien jungle home.





15

Darien Gap flooding
Flooding is a big problem during the rainy season in Darien Province. I experienced this firsthand when trying to leave the area. A river broke its bank and submerged the road, forcing everyone to pay for boat rides over to the next dry section of land about 300 yards away.












16

Plantain farmer
The Darien isn’t only populated with indigenous people. Panamanians and Colombians have moved into the area to start plantain banana farms, cattle ranches, and logging operations. This local farmer ended up hitchhiking with us in the back of a truck, his horse trotting along behind.





17

Jungle consumption
The heat, humidity, and plant life of a rainforest will destroy anything in its path, like this old house. Sunlight is prime real estate, and everyone (and everything) wants in on the action. If left alone, this building would quickly be eaten by the jungle.





18

Swollen Turia River
This is the mighty Turia River, a main artery of transportation in the Darien Gap. The river is dark and swollen from heavy October rains. We slowly motored up the river for five hours heading to the village of Boca de Cupe, where I was soon expelled by Senafront soldiers who feared for my safety.





19

Canoe ride in the rain
Heading back to the village in a Piragua canoe after a rainy afternoon of fishing. This is my guide’s son in the front of the boat. The relaxed pace of life, interesting things to see, and complete lack of tourism are why Panama’s Darien Gap has been one of my most memorable experiences to date.

This post originally appeared at Expert Vagabond and is republished here with permission.

How to put an elephant to sleep

WE’RE BIG FANS OF LEK CHAILERT, and the work she does to help rehabilitate Asian elephants in Thailand. I’ve never seen someone care for animals in such a touching, personal way, and hopefully one day I’ll be able to volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park where she works. Watching her sing this beautiful Thai lullaby to baby elephant Fee Mai fills my heart with such happiness. It only further proves how animals are completely capable of emotional interaction with humans, and that by caring for them and showing them they are loved, they can be restored to a happy state once more.

Find out more about volunteering with Asian elephants with these resources:

How to see elephants responsibly on your trip to Thailand

Celebrity exclusive: Ashley Bell on elephant conservation

Elephant Valley Project: Rehabilitating Cambodia’s Asian elephants

13 under-the-radar Utah adventures

EXPLORING UTAH HAD BEEN on my bucket list for 10 years. Once I started mountain biking and climbing, I knew it was a place I had to visit. This was the year it finally happened.

Utah has so much to offer that months, let alone the three weeks I had in-state, just don’t suffice. I made the most of my time doing lots of hiking, biking, rock climbing, and even some canyoneering, but there’s always more. Below is some of what I’ll be looking forward to when I make it back to Utah.

1. Packrafting the Maze, Canyonlands National Park

Photo: Nick Taylor

Sometimes even backpacking won’t get you where you want to go. Packrafting is a brilliant way to continue your journey when water gets in the way. Hikers carry personal inflatable rafts and collapsible paddles weighing only 5 pounds, which allows them to travel the rivers safely and explore further. The Maze is a district of Canyonlands National Park that’s infrequently visited due to the challenge of accessing it by a rutted 4×4 road.

Using the Colorado-Green River as the road lets you see some of the Maze’s iconic landscapes, including the Doll House, Standing Rock, and the Shot and Water Canyons. Plus, when your body gets tired from so much hiking, the switch to paddling makes it easier to endure a long trip. For more information about packrafting in Utah, check out Forrest McCarthy’s guide.

2. Salt-flat car racing, Bonneville Salt Flats

Photo: Eric Ward

If you’ve always wanted to see just how fast your car or motorcycle can go, the Bonneville Salt Flats provide ideal conditions for setting land speed records. There are five racing events each year, including World of Speed for a few days each September. Racers must pre-register for events, but spectators are always welcome.

3. Climbing the Fisher Towers, Castle Valley

Photo: Gianina Lindsey

The Fisher Towers just outside of Moab are soaring sandstone spires reaching over 1,000 feet in the air. There are 39 trad routes for climbers to tackle the summits, but the routes are all graded fairly high. Luckily, there are plenty of guides who can safely take inexperienced (or experienced who didn’t bring gear) climbers up some of these. Nate Sydnor from Moab Desert Adventures led us up the twisty corkscrew climb of Ancient Art and gave us one of the most exhilarating adventures of our lives.

4. Sailing on Utah Lake, Utah Lake State Park

Photo: Billy Gast

When most people visualize Utah, it’s the desert landscape — canyons, spires, arches, hoodoos — that first come to mind. If water is thought of, it’s generally the Great Salt Lake that gets all of the attention. But Utah Lake, just outside Provo, is the state’s largest freshwater lake and one of the largest bodies of freshwater west of the Mississippi, covering 96,000 acres. Sailing is one of the main recreation activities here; if you’ve never sailed before, Bonneville School of Sailing can teach you everything you need to know.

5. Braving the via ferrata, Ogden

A via ferrata (“iron road” in Italian) is a series of metal rungs attached to a steep rock face, with an adjacent cable that climbers can clip into. The result is a protected climbing route that opens up spectacular rock faces to less-experienced climbers. Via ferratas were born in the Alps and are still not very widespread in the US, but Utah is home to one of the best: the Mount Ogden Via Ferrata. Located between the city of Ogden and Snowbasin Resort, the route tops out with some excellent views of the Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake.

6. Adventure racing, Moab

Photo: Zach Dischner

The AXS Moab Adventure Race is 6-12 hours of rugged adventure. It’s an annual event in April of each year that can be completed solo, as a team of two, or as a relay of four people. The different legs of the day include mountain biking, single-track trail running, paddling on the Colorado River, and an exciting 300’ rappel.

7. Paddling the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Manila

Photo: Eric Ward

In 1964 the Flaming Gorge Dam was built, creating a 91-mile-long lake in northeast Utah. The reservoir is conveniently located between Yellowstone and Arches National Parks and is a wonderful place for quiet kayaking, canoeing, and exploring the 350 miles of shoreline. Its several water-accessible campgrounds also set it up nicely for multi-day paddling trips. Sheep Creek is the best boat launch, as it’s closest to the most scenic areas: Flaming Gorge, Horseshoe Canyon, Hideout Draw, and Red Canyon.

8. Canyoneering Neon Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Photo: John Fowler

Utah is one of the world’s top canyoneering destinations. There are hundreds of remote and rugged canyons to scramble, rappel, and swim through. Neon Canyon makes for a mixed backpacking and canyoneering trip — it’s also super photogenic. Zion Adventure Company, with whom I took a guided tour of a canyon near Zion National Park, includes this multi-day adventure among their many canyoneering trips.

9. Wilderness survival camp, Boulder

Photo: Richard

I love fantasizing about what living in a hunting-gathering society might have been like. Boulder Outdoor Survival School provides the opportunity to learn and test your skills in survival rescue, making hunting materials and catching food, recognizing edible plants, and living out in the desert for weeks at a time with just the clothes on your back, a poncho, blanket, knife, and water bottle.

10. Hang-gliding or paragliding in Flight Park State Recreation Area, Lehi

Photo: Eric Ward

Flight Park is known worldwide as one of the best training sites for hang-gliding and paragliding. The area is completely dedicated to these sports and is not only maintained by Utah State Parks and Recreation, but also the Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. There are numerous schools and tandem guides to get a person in the air.

11. Mountaineering the Wasatch Mountains, Central Utah

Photo: Ken Lund

The Wasatch Mountains can be summited year round. Mountaineers climb, scramble, and incorporate rock or ice climbing to reach the peaks. Depending on time of year, the approach may be on dry rock or on skis/snowshoes. There are many specific skills — particularly when it comes to the snowy and icy sections of the mountains — that are important to know, such as using an ice axe, self arresting, and crevasse rescue. Utah Mountain Adventures offers many courses in winter and summer mountaineering, and guides are available for private trips.

12. ATVing, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Photo: Chris Dickey

Utah has so many opportunities in the way of offroading. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, near Kanab, is 2,000 acres of salmon pink sand and is the only major area of sand dunes on the Colorado Plateau. There are miles of trails for ATVs in this unique and colorful setting. Utah Off-Road Outfitters can set you up with all of the gear you need to rip through the sand.

13. Mountain biking Antelope Island, Antelope Island State Park

Photo: JC Essentials

With effortless access from Salt Lake City, Antelope Island is a great choice for year-round adventure. There are 21 miles of trails to mountain bike — six miles of double track suitable for novices and families, and the rest single track. A herd of wild bison lives on the island, and coyotes and antelope are often spotted.

This post was proudly produced in partnership with Utah, home of The Mighty 5®.

What Argentines say v what they mean

Image: