Here's a sampling of 10 adventures available right here on Long Island. Some are by land, some are by sea. All are fun.
Skydiving
Rush to earth, face first at speeds of up to 120 mph. Sure, there's a skydiving instructor strapped to your back, along with the ever-handy parachute. But that first step is a doozey from a plane 2 miles high. The experience lasts less than a minute - or an entire lifetime, depending on your view.
"If you have a sense of adventure, you can do this," says Brian Erler, president and manager of the Long Island Skydiving Center in East Moriches.
Wear comfortable, durable clothes and athletic shoes. Empty your pockets and leave the jewelry at home. A light meal is recommended beforehand, and bring a bottle of water.
Long Island Skydiving Center, 91 Montauk Hwy., East Moriches;631-235-9968, longislandskydiving.com. Tandem free jump: $219 weekends or $209 weekdays.
Flying Trapeze
Run away with the circus without quitting your day job. Instructors at I Fly in Smithtown teach folks of all ages and abilities to "fly" on the trapeze and perform other aerial stunts. And for all those rookie mistakes, remember, there's a safety net below.
"If you have the desire to learn how to fly, we'll teach you step-by-step," says Anthony Rosamilia, who along with his brother Marco, opened I Fly last year.
Wear clothes that fit close to the body, such as stretch shorts or yoga pants. Socks make walking on the net more comfortable. Hair should be pulled back and jewelry removed. Bring water and pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic tables in the outdoor park.
I Fly, 197 Brooksite Dr., Smithtown; 631-656-8893, iflyli.com. $40 for a 90-minute session, with 8-week classes available.
Rock Climbing
Why climb a 30-foot wall at Island Rock Gym? Because it's there.
The 9,600 square feet of climbable terrain at this indoor facility in Plainview offer tons of excitement - minus the risk of oxygen deprivation and frostbite. Beginners can take a lesson and start on some of the easier walls. Bring a friend (preferably someone who likes you) to act as the belayer - the spotter who stands on the ground to hold the climber's ropes.
"It's a sense of achievement," climbing a 30-foot wall, says Janis Wood, an employee at the gym. "It's great for your self esteem. You can do this; just go one rock at a time."
Island Rock Gym, 60 Skyline Dr., Plainview; 516-822-7625, islandrock.net. Lessons: $38.50 (includes a day pass, shoes and harness). Passes: adults $16, students $14. Rentals: shoes $4, harness $4.
Paintball
It's "Capture the Flag," "Hide and Seek" and "Cops and Robbers" all rolled up into one. Players pack a special gun armed with 500 paintballs and run around a three-acre field trying to shoot their opponents and capture the team's flag.
There's a safety orientation beforehand, and referees keep players in line during the game.
"The bottom line, it's about fun," says Dean Del Prete, president and owner of Cousins Paintball, with two parks on Long Island -- in Coram and Hauppauge. "When that horn goes off, you're all excited; your heart's thumping and you gotta go off and get that other team's flag," he says. "It kind of hurts when you get hit, so you don't want to get hit," Del Prete adds.
