adventure – Syndication Server

Join in on a naked run during the Nude Race Series

It’ll be an unforgettable experience.

Many runners experience a sense of freedom while traversing a quiet trail. The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) takes freedom further by letting people run in just their shoes.

“The Nude Race Series (NRS) is a series of clothes-optional 5K cross-country runs hosted by AANR clubs throughout the Southwest Region and conducted on the club’s private property,” said Rick Wall, NRS coordinator for the AANR Southwest Region. “The runs are open to the public and while primarily family oriented recreational events, they are also competitive enough for serious runners to compete.”

The goal of nude recreation

If you’re unfamiliar with nude recreation, it might sound racy. That’s not the point at all. In its more than 90 years of existence, AANR has promoted nudism as a wholesome, natural experience while staunchly opposing sexual exploitation of the human body.

“Many who did not grow up in a nudist environment find it difficult to fully grasp the concept that regardless of age, nudists are comfortable in their own skin,” according to an AANR statement. “The human body is merely the vessel that carries us through life, and the transition from child to teen to adult for a nudist is comfortably free of much angst that textiles experience.”

Nude Race Series

The Sunbelt states are most popular for nude recreation, Wall said, because they offer year-round opportunities. Some of the upcoming races include the Skinnydipper Sun Run in Decatur, Texas, on April 27; Run, Walk, Crawl in Depew, Oklahoma, on May 11; and Bare as you Dare in Alvord, Texas, on September 16. The 5Ks happen on private nudist club properties. In its 27 years, more than 10,000 runners have participated in the Nude Racing Series.

“Our runs attract dedicated nudists as well as those curious about nude recreation,” Wall said. “A majority of the runners are in the 40 -75 age range and we have one runner that is a regular participant that is 93! Typically, approximately 75% of the runners are male.”

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The nude running community

Don’t things get a little, well, floppy? “Many nude runs are actually clothing optional, which allows for runners to wear support if they feel they need it,” Wall said. “In actuality running nude is very natural and a large majority of runners are very comfortable running totally naked. Of course, the use of sunscreen is very important.”

Runners enjoy meeting body-positive people of all ages, creeds, genders, ethnic origins, and sexual orientations. The runs usually end with pool parties on nudist club properties. “Regardless of the reason for participation, almost all the runners enjoy the comradery and sense of community that takes place during and after each run,” Wall said.

Never too old — Caroline Paul’s new book talks adventuring as you age

There’s always time for adventure.

Caroline Paul wrote “Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking — How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age” because she was 55 and wondering about her future.

“I had always been an outdoor adventurer, from my youth as a whitewater guide to my many wilderness expeditions on mountain bikes and sea kayaks in midlife, to skateboarding and surfing and flying experimental planes into my fifties,” the bestselling author and former firefighter said in an interview released by her publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing. “But I looked around and there really were hardly any women my age out there with me.”

While she saw plenty of men her age and older, she realized that her peers were dialing back their adventure. “So I began to look at the research and also to talk to women who were still doing things outside. And what I found was surprising even to me.”

A book cover showing a person standing on the wing of a plane with overlay text reading "Tough Broad." — *Photo courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing*

Paul takes readers around the country to meet women ages 50 to 90 who are still getting outside to challenge themselves, learn new things, take risks, and chase awe. These women include 80-year-old scuba diver Louise Wholey, who braves the chilly waters of Monterey, California; Kittie Weston-Knauer, a 74-year-old BMX racer and instructor in Des Moine, Iowa; and the Wave Chasers, a group of boogie boarding senior women in San Diego. “Tough Broad” shares Paul’s interviews, research about aging, and experiences joining these women — her role models — in their chosen outdoor adventures.

“We need templates in our life,” Paul writes. “We need to see our possible selves in someone else’s grand exploits.”

Author Caroline Paul in a helmet while riding a one wheel. — Caroline Paul riding her one wheel. / *Photo courtesy of Caroline Paul*

My favorite chapter was about wing-walking. Seventy-one-year-old Cynthia Hicks likes to Google “something fun to do here” when she travels. That’s how she discovered Mason Wing Walking Academy in Sequim, Washington. In the 1920s, when there were lots of surplus planes left over from World War I, this daredevil activity became popular as part of aerial shows. Today, people can still learn how to climb out of their seats in a red biplane, attach themselves to a cable on the wing, and stay there while the plane does loop-de-loops.

The author beautifully describes the day that Marilyn Mason taught her to wing walk. “The plane rockets skyward. As it climbs, my mind shuffles around in a state of bewilderment. It ransacks neurons and old memories for a pattern to latch on to. Too late. The horizon curdles, falls away. Spinning earth, buffeting air, iceberg clouds flashing by.”

In the wing walking chapter, Paul talks about how research on the state of awe has exploded recently. “I recognize how perfectly wing walking primes us for awe: there is the majestic view at thirty-five hundred feet that feels almost religious; there is the total disequilibrium of doing something so antithetical to every survival instinct; there is the exhilaration of twirling and ricocheting and falling in a vast sky.”

While less active people often see adventure activities as thrill-seeking, Paul wonders at her underlying drivers, especially as she ages. “Could this be what has really been motivating my outdoor quests these past few years? Instead of adrenaline, have I unwittingly been seeking awe?”

An older woman in a wheelchair holding binoculars on a bridge near forest. — Virginia Rose, avid birdwatcher and one of the women interviewed in Paul’s book. / *Photo courtesy of Bloomsbury Publishing*

“Tough Broad” is an entertaining read. It’s sure to inspire women to continue to enjoy the outdoors, create new neural pathways as they try new things, and enjoy the camaraderie of their sisters in adventure into their later years.

Writer received a free advance copy of the book for review.

6 incredible places to go whitewater rafting in the US

Ride the rapids.

Outdoor adventuring can take you all over the world. Today, let’s dive into some of the most incredible whitewater rafting excursions you can go on without ever leaving the United States.

What makes a spot perfect for whitewater rafting? If you’re a passionate rafting enthusiast, you’ll probably prioritize places with reliable local outfitters, gorgeous scenery, and exciting rapids that suit your skill level. Lucky for you, there are plenty of places throughout the U.S. that fit the bill. Start planning your next destination rafting trip with this list of six incredible places for whitewater rafting. You can even explore a first-person account of rafting through the Grand Canyon here.

A Barbados bucket list that all outdoorsy travelers need to see

Explore the island.

On sunny January days, Brits, Canadians, and other tourists from cooler climes revel in the warmth of Barbados. It’s a welcoming country for visitors.

While Barbados is known as the easternmost Caribbean island, it’s technically in the Atlantic Ocean. The island country is only 21 miles long by 14 miles wide, but there’s plenty to do there on and off the beach. Plus, there’s a surprising amount of geographical diversity for such a small island. The southern and western shores are best for swimmers and beachgoers, while the wilder, hillier eastern coast attracts surfers and cliff walkers. Plan your adventure with this list of the best outdoorsy things to do in Barbados.

Find the fun with these exhilarating winter outdoor activities

Have fun in cold weather.

For some people, winter is a slow season for outdoor recreation. Cold temperatures settle in, leaves fall off their trees, and many plants go dormant until warmer weather arrives. Hikers who enjoy lush landscapes may feel like their hobby is on hiatus until spring approaches. Swimmers who aren’t up for polar plunges will pack away their swimsuits until summer. But it doesn’t have to be that way. For determined nature enthusiasts, cold weather is the perfect excuse for indulging in a whole suite of winter outdoor activities.

Even if you’ve never tried winter sports, there are plenty of beginner-friendly options to explore. Does skiing seem too intense for you? Try sledding instead. Prefer to relax and take it slow? Visit a hot springs resort and unwind. Prone to thrill seeking? Maybe it’s time for you to take up snowboarding. Outdoorsy folks from all walks of life can find winter outdoor activities that suit them. All you have to do is get inspired and discover a hobby that motivates you to go outside again.

Make that process easy with this list of seven fun winter outdoor activities. This round-up includes everything from skiing to birdwatching. Peruse your options and gear up for a winter full of outdoor adventures!

This year, celebrate Christmas at these 3 national parks

Spend Christmas at a national park.

For many people, Christmas conjures up images of home, family, and traditions like gathering in front of a cozy fireplace hung with stockings. However, lots of folks don’t have a big family they want to spend time with or a house with a fireplace. Instead of feeling like you’re missing out on a perfect holiday, you can start a new tradition this holiday season. Consider spending time in one of America’s beautiful national parks. Stunning parks across the United States invite visitors to go for a hike, enjoy fresh air, and appreciate scenic beauty. This winter, stay at one of these three properties offering festive activities near national parks.

A hotel lodge sitting room with a Christmas tree and presents by a fireplace. — Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon. / *Photo courtesy of Xanterra Travel Collection*

Hikers on your holiday list? Give the gift of a new backpack.

Snag the perfect hiking pack.

If there’s a hiker on your holiday shopping list, have you taken a look at their favorite daypack lately? Hikers can become notoriously attached to a backpack — no matter how scruffy, smelly, and generally unsightly it may become over years on the trails. It might be time to stage an intervention in the form of gifting your hiking loved one with a fresh new daypack. Here are some of the hiking packs that rate the highest with happy customers. Once your giftee gets used to the idea, we’re sure they’ll appreciate well-functioning zippers, grit-free pockets, and that new backpack smell.

Find even more hiking gift ideas here.

Celebrate the National Park Service with these fabulous gifts

Find great park-themed presents.

In 1872, the United States became the first country to create a national park: Yellowstone. Over the next four decades, various government entities oversaw the country’s parks, monuments, and reserves, including the Departments of Agriculture, War, and the Interior. Then, in 1916, the National Park Service was born. It’s grown to be America’s favorite public agency. Now, the National Park System has 423 sites, 63 of which are full-fledged parks. The rest fall into categories like national monuments, seashores, trails, recreation areas, and historic sites.

Do you have a park lover on your holiday shopping list? These gift ideas will keep fond memories of hikes and views top of mind year-round.

Watch dogs tear it up in the 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge

On your mark, get set, mush!

Do you love dogs? And snow? The sixth annual 2024 Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is beckoning.

“The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge showcases the remarkable partnership that’s possible between humans and canines and has become one of the West Central Mountains’ most iconic winter events,” race founder and organizer Jerry Wortley said in a statement.

Events kick off with Meet the Mushers on January 20 at the Ponderosa Center in McCall, Idaho, where the public can get up close to the people who drive the dogs. The 52-mile Warm Lake Stage Race runs January 24-25, starting and finishing at North Shore Lodge & Resort. Then come the main events, 100- and 300-mile races starting on January 29.

Mushing dogs in the snow. — *Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*

“Mushers will tell you this is a very, very atypical race,” Idaho Sled Dog Challenge co-founder and trail coordinator Dave Looney said. “Our elevation change is 36,000 feet, which is greater than the Iditarod. They call it a 500-mile race packed into 300 miles. So the dog care and the pacing and the attention they have to pay to the terrain is really important, because there’s a lot of up and down. One musher said the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is like climbing Mt. Everest — twice.”

Dogs pulling a musher through the snow. — *Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*

The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge is the only 300-mile Yukon Quest qualifier in the lower 48 and one of only three such events for the Iditarod in the contiguous continental U.S. So you can expect to see some of the world’s top mushers in action.

A person in a coat holding a dog. — *Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*

How long does it take to finish such a long and grueling race? Well, that’s a bit unpredictable. Organizers expect the 100-mile race to end January 30, while the 300-milers will cross their finish line somewhere between January 31 and February 1.

A dog sled racing through a snowy forest. — *Photo by Melissa Shelby, courtesy of Idaho Sled Dog Challenge*

If you are feeling the call of the Idaho wild, consider volunteering. The race needs more than 200 volunteers to help with handling dogs, managing parking, setting up and staffing checkpoints, providing food, operating ham radios, and assisting at the start and finish lines.

Live the RV life at these 10 gorgeous camping destinations

Hop in for an RV adventure.

How do you balance road-tripping with the comforts of home? More and more Americans are doing so with RVs. Approximately 20 million will go RVing this holiday season, a 30% increase over 2022, according to the RV Industry Association Holiday Travel Intentions Survey. Not only will you feel more at home, but so will your pets. About 60% of RVers will bring their pets on holiday this season. Fido will thank you for not leaving him behind in a kennel.

Don’t have your own RV? No problem. With RV rental platform RVezy, you can book an array of experiences. Get some travel inspiration with this list of 10 rentals you can book at beautiful and outdoorsy RV camping destinations across the country.