Also called moonwalks, bounce houses are inflatable structures with one purpose only: for kids to bounce in. Think of a trampoline, but with walls to bounce off of, too. Bounce houses are not only found at birthday parties and county fairs, but also at family recreation centers and malls around the country. Most bounce houses are recommended for children ages three to ten years.
For thrill-seekers, bungee jumping is a must. Bungee jumping allows the jumper an opportunity to step or dive off of a high platform. The bungee jumper then experiences a free fall before being bounced around at the end of the bungee cord. In scenic areas like the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon or Northern California, adventurous travelers can bungee jump off of bridges over canyons and rivers. While not so picturesque, bungee jumping off of a crane over a parking lot produces the same adrenaline rush.
Rock climbing has really gained in popularity over the years, and now you don't need to take off for the wilderness to partake in this active past time. Rock gyms and rock climbing walls are popping up in cities, parks and recreation centers all over the country, and some malls even feature temporary rock climbing walls as well. Where does the bounce come in? Rappelling down the length of the rope after scaling the wall. Some rock climbing parks can be found at The Chelsea Piers in New York, New York, and Vertical World in Seattle, Washington.
One of the best places around to bounce is a dance floor! Big metropolitan areas will have nightclubs with DJs or live bands most nights of the week, and just about every small to medium sized city will have some sort of dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. Most cities have a free weekly entertainment newspaper that comes out on Thursdays that lists nightclub and nightlife listings for the upcoming weekend. As an alternative, find a social dance school and take a lesson in the fox trot, polka, or swing dancing.
