Reprinted from the April/May 2008 issue of Going on Faith - the national newspaper for religious travel planners.
Adventure, coast to coast
The growth of ecotourism brings endless exploration
By Brian Jewell
The view from atop the Rocky Mountains in our West is astounding, but it is rivaled by the eeriebeauty of the marshes and wetlands in the Southeast. Alaska's glaciers and fiords offer abundant opportunity for adventure, but you'll find the same adrenaline rush rafting West Virginia's whitewater rapids.
Among the many blessings we enjoy in the United States is this country's rich and varied environments and ecosystems. With grand canyons, great lakes, vast deserts and grassy prairies, America offers diverse scenery in every corner of the country.
With today's growing focus on the environment and preservation, more travelers are looking to enjoy the ecology in their own areas. There's no shortage of great spots to discover in the United States, and many trips come with a dose of adventure on the side.
Consider some of these destinations for your group's next eco-adventure vacation.
Door County, Wisconsin
With more than 300 miles of the shoreline and 34 outlying islands, Wisconsin's Door County offers abundant opportunity for outdoor activities in and around Lake Michigan. The 75-mile peninsula is recognized as one of the state's most scenic areas, with nature tours and excursions available year-round.
"We've got some great kayak outfitters that work with groups really well," said Jon Jarosh, marketing director at the Door County Visitor Bureau. "They do a lot of guided tours and can take groups of up to 30 people on different scenic or adventure kayak tours. And if conditions are bad on one side of the peninsula, there's a good change that they're not too bad on the other, so you can usually find some goods water to kayak in."
Favorite kayak spots in the area include Cave Point, a county park where paddlers explore the seas caves of Lake Michigan. Another popular place is the Mink River Estuary, where visitors can kayak among local plants and wildlife, including a rare, endangered dragonfly that makes its home in Door County.
Walkers, hikers and cyclists can all take to the trails for tours at the Ridges Sanctuary, a 1,500-acre protected area along the lakeshore. Groups can bring a local expert along to include some education with their adventure.
"A naturalist from the Ridges can take you out on a guided tour and explain everything that you're seeing," Jarosh said.
"There's a number of endangered plants up here, like about 25 different species of orchids, growing at the sanctuary."
During the winter, groups can go cross-country skiing or showshoeing with naturalists, or try their hand at ice fishing on the lake.
