Bowling Green, KY Outdoor Activities

Skydive Kentucky with a BBB rating of A+, encourages customers to jump out of airplanes—but only in pursuit of a heart-pumping adrenaline rush. The skydive outfitter— ranked #5 in top drop zones in the nation by Dropzone— offers tandem, solo, and accelerated freefall jumps from up to 18,000 feet above the ground. Instructors train and expect customers to pull their ripcord and about 80% of clients can do so without any prompting from their instructor. Skydive trains their students to do as much as reasonable on their first tandem jump. Whether a seasoned veteran, a nervous first-timer, or a bird that wants bragging rights among his flock, Skydive Kentucky can guide thrill-seekers on an exciting yet safe descent back to earth.

Treetops sway gently as birds flutter over their branches, breezes waft around their trunks, and humans careen between them at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Mammoth Cave Adventures' series of seven ziplines across two courses trail from tree to tree, each line standing slightly higher than the last as visitors decked out in helmets and harnesses speed across the cables, teeter over two skybridges, and perch on platforms between each lofty tier. Seasoned guides lead the 90-minute excursions as they spout environmental and historical trivia about the rolling hills and dense forest of the 60-acre course, which is located just outside of Mammoth Cave National Park.

The company also puts cables to exhilarating use with a Giant Super Swing, which plummets strapped-in visitors from the top of two towering hickory trees into a free-falling arc that swings 40 feet above the ground. Its new Drop Tower allows guests to experience the scenic view of Mammoth Cave National Park while dangling 70 death-defying feet above the ground. For slower-paced adventures, a stable of gentle equines ferries guests along serene trails and countryside vistas during hour-long horseback rides, which are designed for all equestrians regardless of their skill level or the number of sugar cubes in their pockets.

Set up along verdant forests, mountains, and valleys, Kentucky Action Park's outdoor attractions bring elements of the old-timey Wild West to the modern-day sense of adventure. The winding turns of an alpine slide send sleds on exhilarating quarter-mile trips down the mountain, and putters propel colorful orbs across 18 western-themed mini-golf holes. Chair lifts and a 24-foot rock wall tower overhead, the top of which grant scenic views typically seen only by birds and children holding many balloons. Elsewhere, horses trot out of the Jesse James Riding Stables, which has been in operation for more than 30 years. At Outlaw Cave, guided tours travel below ground to view stalactites and rock formations sculpted by the patience of water over the past millennia.

Across Xtreme Paintball's two outdoor fields, colorful salvos paint the sky as opposing gunsmiths duke it out during simulated battles. Red-and-black inflatable cover peppers the speedball field, guarding teams from enemy fire. The warzone field sets the stage for intense scenarios such as capture the flag and team elimination, during which players attempt to mark each opposing paintballer or stick a Kick Me sign to their back. Both open-air arenas play host to casual paintball outings, special events, and league play.

Xtreme Paintball's safety-focused experts monitor each 3–10 minute skirmish. The staff also checks over equipment between each game, whether players rent their gear or airdrop it in from home.