Water – Syndication Server

What it’s like swimming with marine life at Orlando’s Discovery Cove

Dive in.

I sit on a rock in an artificial lagoon, watching workers feed rays. “One for Pinky!” a worker calls as she throws a fish to a large pink whipray. Another woman notes the treat on a clipboard. There’s only one pink whipray in the lagoon, but I’m really impressed when the keepers can tell the five spotted eagle rays apart. These tropical rays can reach 10 feet wide and 16 feet long. Despite looking pretty flat, they tip the scales at more than 500 pounds. Here, the biggest eagle ray weighs in at a svelte 290.

In a land of theme parks, Orlando, Florida’s Discovery Cove is a relaxing respite from lining up for rides. Owned by SeaWorld, it’s a manicured nature experience — the fake coral is brightly painted like an amusement park ride backdrop, and the rays have their barbs clipped so they can’t sting you. It’s part aquarium, part water park, and a lot of fun if you can stomach animals in captivity. While I’m always conflicted about animal attractions, I really enjoyed my day at Discovery Cove.

An eagle ray swimming underwater at Orlando's Discovery Cove. — An eagle ray at Discovery Cove. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

About Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove opened in 2000 and bills itself as “an all-inclusive day resort.” You arrive in the morning between 7 and 9, show your ID, get your lanyard, then enter the lush grounds.

Breakfast and lunch at a big cafeteria are included in your admission, as are shorty wetsuits, towels, lockers, and animal-safe sunscreen. Guests can add extra amenities such as a private beach cabana or animal experiences like snorkeling with sharks or feeding flamingos.

A thatched roof covering a boardwalk at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Freshwater swimming at Discovery Cove

The park is divided into three main water areas: freshwater, the Grand Reef, and a dolphin lagoon. After eating breakfast — they made a special vegan tofu scramble for me, which was very nice — I decided to start with the warm freshwater area, with a water temperature in the low 80s. You can lounge in a couple of lagoons or grab a pool noodle and float along the lazy river.

I wound up drifting the lazy river three times over the course of the day. The best part is after passing through a pounding curtain of water, you float right into a fabulous aviary with gorgeous tropical birds flying overhead. You can float on through or get out of the water and feed birds from cups of chopped fruit. The lazy river alternates between being shallow enough to stand and depths of about 8 feet.

A green aracari sitting on a branch in the aviary at Orlando's Discovery Cove. — A green aracari in the aviary. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Exploring the Grand Reef

My favorite part of the park was swimming with rays and tropical fish in the Grand Reef. It was a little crowded, with snorkelers bumping into each other at times, but exciting to be so close to so many rays. There were shallow parts where people could stand and deeper parts for floating or swimming.

The shovelnose ray, which mostly spends its time on the sandy bottom, was especially large and odd-looking. People who are anxious about real-life snorkeling in the ocean will appreciate the safety of having the park’s sharks separated from the main lagoon.

Shovelnose rays swimming underwater at Discovery Cove. — Shovelnose rays swimming underfoot. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Swim with dolphins

Swimming with bottlenose dolphins is perhaps Discovery Cove’s most popular animal interaction — and the most controversial. The Humane Society and other animal welfare organizations have come out strongly against swim with dolphin attractions. It was not something I’d ever planned to do. But as a visiting travel writer, I found myself with a booked appointment time. The dolphin swim was going to happen with or without me, so I decided to see for myself what it was all about.

At the appointed time, participants were divided into groups of about 10 or 12, paired with a trainer, an assistant, and a dolphin. Coral, 23 years old and born into captivity, was our dolphin. We humans waded into the chilly lagoons, wearing our wetsuits. When the trainer signaled, Coral swam up to us. We got a little education, a lot of photo ops where we took turns posing with Coral, and a few dolphin tricks. It was cool to get up close and pet her rubbery tail, but I was embarrassed to see a creature smarter than I am reduced to making fart sounds for laughing tourists.

A group of tourists standing in water at Orlando's Discovery Cove. — People prepare to meet dolphins at Discovery Cove. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Throughout my day at Discovery Cove, I asked various employees what they thought about swim with dolphin experiences. The strongest justification is the same one that’s always used for zoos: people don’t care about things we don’t see and experience. The idea is that if we see animals in captivity, we’ll care about preserving them in the wild. This could lead to votes and dollars benefiting conservation efforts.

One employee said that she believes this is the most humane swim with dolphin concession, and she wouldn’t do it anywhere else. The keepers assured me that the dolphins can choose whether or not to participate on any given day, and they get the same amount of food either way.

I asked what the dolphins get out of towing visitors across the lagoon while we hold onto their dorsal fins and flippers. “It’s enrichment,” the trainer said, adding that she wished she knew more about how much Coral was really enjoying herself. The trainer emphasized that the dolphins have different personalities and different relationships with the trainers. While Coral is keen on interacting with humans, some dolphins can only tolerate us for about five minutes. The trainer told me she hadn’t worked with Coral for a while, so the dolphin probably wanted to hang out with her.

Except for the very oldest dolphins, who were captured before the laws changed, all the Discovery Cove dolphins were born in captivity. Maybe it’s sort of like a different culture. If you’re born in captivity and spend your life in an artificial lagoon, you take whatever fun is on offer —whether that’s interactions with humans or the rich, complex relationships that these creatures have with each other.

If you visit Discovery Cove

If you decide to visit Discovery Cove, sign up ahead, as some of the animal experiences sell out. Wait until you get there to apply sunscreen; the park has animal-safe lotions on tap. If you want a nice base of operations for your group, splurge on a private cabana.

Despite my unease about dolphin swims, this activity gets very high TripAdvisor reviews, with people finding it very special and magical. I was glad to see that all the trainers care about the animals, knowing them by name and treating them as individuals — whether dolphins, flamingos, or eagle rays.

A private cabana at Orlando's Discovery Cove. — One of Discovery Cove’s private cabanas. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Disclaimer: While this article was not sponsored, Outdoors Wire did visit Kissimmee during a press trip with Experience Kissimmee and its partners. As always, Outdoors Wire operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Hangover Fixer of the Week: Liquid Death’s ‘Death Dust’ is hit-and-miss hydration

It’s Liquid Death, in powder form (and with bonus vitamins).

Welcome back to FTW’s Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.

Liquid Death has a certain vibe. Stupid names, good water.

Their flagship canned water has become a sensation on the backs of flavors like “Mango Chainsaw” and “Berry It Alive.” That led to an extension into the world of iced teas named “Grim Leafer” and “Armless Palmer.” The labels are bad, but the vibes are undeniably good. Liquid Death is now a billion dollar company with its sights set on mutilating thirst across the globe.

The company’s latest effort to sustain triple-digit growth is an extension into drink powder. A land previously ruled by Crystal Light has seen an influx of competitors bringing new flavors and the promise of body-boosting elements. Liquid Death’s “Death Dust” promises 300 milligrams of electrolytes and 200 milligrams of potassium — about half what you’d get in the same drink volume of Pedialyte — in a box that promises you’ll “rise from the dead.”

The box I received came with three flavors: Severed Lime, Convicted Melon and the aforementioned Mango Chainsaw. And while the vitamins inside may do nothing to fix the detached retinas I got from rolling my eyes just typing those names out, they should help my mornings feel a little brighter.

Let’s see how they are.

Severed Lime: B

The original? Pretty good, despite the very stupid name (endemic to all Deaths Liquid). The mix dissolves easily into a standard water bottle with a couple shakes. It comes out… almost blue?

It smells great; heavy citrus lime wafts off the top, even from the narrow opening of a water bottle. It tastes… like it’s got 300 milligrams of sodium in it. There’s a certain “SPORTS DRINK” feel to what’s happening here. It doesn’t taste bad, but it doesn’t taste like the canned version and that’s due to more than just the absence of bubbles.

That said, I like the idea of getting some electrolytes back. I’m drinking this in the middle of a Nutrl review, and while I could easily pound six of those in a night without thinking about it, I would feel like absolute garbage in the morning since I am an old man and my body currently sucks. This feels like the kind of replenishing timeout that will make me at least slightly functional tomorrow morning.

But that comes at a cost. You’re getting hard seltzer level lime, which is undeniable in its artificiality. It’s still easy to drink, but it feels like a Liquid Death knockoff despite its bonafides. Some real wish.com Liquid Death, if you will.

Mango Chainsaw: B-

It blends easily, imparting a well-hydrated urine color to your water. It smells, well, like a drink mix. I think that’s my problem here; I’m comparing this to the canned LD even though it can never be that.

And for a powdered drink, it’s fine. There’s no denying it tastes like a chewable vitamin, but the flavor is sweet and enjoyable. It’s not something you’d seek out, but in terms of hydration it’s an easy sell. If this prevents tomorrow’s hangover? It’s perfect. If not? It’s probably not worth it.

To its credit, it does bring some preventative hydration to the table after a long night of, uh, writing other drink reviews. It’s not as reliable as Roar when it comes to making your morning feel normal, but it’s better than regular water.

Convicted Melon: B+

Good god, these names. Liquid Death doesn’t tell you which melon was guilty of a violent crime here, but based on the color of the mix it’s watermelon that will no longer be able to vote. Or, maybe some purple melon? I dunno man, as someone with weak cones, colors are my Waterloo.

The taste itself is chuggable, pale watermelon. It’s sweet but not overpowering, making it easy to pound on a warm day when, say, you’ve been drinking a bunch of beer and want to minimize that hangover risk. You know, hypothetically.

That’s a place Liquid Death has always come through. Its heavy electrolyte load lends a slight salty taste to each of the powders, but those help hydrate against a steady stream of summer drinks. I came back to this in a water bottle loaded with ice in between a round of golf and it did have some reviving qualities on top of being the tastiest of the Death Dust mixes.

Would I drink it instead of a Hamm’s?

This is a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I’m drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That’s the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm’s. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Death Dust over a cold can of Hamm’s?

Tough call here. I’d probably drink it between my third and fourth Hamm’s on a hot day of playing cornhole or sitting by a lake.

Post runDisney, try these 7 activities in Kissimmee, Florida

Let’s explore.

For the Disney-loving runner, it’s the dream vacation: visit Kissimmee, Florida, to run through Disney during an exclusive event with your people — those who are similarly obsessed with Disney and can run long distances. This is what runDisney is all about.

But what do you do after your run? The Kissimmee/Orlando area has lots to offer, but it’s awfully spread out and can be overwhelming. After putting all those miles on your feet, recuperate with these fun activities.

Plus, check out even more post-run recovery options here. You can also find your next destination race with this incredible list of marathons.

A balloon archway outside in a Disney park with runners waiting for a runDisney marathon to start. — *Photo by Josh Hallett*

runDisney races

Before you unwind, pick a Disney run to join in on. Check out runDisney to see upcoming races, including the new Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, September 5-8, 2024; the four-day Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, October 31-November 3; and the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend, January 8-12, 2025. You’ll find distances ranging from 5Ks up to Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and the Dopey Challenge, which take you 48.6 miles across all four Walt Disney World theme parks in the Orlando area.

Many runners return again and again to participate in different runDisney events. Shanedra Nowell of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has run in 16 runDisney races, including her first 10K in 2015 and her first half marathon in 2016. “I credit runDisney with invigorating and re-invigorating my love of running,” she said. Nowell has dealt with “injuries off and on,” but said, “when I’ve thought about giving up on running I’ll sign up for a RunDisney race or challenge … training for a Disney race keeps me engaged in the sport.”

The exterior of a hotel with a sign reading "ette hotel." — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

A wellness retreat hotel

As mentioned before, the Greater Orlando area sprawls. Kissimmee, just south of the bigger city of Orlando, is closer to the major theme parks, so is a better base of operations. On a recent trip, I stayed at the wellness-focused Ette Hotel, just six miles from the Magic Kingdom.

This place is an anomaly — a tranquil high-end hotel amongst wide avenues and big box stores. The staff members are attentive and wear chic outfits. There’s a perfume bar as soon as you come in, a cozy pool area, a library, Peleton bikes in the rooms, and a spa for that post-run massage.

A pool area at a hotel in Kissimee, Florida. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Salt & The Cellar, has an excellent separate menu for us vegans and an amazing array of mocktails. While kids are allowed, it’s more appealing to adults. The Ette seems designed for people who want to enjoy Disney during the day and have a more grown-up spa atmosphere at night.

If you want a big space for you and yours, check out one of Kissimmee’s more than 35,000 vacation homes, ranging from simple abodes to ginormous mansions.

The Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures pier in Kissimmee, Florida. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Take an airboat ride

Relax into the natural side of Florida with a trip to Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. This 32-acre park features a gator lagoon, butterfly garden, fossil and gem mine (regularly restocked with treasures), and, of course, airboat rides. An aircraft-type propeller drives these flat-bottomed watercraft through Lake Tohopekaliga, where captains like Wayne Corbitt help visitors spot gators, snakes, bald eagles, and migratory birds.

Passengers come from all over the world to see “real Florida,” especially alligators. “They give that natural fear for people,” Corbitt told me. “And deservedly so. They are dangerous animals. But for the most part out here in the wild, they try to get away from you.” For an extra thrill, take a nighttime tour between May and October, when gators are most active.

Gators in a pool in Kissimmee, Florida. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Learn about local Native culture

Jororo Village is a separate attraction but on the same land as Boggy Creek. Native American educator Oskwanontona Pia Roya demonstrates life in Florida 450 to 1,200 years ago.

“When they come to visit me, what they’re going to see is authenticity,” Pia Roya said, gesturing at a row of traditional huts that showcase hunting tools and cookery. “You’re going to see different skills that have been passed down from generation to generation.” He showcases the pre-contact world, before Spaniards arrived. “I like to say it’s before Mickey Mouse, Super Walmarts, and Seminole Indians,” he said.

Jororo Village, a Native cultural attraction featuring two outdoor structures. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Spend a day at Discovery Cove

My favorite part of visiting the Kissimmee/Orlando area was spending a day at Discovery Cove. This attraction is kind of like a combination water park/theme park/aquarium/zoo where you’re in the water with the animals. You can snorkel on an artificial reef stocked with tropical fish, float through an aviary on a lazy river, or swim with dolphins. My favorite was the reef, where I floated above immense spotted eagle rays and giant shovelnose rays.

People swimming in water at Discovery Cove in Florida. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Meander around Celebration

In the mid-90s, the Walt Disney Company founded a planned community designed to epitomize what’s best about small-town America. Celebration is walkable, has a good mix of businesses, is strikingly clean, and features different styles of homes, from condos to big houses.

A white dog on a wooden boardwalk. — My canine guide Benji showed me around Celebration’s trail and boardwalk system. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Miles of scenic trails meander around lakes. If you have enough energy left in your legs after your runDisney race, you can rent a bike and cruise around town. While it may seem too perfect to believe, the small gators in the lake are real. After your bike tour, stop for a Cuban lunch at the Celebration outpost of Florida’s famous Columbia restaurants.

A bowl of beans, rice, and tomato. — Lunch at Columbia. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Find good deals on Disney souvenirs

Need Disney souvenirs to commemorate your trip? An incredible number of gift shops sell knick-knacks at cheaper prices than you’ll find inside the park. My favorite was the shop with a huge mermaid sprouting out of the façade, followed by the shops featuring wizards.

A store with a large mermaid sculpture on the front. — *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

Refuel at top Kissimmee restaurants

Running takes it out of you! Fortunately, the Kissimmee area has lots of good food. I especially like Twenty Pho Hour, a punny pho restaurant that claims to be “America’s first 2D noodle bar.” The whole interior is covered in black and white line drawings made to look like you’re eating in a 2D world.

A black and white 2D-design interior of restaurant Twenty Pho Hour. — Twenty Pho Hour’s 2D interior. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

If you like to combine nightlife with dinner, Estefan Kitchen Orlando offers fun and loud entertainment while you eat Cuban-inspired food. After eating enough black beans and plantains, you’ll be fueled up and ready to register for your next runDisney race.

Stunning new film uses art and music to champion World Oceans Day

Dive in.

Just in time for World Oceans Day on June 7, artist/conservationist Joshua Sam Miller is showing his new 25-minute film “Sounds of the Ocean.” To raise awareness about ocean issues, Miller has offered planetariums around the world a one-week free license to show his film during June. Some of the planetariums taking him up on his offer include Juneau, Alaska’s Marie Drake Planetarium and Uruguay’s Planetario de Montevideo. Check out this list of all the planetariums showing Miller’s film, and learn more about it below.

“Sounds of the Ocean” combines original music, whale and dolphin sounds, art, and ocean imagery to take viewers on an underwater journey. The filmmakers want to demonstrate that oceans are worth protecting.

A movie poster for "Sounds of the Ocean" with white text for the film's title overlayed on an image of whales in the ocean. — *Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds*

“Believing in the power of peaceful activism, the project’s intention is to inspire ocean action to protect life underwater, while also helping to reduce stress in our modern society,” an official statement about the film explains.

Miller, the film’s director, grew up surfing and scuba diving. He founded Embodied Sounds, which offers several different types of immersive experiences. These experiences include live music shows, multimedia performances featuring dance, art, and marine life sounds, and, trippiest of all, an underwater music experience offered in heated pools at some spas. Miller’s work has been featured everywhere, from an installation at Burning Man to a presentation during the 26th United Nations Climate Conference.

A black background around a circular frame showing two whales in the ocean. — *Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds*

U.N. World Oceans Day traces its history back to 1992, when Oceans Day was first declared at the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations officially designated World Oceans Day in 2008. It’s grown since and is usually celebrated around the world on June 8. However, this year, the date is June 7. This 2024 theme is “Awaken New Depths.”

A black background around a circular frame showing a whale's tale underwater. — *Image courtesy of Embodied Sounds*

As it says in the 2024 World Oceans Day trailer, “As humans, we depend on the ocean for survival. But compared to what it gives us, we invest little in return.” Instead of continuing to make shallow, short-sighted decisions, World Oceans Day urges humans to conserve the ocean before it’s too late. On June 7, you can join virtually from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT as global policymakers, scientists, activists, and artists discuss how humans can better protect oceans. And look for Sounds of the Ocean coming to a planetarium near you.

Go on a 10-year sailing voyage with this thought-provoking memoir

Discover what life is like on the water.

Liz Clark logged 20,000 miles in 10 years sailing along the Central American coastline and around the Pacific Islands in the 40-foot sailboat Swell. In her book “Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening,” she pours her heart out about her inner struggles as a lone female set on freedom and outer challenges like navigating the oceans and keeping her craft shipshape. The hardcover edition came out in 2018, but the new paperback (released this month) will expand the story’s audience.

Clark grew up in San Diego, the child of sailing parents. When she was nine, the family took a seven-month sailing trip along the coast of Mexico. She started surfing while earning her environmental studies degree at UC Santa Barbara. In 2001, after graduating, she met Barry Schuyler, who had founded the environmental studies program in 1969. Schuyler wanted to help her live her sailing dreams, so he offered her the use of Swell in exchange for vicariously accompanying her on her voyage.

A portrait of captain and author Liz Clark from the shoulders up. — Captain and author Liz Clark. / *Photo by Jianca Lazarus, courtesy of Patagonia*

“Swell” is the story of a young woman who prizes self-discovery and freedom above all else. She faces the ambivalence and inner contradictions that most people do, especially the young and those with a lot of time to think. While she is critical of the capitalist priorities of the U.S., she’s also extremely American. What other country so strongly emphasizes the right to the pursuit of happiness?

Clark stays determined to see the best in people despite plenty of brushes with creepy guys and a terrifying, drawn-out situation of being stuck on an island with a broken boat and an abusive boyfriend. She is very earnest about her spiritual epiphanies and tries to put them into practice when dealing with other people. She loves ocean creatures and faithfully reports underwater encounters with those she meets while swimming and surfing. She sees up close the horrific human-generated plastic waste floating in the ocean and washed up on islands. And it scares her.

A woman surfing a wave. — *Photo by Tahui Tufaimea, courtesy of Patagonia*

Above all, “Swell” is about the quest for freedom. This lovely sample passage is typical of her life at sea when things are going well, and especially resonates for young women raised on the male gaze. “Out here, there is no one to compare myself with—there’s not even a full-length mirror to critique my appearance. I let my hair go wild. I laugh out loud, and break into dance without a second thought. I can fester in my filth or spend half an hour massaging shampoo into my scalp. I wear an odd ensemble from the clothing bin—or nothing at all. Some granny panties that Mom gave me have become my go-to sailing uniform. I can scream, cry, and sing all in one breath with no one to judge me. I want everyone to feel this deep liberation.”

A person on the shore with their arms outstretched and back to the viewer. — *Photo by Tahui Tufaimea, courtesy of Patagonia*

The book resembles her unstructured life at sea. But I would have liked a more practical backbone. I constantly found myself disoriented, asking, where is she? How much time has gone by? Who is this person who’s suddenly popped up on the boat and is sailing with her for some unspecified time?

I also wanted more information about her finances. Clark downplays anything to do with money, apparently as part of an anti-capitalist stance. She grumbles about having to do any work without meaning to her, even as she’s visiting places where people are poor and doing whatever they can to subsist. While sailing, she built up a blog popular enough to inspire strangers to send her money. Corporations sponsored her. At one point, she met up with filmmakers documenting her voyage. She’s asked to speak around the world, write articles for magazines, and eventually write this book. All these career accomplishments are mentioned offhandedly, almost as though they’re intrusions into her life at sea.

Patagonia, one of her sponsors, published the book. Photos show Clark sailing, surfing, doing yoga on beaches, and paddling a board with her darling ocean-going cat Amelia on the front. She also includes portraits of people she meets on the island and a fun photo of her and a friend singing backup for Jimmy Buffett when he did a surprise concert at an obscure Bora Bora Bar.

A woman and a cat on a surf board in the water. — *Photo by Jianca Lazarus, courtesy of Patagonia*

This thought-provoking book will make readers question their own lives. Are we free enough? Are we too materialistic? How can we be more spiritual and tread more lightly on the earth? Have we chosen the right path?

Near the end of the book, Clark sums it all up. “I am not the best sailor or the best surfer, or the most credentialed at anything, but chasing my dream has taught me that fulfillment and self-love don’t come from being ‘the best.’ They come from pursuing our passions and connecting to our own spirits, communities, and the world.”

Writer received a free copy of the book for review.

This May, see Idaho in a new light at Shoshone Falls After Dark

See the falls in a new light.

What’s loud, colorful, and only happens in Twin Falls, Idaho, during May? It’s Shoshone Falls After Dark, an event showcasing what boosters like to call the “Niagara of the West.” This spectacular waterfall on the Snake River is 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide. It’s a good deal taller than Niagara’s highest falls (Horseshoe Falls at about 180 feet high).

For the fourth year running, people can enjoy light shows at the falls Thursday through Sunday during the month of May. Midnight Production Studios choreographs the lights to a recorded soundtrack by Idaho DJ Eric Rhodes. The display is a partnership between Southern Idaho Tourism, the City of Twin Falls, the Idaho Central Credit Union, and Idaho Power. Seems like a good time to have the power company on your side.

Multicolor lights on Shoshone Falls waterfall in Idaho at night. — *Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism*

Waterfall lovers come from all over the country to see the lit-up falls. “Shoshone Falls After Dark has quickly become one of the region’s most popular events, and we’re thrilled to expand it so even more people can experience this breathtaking spectacle,” Haley Evans, Southern Idaho Tourism marketing and event coordinator, said in a statement. “Shoshone Falls is one of Idaho’s most iconic and beloved landmarks, and showering this magnificent high-desert landscape with a symphony of lights and music under the stars is truly magical and mesmerizing.”

Three shadowy figures against a waterfall lit up red at Twin Falls, Idaho's Shoshone Falls After Dark light show. — *Photo by Brayden Weeks, courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism*

Tickets are sold at $20 per vehicle, with timed entries between 9:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. to avoid overcrowding. The show lasts about 10 minutes and the passes are for 15-minute slots. Evans says that the event usually sells out, so buy your ticket ahead. Leashed dogs are welcome, and the falls will light up rain or shine.

A waterfall lit up blue at night. — *Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism*

“The vibrant music and light show illuminating the falls at night takes it to a next-level magical experience,” Michael Watson, chief marketing officer at Idaho Central Credit Union, said in a statement. “If you haven’t had a chance to check this out yet, now is the time.”

Shoshone Falls After Dark, a waterfall lit up pink and blue at night. — *Photo courtesy of Southern Idaho Tourism*

While Shoshone Falls is the area’s best-loved attraction, there’s lots of other outdoorsy stuff to do in Twin Falls. You can bike the Canyon Rim Trail, zipline across the Snake River, rock climb, or rent a kayak in Centennial Waterfront Park to watch BASE jumpers throw themselves off I.B. Perrine Bridge.

Shoshone Falls, a waterfall in Idaho. — Shoshone Falls shines even without lights. / *Photo by Teresa Bergen*

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.

11 thrilling water adventures to try in the Maldives

Dive into adventure.

A clownfish pokes its head out of a fluttering anemone, then darts back in. I’m snorkeling through the Nemo Garden, an area rich in the predatory marine invertebrates known as anemones and the fish who love them. When I pop back to the surface, marine biologist Caitlin Rentell of Sun Siyam Iru Fushi explains their symbiotic relationship.

“The anemones have stinging cells in them so other organisms will get stung by the anemones,” Rentell told me. “But clownfish have this special mucous that basically coats their skin. And they’ve evolved so they can go in the anemones without getting stung.” The movement of the clownfish brings fresh water and nutrients to anemones, which are attached to coral reefs or rocks on the sea floor. In return, clownfish hide out in anemones to evade predators.

I spent nine days at three different Sun Siyam resorts in the Maldives. Since the South Asian country is 1% land and 99% ocean, it’s heaven if you like a water-focused vacation. Activities range from quiet and educational to loud and motorized.

Two black, white, and yellow fish. — Clownfish staying close to their anemone. / *Photo by Caitlin Rentell*

8 things to know before visiting a Japanese onsen

Relax into the hot springs.

You might have seen the famous photos of snow monkeys relaxing in a Japanese hot spring. Indeed, onsens, or hot spring baths, are extremely popular in Japan. But when you visit an onsen, no, you won’t be bathing with monkeys.

Bathing in hot springs is a sacred tradition in Japan. The volcanic archipelago has approximately 25,000 hot springs sources and about 3,000 onsen establishments. It’s a way of purifying the body and the soul. So approach an onsen visit respectfully; don’t expect a hot tub party.

On a recent trip to Hokkaido, I bumbled through my first onsen experiences, looking to locals for clues. While avoiding staring, of course. Here are some tips to make your onsen visits a little smoother.

‘All In!’ chronicles a 93-day SUP voyage across the ocean

Cross the ocean with Chris Bertish.

The evocative title of Chris Bertish’s books says a lot. When I read the title “All In!: The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing – 93 Days Alone at Sea,” I got an inkling of what I was in for. There would be weather, loneliness, waves, problems, and probably sharks. And, since Bertish obviously survived to write the book, inspiration. I was right! But it’s still worth reading the book for the stories and motivational tidbits.

The journey Bertish chronicles in “All In!” took place from December 2016 to March 2017, when he paddled more than 4,000 miles alone from Morocco to Antigua. He became the first person to ever stand-up paddleboard across an ocean. But Bertish was no stranger to firsts and awards. He was already a big wave surfing champ with multiple world records. When he’s not in the water, Bertish is addressing giant companies like Google, Coke, and Salesforce as a motivational speaker.

A man crossing the ocean on a SUP. — *Photo by Brian Overfeld*

While Bertish clearly has superhuman strength and a need to embrace challenges most of us would pay everything to avoid, he’s also driven by philanthropy. His grueling 93-day paddle raised over half a million dollars for Operation Smile. This global nonprofit provides free cleft palate surgery for children. Bertish also raised money to support ocean conservation initiatives.

Of course, the first question a reader probably has is, “How does a person cross an ocean on a SUP?” I can barely paddle my inflatable SUP across a small lake on a slightly windy day. But Bertish’s 20-foot craft, the Impifish, was named for Zulu warriors called Impis. This extra-long SUP had a tiny cabin that Bertish could curl up in to escape the elements. The SUP was tricked out with a ton of high-tech communication gear, including GPS, VHF radio, Echomax, an emergency position indicating radio beacon, and a satellite phone, to name just a few. Gearheads will love this book for the tech alone.

Bertish sitting on the side of his SUP with his legs in the ocean. — *Photo by Alan van Gysen*

While the book is full of exciting tales, it’s also a bit repetitive — just like 93 days of paddling would be. There’s a pattern of disaster followed by motivational insight, and repeat. Storm! Ah, survived. Great white shark! Ah, survived it. Crucial equipment malfunction! Survived again. You can see why all the big companies want Bertish to speak to them. The man doesn’t give up or take no for an answer.

As he says at one point early in the book, “People will make up every possible excuse not to do something, or give you a whole laundry list of the reasons why they ‘can’t.’ You can always find plenty of reasons if you look for them, but instead you should be finding reasons why you ‘can.’ Focus on that and then find a way to accomplish it. If you believe you can’t you won’t, but if you believe you can, and you want it badly enough, you will always find a way. It’s that simple, period.”

The thing that irked me most about the book was an unsolved mystery. Before Bertish set out on the Impifish, some unidentified entity tried to prevent his SUP journey. Somebody sabotaged his car, messed with arrangements for his gear and food, and, most horribly of all, killed his cat. This still makes me sick to contemplate, especially since the mystery angle of the story was dropped. The reader never finds out who did these horrible things or why.

The paperback version of “All In” debuted in July. In line with Bertish’s conservation ideals, the book is printed on Forest Steward Certified paper. He also released a super limited edition eco series of only 13 copies. These 100% sustainable books are printed on 40% post-consumer recycled paper with soy and water-based inks. The binding features eco-cotton thread and non-toxic water-based glues. The book’s cover is, fittingly, made using recycled ocean plastics.

A man standing on a SUP with a flare in hand. — The victorious finish! / *Photo by Brian Overfeld*

Writer received a free copy of the book for review.