Paradise Valley, AZ Outdoor Activities

Though glimpsed by many people for the first time on an episode of The Amazing Race, the desert acres traversed by Fort McDowell Adventures are steeped in millennia of Yavapai Indian history. Guides lead visitors across the Arizonan foothills on a range of outdoorsy and sometimes anachronistic adventures, such as cattle drives and Segway tours through the Sonoran desert, kayaking adventures on the Verde River, and nature walks with Yavapai Indians. These excursions often end in nighttime wiener roasts, s'mores, and cocktails, a break from the frontier tradition of telling campfire sci-fi stories.

Activities at Fort McDowell Adventures’s four venues further immerse guests in the American Western experience. They gather for Dutch oven–style cowboy cookouts and depart for wilderness excursions from The Stables. At La Puesta del Sol, guests pass through a Spanish mission entrance into a dining hall, saloon, stage, and dance floor, and at Rosa's Ranch, they gather under the stars and around cookout fire pits nestled between rustic wooden ranch buildings. Groups dine at The Boulder House, named on the National Registry of Historic Places, whose rock walls bear evidence of petroglyphs, Native American occupation, and ancient spelunking expeditions.

Trained professional guides oversee each of Rappel AZ's rappelling and ziplining sessions. Upon arriving at the outfit's private Sonoran Desert location, groups get into the adventuring spirit by embarking with guides on a brief hike to a playground of rock and rope. Among the attractions, a zipline glides 400 feet through the valley at 40 feet off the ground, offering spectacular views of the desert. A variety of other rappelling and climbing packages provide plenty of opportunities for elevation changes, whether it's rappelling 70 feet off a mountainside or attempting a 100-foot chimney climb faster than Santa Claus. As they enjoy the breathtaking views, guests stay safe in provided harnesses for safe dangling and helmets for pumping up other rappellers with head butts.

Started as a fiberglass-repair business more than 18 years ago, Jet Action Rentals has evolved into its current multifaceted incarnation, offering both jet-ski rentals and maintenance. Seven days a week, customers can saddle up on Yamaha VX 110 WaveRunners, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph and holding up to three passengers. As an authorized warranty repair facility for Yamaha, Jet Action’s technicians continue to tweak the fiberglass, plastics, and Atlantean compounds used to manufacture most personal watercrafts. When not tending to aquatic vessels, technicians also nurture motorcycles, cars, and trailers back to health.

Polar Ice Gilbert gives bladed feet space to roam through regular public-skate sessions and provides class programs endorsed by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. A knowledgeable team of instructors can help advance the ice-skimming skills of all experience levels, including novices, aspiring Olympians, and ice fishermen in search of a greener commute. Beginning skaters start with introductory Learn to Skate classes, while more seasoned skaters can hone individual aspects of their talents such as jumps and spins through focused specialty classes.