Oak Ridge, TN Outdoor Activities

Sprawling across 105 acres of verdant grounds, Circle G Ranch curates a herd of more than 500 exotic animals, allowing visitors to cruise down a 3-mile path to get close to the curious creatures. Zebras, emus, deer, and alpaca trot up to vehicles for handfuls of delicious feed and directions to the nearest alfalfa wholesaler, and guided safari-truck and camelback tours impart nuggets of information on the park's wildlife. After treks, visitor head to the petting zoo to visit a rotating gang of cuddly animals, such as baby lambs, goats, and parrots, along with an African crested porcupine and a family of sulcata tortoises.

Visitors to Colorado Adventure Center explore much of its terrain suspended above the pine trees—specifically, hanging from five ziplines that span more than half a mile and reach heights of up to 65 feet. Harnessed into a secure single-pulley system, riders glide over Clear Creek as it glimmers in the sunlight or, at nighttime, in the bright beams of their headlamps—which can also be used to spot teenage woodpeckers vandalizing trees with lovers' initials.

Colorado's waters are also the setting for rafting and kayaking expeditions, during which guides lead paddlers down the rapids of the Arkansas and Colorado Rivers during outings and spring break trips. On solid ground, adventurers hit the trails of the Vail Pass and Glenwood Canyon on scenic biking trips, pedaling along paths lined with trees and rivers with options for bipeds of all skill levels. During spring months, zipliners can soar through newly blooming trees and flowers for a scenic treetop adventure.

Wild Blue Yonder's founders Johannes Zwart and Gina Goldie have been populating Alberta's picturesque, serene landscapes with myriad adventures, including rafting trips and paintball battles, since 1998. The pioneering pair combine Zwart's 20 years of experience as a guide for canoeing, dogsledding, and rafting with Goldie's entrepreneurial spark to lead a team of friendly, insured, and safety-minded staff members that spearhead adventures. Licensed guides who are certified in Swiftwater Rescue and first aid lead rafting adventures that take leisurely, pirate-themed jaunts or trips over moderate rapids that ignite the body’s production of adrenalin and Mountain Dew. Guests can also don camouflage coveralls and facemasks to reenact the War of 1812 with paintball guns in the facility's woodland fields. Zwart and Gina can plan adventurous outings for both small and large groups, and can coordinate accommodations, meals, and transportation.

While plump hens scratch the dirt for morning worms on Hidden Hills Farm & Saddle Club's 500 acres of woodlands and dewy pastures, a team of experienced trainers saddles up and prepares for trail rides and horseback lessons. Guided rides include evening saunters through the woods, and lessons teach beginners the basics of both English and Western riding styles, focusing on leadership-based interaction and addressing oft-overlooked skills such as polite horse handling and how to neigh in seven languages. Nestled in the shadows of Grindstone Mountain, the facility does its best to blend in with the natural wilderness that surrounds it; when it isn't hosting daily visitors, the staff tends to its land with sensible, sustainable farming techniques.