Skydive San Diego, Jamul

To the uninitiated, the dusty, mountainous expanse just north of the Mexico border might sound like a war-torn battleground—it has borne the boots of soldiers in the US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. However, the troops simply visited to practice plane evacuations at Skydive San Diego, whose private, skydiving-only airport is buffeted by steady winds and outfitted with state-of-the-art Cessna and DeHavilland jump planes.

Civilians can jump there too, drinking in views of the Pacific before leaping out of an aircraft for solo jumps or tandem dives, in which a USPA-certified instructor is securely attached to the jumper with professional harnesses and a powerful hug. With 8,000 square feet of padded packing area, the full-service facility not only houses an airport but also a deck for barbecuing post-jump feasts.