Discover Outdoors, New York

A hike through the fall foliage of the Shawangunk Mountains and a whiskey tasting, sea kayaking and a barbecue on a sandbar, photography classes in Central Park, volunteering with elephants in Namibia—with all of these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, the name Discover Outdoors is a bit modest. But it is accurate: The organization helms outdoor journeys inside and outside of the city, ranging from urban standup-paddleboarding excursions to photo shoots at the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as trips across the world, including safaris and volcano-sandboarding adventures in Tanzania. Guiding intrepid guests through these treks is Discover Outdoors' team of NY-licensed trail guides, Wilderness First Responders, and Wilderness EMTs, who help participants to learn survival skills, reach new levels of fitness, and conquer Hastenburaphobia.