As such, I present to you; the 50 state challenge. The idea is simple; travel around the country visiting all 50 states. Most US residents have probably barely seen half of the states here, so there’s so much to enjoy. Of course, if you’re not from the US, this is still a great travel idea for you as well!

The big question is; how do you do it? 50 states is a big area to cover, meaning you need to figure out how to travel around, where to stay, and how to make it cost as little as possible. Don’t worry, I’ve condensed all the main suggestions and advice into this guide for you to see.

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Road Trip In A Campervan

One of the main issues you’ll encounter is figuring out how you’ll travel around the country without busting a hole through your wallet. Along with this, you have to think about accommodation too; where will you stay? Both these problems can be solved with one suggestion; buy/rent a campervan, and go on a massive road trip!

With this idea, you drive yourself around the country, moving from state to state. It’s a relatively cost-effective idea as you’re self-sufficient while you travel. You don’t have to pay for any type of transport when visiting almost all the states in the country. Likewise, you can sleep in your van, completely negating any accommodation costs. Yes, there’s still fuel to pay for, along with your food, etc. However, you also get complete freedom when it comes to your trip. You can spend as much time in one place as you like, because you have no hotel to pay for. There’s no need to limit your stay because you can’t afford to be there for a long time. Similarly, you aren’t bound by public transport timetables, so you can pack up and leave whenever you want.

It’s a great idea that, admittedly, requires a great deal of effort, but it’s worth it. Plus, it’s made even better when you travel with friends. Two or three people traveling will split things like food and fuel costs, making it even more affordable.

Save Money With Low-Budget Airlines

There are some states, like Alaska and Hawaii, that aren’t part of mainland USA. As such, you have no real choice but to fly to these places. Now, nothing is stopping you from flying to different states too. In fact, one idea is to combine two modes of transport into one. You fly across the country, rent a car, and go on a little road trip around a few neighboring states. Then, you return to the state you landed in, and can hop on another plane to a different area, and repeat.

Regardless of how often you use planes as a mode of travel, and you’ll certainly use them at least twice, you need to think about the cheapest options. There are airlines like Spirit Airlines that offer ultra-low budget options for people looking to save money. Here, it’s not about luxury or class – you can say goodbye to the free onboard wifi – it’s just about getting from A to B. So, when you have to sort out flights, book as early as can be, and fly low-budget to make it more affordable for you. The money you save on travel can go towards better things during your trip.

Devise A Plan Beforehand

I’m all for impulse traveling, but the 50 state challenge is not something you should do on a whim. The US is a massive country, it’s easy to get lost and have no sense of direction at all. With this idea, you’re much better off coming up with a plan beforehand. Decide on a route of sorts; which states will you visit in which order? At the very least, this will bring more structure to your trip.

When you know where you’re going, it helps you map out the best way to do things. Also, if you’ve decided against the road trip idea, then a plan helps you figure out what accommodation to book, and when. It’s just a simple way of ensuring your trip doesn’t go up in flames before it even begins.

Travel During Summer

You have twelve months of the year in which you can travel around the country, but I think it’s best to do this in summer. I’ve got many reasons for this, one is that a lot of you will have more free time during summer. Those of you that are students will have long summer breaks, giving you months to travel around. But, even if you aren’t a student, the summer months are still the best time for you to set about on your travels.

Why? Because that’s when you’ll typically find the best weather everywhere. It might be exceedingly hot in some states like California and Texas, but I’m thinking more from a practical view here. Traveling in summer is easier because there are fewer chances things will go wrong. If you traveled in winter, there’s every chance you’ll find icy road closures, canceled flights, and general snow issues in many states. Make life easier, travel during summer.

Keep in mind that everything here is simply a suggestion! You can choose to follow the advice or not – it’s up to you. For me, these things will make your life easier when going on the 50 state challenge. Lastly, I’ll leave you with this; spend a lot of time working and saving money before going on this trip. It’s likely you’ll have to quit your job to go on it, so make sure you’re 100% certain it’s the right move for you.

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Heading Skyward at Lookout Mountain Flight Park

Among the many reasons to visit Lookout Mountain (hiking Point Park, spelunking to Ruby Falls, Rock City, etc.), it’s home to the largest hang gliding flight school in the world. Since the 1970s, the school has trained more students in the sport than anywhere on the planet. The crystal clear weather and optimal wind conditions are ideal for novices looking to get into hang gliding for the first time, or for anyone seeking a path to solo certification. The school even offers lodging for students who want to spend days or weeks onsite to fast track their in-air education.

A River Runs Through It (Literally)

The fact that the city is technically landlocked — well, it lacks an oceanfront anyway — shouldn’t deter you. The Tennessee River stretches from Knoxville through East Tennessee (including Chattanooga) and onward to Alabama. Along its 650-plus miles of waterway are ideal spots for kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming, and … pretty much anything water-related. The docks along Chattanooga’s waterfront mean boaters can dock right downtown and paddlers can put in without ever leaving the city.

Whitewater Rafting the Ocoee River

The Colorado River, Idaho’s Salmon River, and Oregon’s Rogue River all get plenty of coverage among glossy travel brochures for their world-class whitewater rafting opportunities. So, most travelers are surprised to learn that some of the country’s best rafting is actually less than an hour outside Chattanooga. The controlled release of water by TVA (the state’s power company) ensures that the flow of the Ocoee River is predictable and guarantees consistent Class III and IV rapids on every scheduled outing. Ocoee Rafting has been running the river for more than 40 years and can provide everything you need — including gear, guides, and transportation — for a day on the water.

Run, Climb, Ride

In the downtown core, overlooking Broad Street, lies High Point Climbing Gym — the nation’s largest urban climbing wall with lead, top rope, and auto-belay walls. For climbers who’d rather venture a little farther, myriad bouldering opportunities await along the dramatic rock cliffs that line the Tennessee River. Trail runners and mountain bikers can avail themselves of nearly 60 outdoor trails within a 30-minute drive of downtown Chattanooga.

Add to all this the fact that the city has culturally come into its own in the last decade. Coffee shops, record stores, world-class restaurants, and brewpubs are popping up on every corner. Plus, it’s still one of the cheapest small cities to visit in the eastern U.S. Which all begs the question: why haven’t you visited before?

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Technically, anyone who’s reasonably fit and comfortable swimming in open ocean can do it. The sport requires little equipment: a mask and (optionally) a snorkel, plus a pair of purpose-designed fins to propel you through the water quickly and with minimal effort. The main draw, of course, is an increase in freedom and agility underwater. By stripping away traditional scuba gear, freedivers are able to move faster, use less effort (and therefore oxygen), and get far closer to marine life. Where the bulk, bubbles, and hiss of a scuba diver’s regulator are enough to scare off even the heartiest marine mammals, freedivers can typically swim among them with ease.

What’s more: while traditional scuba divers are limited by the laws of physics as to how deep they can dive, freedivers are untethered from the same restraints. The current confirmed “no limits” world record for freediving stands at 700 feet. And the record’s holder, Austrian freediver Herbert Nitsch, has announced plans to smash through 1,000 feet later this year. It’s a staggering testament to the capability of the human body.

Which is surprising because, on paper, freediving might look like little more than glorified swimming. In reality, it’s so much more. Like scuba diving, mastering the skills and proper technique of freediving requires legitimate schooling. Instructional courses like those offered through I AM WATER Ocean Travel teach novice freedivers the science and practice behind breath-holding techniques, proper swim strokes, and — our words, not theirs — how not to drown. Courses begin in the classroom with proper book and lecture time, and end with half-day freedives in open ocean. Students are welcome to dive entirely within their comfort zone, or instructors will push them if they’re ready.

The company has even branched out to offer liveaboard freediving expeditions which are a great way to gain confidence underwater, and they’re growing in popularity. Their most popular trips take divers to some of the most exotic destinations in the world. Think: spotting humpback whales near Niue Island in the South Pacific, chasing jack fish and whale sharks in coastal Mexico, or gliding with giant manta rays in Bali. It’s difficult to imagine a more incredible learning vacation.

The post Going Deep: Forget Scuba Diving, Go Freediving appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

“Next!” a pit crew member shouts, shattering my daydream.

Is he talking to me? Elated at the thought of Mario-fucking-Andretti personally chauffeuring me around the track, I half-step forward long enough for another crew member to break my stride. Placing his palm flat against my chest, he utters a stern: “Not you.”

This is the Indy Racing Experience at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For racing enthusiasts, there’s almost nothing like it on earth. When would-be organizers of the IRE approached decision-makers at the Speedway, they were almost laughed out of the room. Their vision was to allow average Joes — anyone with a pulse and the height to reach the steering wheel and pedals — to pilot legitimate IndyCars at speeds of up to 130 mph. It sounds insane because, of course, it is insane.

But, if any city in the world could figure a way to realize this lofty goal, it would be Indy — home to one of the world’s premier auto races. With plenty of persistence, patience, and — I’ll hazard a guess — palm-greasing, their vision became a reality. Today, Indy Racing Experience visitors can choose from one of two options. The Drive Program allows wanna-be race car drivers to command their own authentic, detuned IndyCar for three full laps at up to 130 mph. With the Ride Program, riders hop into the rear of a tandem IndyCar to scream around the track for two laps at up to 180 mpr. Riders experience g-forces that few others — aside from fighter pilots and astronauts — on earth will ever know. Deciding which program to choose isn’t easy. But, because I love speed, I opted for the latter.

By the time my non-Andretti driver arrived, I’d been suited up for only 20 minutes, but it felt like hours. I was itching to just go. I climbed into the rear seat while the pit crew pulled my racing harness into place. My helmet was barely secured before we pulled hard out of the pit as though we’d been rear-ended by a freight train. I didn’t know that level of acceleration was possible without leaving the ground. My head, arms, and body felt magnetized to the seat behind me. I couldn’t move. For a second, I thought, “This is what astronauts must feel like upon lift-off …” and all I could do was scream. A raw, pure, animalistic howl which was completely drowned out by the engine roar. I couldn’t hear it. My driver couldn’t hear it.

We were through the first turn and into the straightaway in seconds. The driver goosed the pedal and we hit the max 180 mph almost immediately. My painfully tight-fitting helmet began to pull away from my head. Gravity and nylon were no longer enough to keep it reliably in place. The engine roar was so loud that my hearing was reduced to a narrow hum somewhere between my ears. The world on either side of the car — the track, the fencing, the bleachers, the spectators — all melted into a streaky watercolor painting without edges or definition. Still, I continued to howl.

I closed my eyes as we pulled into the second turn and time suddenly stood still. I couldn’t comprehend how the car was physically staying glued to the track at such speeds. What’s more: how was my driver skilled enough to keep the car on the asphalt?

As we completed the first lap, we passed the pit we’d just left seconds earlier. I later learned my girlfriend was waving, screaming for me, and snapping photos the entire time. Unfortunately, she was but a mute blur in my periphery.

We lapped once more before returning to the pit where I exited the car as quickly and unceremoniously as I’d entered. In minutes, I’d collected my personalized IRE plaque, stripped off my fire retardant racing suit, and returned to the parking lot. The ride was over and I struggled to ground myself back on planet earth. I was seeing stars and my hearing had yet to return. But, try as I might, I could not stop smiling.

Even though I’d only experienced a fraction of what world-class drivers contend with on any given race day, I left with a whole new appreciation for the sport. It was an exhilarating and, quite literally, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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