Welcome to 2025! I have nothing but time on my hands for a bit, so I might catch up to all the great places I've been finding for you to try out an adventure! Check out my first fast five of 2025!
1. Haeundae Beach Train, Sky Capsule, and Busan Green Railway, Haeundae Beach, Busan, South Korea. That's a mouthful, but Busan is a southern area of South Korea and Haeundae Beach is a popular destination with beautiful beach and view. There's a greenway to walk and a lot of things to see and do along the shore.
Therefore, the South Koreans have provided some interesting ways to navigate the area. You can take many modes of transportation, but the latest and greatest are the Beach Train and the Sky Pods. The Beach Train starts at around $5 for a ride and makes several stops along the way. The Sky Pods run higher at $15 to $25 per ride, but you have your own private vehicle and it makes all the stops as well.
I don't know if you need to take these modes of transportation or not. I presume you can always walk and there is a greenway for that express purpose. Busan is a great place to spend some beach time and get away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, so don't miss out on the colorful and fun transports along the beach!
https://www.koreatodo.com/haeundae-blueline-park-and-green-railway
https://visitbusan.net/index.do?menuCd=DOM_000000302002001000&uc_seq=1026&lang_cd=en
https://www.bluelinepark.com/eng/skyCapsuleFare.do
https://awaytothecity.com/haeundae-sky-capsule-busan/
2. The Pinnacles, Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo. Well, this isn't the normal Adventure for Anyone. This is true. This is one of the most difficult hikes in all of Malaysia. But, if you've already gone to Borneo, this isn't beyond your realm.
The hike is only 2.4 km long, but it does rise an impressive 1,200 meters during the hike. Round trip is 4.8 km and it takes roughly 7.5 hours with ladders and ropes and all kinds of stuff. It's not for the feint of heart, it's true, but the formations are rare and stab the sky at 50 meters or more high. It's a one of a kind hike, so it shouldn't be missed if you can do it!
You can hire a guide for this hike or join a tour, of which there are several. The Pinnacles are something you may only see in a few places on Earth.
It's far worth it to note that there are tons of things to do in Mulu National Park. If the tough hike to the amazing view isn't for you, check out other activities. It's a beautiful place.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/malaysia/sarawak/mulus-pinnacles
https://mulupark.com/pinnacles/
https://theplanetd.com/the-pinnacles-of-borneo-an-adventure-in-sarawak/
3. The Mystic Mountain Bobsled Experience, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. There's not much that I love more than Jamaican Bobsleds. I followed the story in the 90's and I've loved that story of never say die for a good portion of my life. There's something about that Jamaican spirit that I can't get enough of.
That being said, at Mystic Mountain, they have what we call here in New England, a mountain coaster. It's modeled after the Jamaican Bobsleds and it's a whole lot of fun. As we all learned in "Cool Runnings" it's too warm to bobsled in Jamaica, but a mountain coaster? That's perfect.
So, if you happen to be in the area by cruise ship, all inclusive or other style of resort, check out this culturally iconic bobsled run at Mystic Mountain!
https://www.viator.com/tours/Jamaica/Jamaica-Bobsled-Adventure-Tour/d34-14302P252
https://www.islandroutes.com/caribbean-tours/9832/jamaica-sky-explorer-and-bobsled-experience
https://jamaicagetawaytravels.com/product/sky-explorer-bobsled-tour-ocho-rios/
4. Grindelwald, Berner Oberland, Switzerland. This is my favorite region of Switzerland. Grindelwald is a side trip out of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is one of my favorite places and views in the world. But, while I've written numerous times about what you can do in Lauterbrunnen and its connecting areas, I've never mentioned the unique things you can do in Grindelwald.
In Grindelwald, they have Alpine tourism down to an art. The summer is designed for people who don't want a huge amount of danger but want a bit of adventure. These aren't adrenaline junkies or people who take part in extreme sports. These are tourists, and Grindelwald knows how to entertain them.
Grindelwald has a glacier gorge or canyon that provides a lot of entertainment. You can go on a canyoning tour, go bungee jumping and ziplining through the gorge. It's incredible. But if that's a bit much for you, there are other ways to enjoy the 300 meter high cliffs and raging water of the gorge. There's an easy 1 km walk along manmade walkways for example. It's a beautiful walk, fairly flat and it will take you at least an hour, because there's so many amazing things to look at.
But, Grindelwald doesn't stop there. They do have a cliff walk with a glass walkway over the gorge as well. Once again, you can ride or drive up to the start and the walk is fairly flat but with some of the most amazing views you'll ever see.
Another thing that you can do in Grindelwald is take your pick of ways to enjoy the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. You can take the cog railway all the way to the top of Europe. Or, you can take the Gondola two thirds of the way up and the train through the tunnels to the top. Once again, the views are amazing.
And finally, you don't have to hike up an Alp. You can do it all downhill. There are Trottibikes; bikes that you stand up on and coast that you can ride on the paved paths on the way down. You can also hike, take mountain bikes and so much more.
Grindelwald is a one of a kind village and there's so much to see and do. By the way, in the winter you can also go skiing. Just make sure that if you're visiting the area, don't miss this town. They have some truly original ideas on great activities.
https://outdoor.ch/en/outdoor-activities/glacier-canyon-grindelwald/
https://www.getyourguide.com/grindelwald-l1613/ttd/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-to-grindelwald-switzerland
https://grindelwald.swiss/en/discover/experiences/summer-activities.html
5. Visit a Hammam in Marrakech, Morocco. What is a Hammam? You might have heard it called a Turkish Bath. Similar, but still a little different. There are many places from Hungary to Russia to Turkey to Morocco where you can take part in a bath. Marrakech is known for being extraordinarily authentic. These are the baths where you wear nothing, and may or may not get treatments with your bath. It's a bath and spa in some cases and a steam and bath in others.
Here's where the choice comes in. The Moroccans define a local bath and a tourist spa as being different. The tourist spas are used for treatments and purifying the soul and all that. The local baths are quite different and should be tried.
The local spas are social pools and steam rooms, normally heated by a subterranean oven. People visit them about once a week to hang out and socialize in the steam and baths. They are largely geared for men and tend to be gender separate. Also a way of enriching the soul. They are still beautiful, and can be a far more authentic experience. I'd give that a try.
But if you prefer, you can always make arrangements to visit a tourist bath and spa for the full experience you've probably seen on TV.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g293734-Activities-c40-t250-Marrakech_Marrakech_Safi.html
https://www.onewanderfullife.com/hammam-in-marrakech-what-to-expect-as-a-first-timer/
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/best-traditional-hammam-spa
https://www.skyetravels.com/hammam-for-men/
https://www.travelonatimebudget.co.uk/morocco/marrakech-hammams-what-to-expect/
There you have it. 2025 is off to a rockin start! As always, these are just some side ideas for those of you who are looking to visit these areas. That hike in Borneo is probably pretty tough, so think long and hard about that, but the rest of these ideas are for anyone. You could even take a wheelchair along those walks in Grindelwald. So, take time to look into the activities that might be a bit off the beaten path while traveling to exotic locations around the world. Pick out something unforgettable and enjoy!
