If you want to stay away from the mainstream ‘adventure’ holidays, there are super cool places that you can visit instead.  There are plenty of destinations ideal for those of you who want to have a unique, unforgettable experience in an awesome country.

No one can defy gravity right? Wrong! The genius architects who designed the sky scraper Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi have done that by creating a 520 foot, 35 stories building with an insane 18 degree tilt. The “Leaning tower of Abu Dhabi” has entered the Guinness records as the “World’s furthest leaning man-made tower”. All you engineer lovers will find this simply unbelievably awesome.

Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi (creative commons)

You may think roller coaster rides are not the perfect ingredients of an adventure. But how about if you are jettisoned from 0 to 60 mph and then corkscrewed up 100 feet and then being dropped on a figure 8 element and weaved through series of helixes and finally dropping into a 130 feet trench? And that’s only the first part. That’s the heart pumping Cheetah Hunt Roller Coaster ride in Busch Gardens Tampa Florida- a uniquely cool and undoubtedly adventurous destination.

Alice must have enjoyed her adventure in wonderland and you too can get a little taste of what that might have felt like-though it may sound weird. The Metropol Parasol in Seville Spain is a wooden structure with dimensions 490 by 230 ft and height of 85 feet. It consists of six parasols that look like ‘giant mushrooms’ and it has four levels.  Each level has a new adventure to offer such as a little bit of archaeology, socializing area and terraces. It is something that you have to experience in order to understand it.

Metropol Parasol (creative commons)

Scuba diving takes you to the flora and fauna of the Ocean but how about a little change of scenery? The Cancun’s Underwater Museum in Mexico is the largest underwater museum in the world. A series of around 400 life size sculptures by Jason de Caires Taylor have become home to a myriad of corals and other aquatic species. There’s a cool addition to your boring scuba diving itinerary.

The Harp concert hall in  Iceland is sure to give you a unique experience. The hall is surrounded by a framework of irregularly shaped class that forms a kaleidoscopic view. Designed by Olafur Eliasson, it is now venue to performances of some of the big names in the music industry.

Adventure is something usually associated with men and there is no wonder why, since men are said to be more adventurous than women.

The adrenaline rush that comes with adventure escapades is unmatched and there is no doubt you are craving for the next time you get to book a ticket and start a new adventure.  Here are some places that if you haven’t been to yet, should make the list of your next itinerary.

Most men have a thing for fishing but if you are after some excitement, let’s hype that traditional fishing a few notches and go Mako Shark Fly Fishing deep in the Pacific. This unique experience can be enjoyed by fishermen of all levels of experience. Hunting and capturing these 200 pound sharks will be something you won’t forget anytime soon.

Mako Shark Fly Fishing (creative commons)

Kayaking is for sure something that will get your blood pumping. Now how about taking that kayak away from the rivers and into the open sea? This is something that you can do in the San Juan Islands in Friday Harbor in Washington. Paddle with your buddies for 12 miles around this scenic island, take a break of gourmet, salmon and beer before you continue your journey.

San Juan Islands Kayaking (creative commons)

If you feel that this is too near to your home to call it an adventure, then take your kayak all the way to the Galapagos Islands while you tour the area where Darwin researched his theory of natural selection. To take the kayaking enthusiasts to a totally different level, why not share this adventure with the greatest mammals- the blue whales.

While some prefer to sunbath on beaches and take dips in pools, others… well, let’s just say others want to take a trip to the wild side. If you’re the latter, then check out these vacation spots/ activities that will tickle your adventurous personality and your daredevil personality.

Do you love mountain trips? Do you love food? If the answer for both questions is yes, then this restaurant is for you! Said to be the most exclusive restaurant in the world, Beifang restaurant is located on top of Mt. Huashan of the Anhui Province on the Great West Mountain. To get there, you’d have to hang on chains, travel on wooden planks, stick your toes in rocks and climb the steepest ladder ever. But the effort is worth it because when you get there the food’s free! Well… IF you get there.

Take Jaws on a date as you go shark cage diving. Give the Great White Sharks a chance to bond with you in shark dips. Several divers will be placed inside the cage in full gear, and will be placed in Shark-infested waters. South Africa’s Cape Town Shark Diving is one of the prime spots for activities like these, and there are also spots in Florida and Hawaii. Think you’re brave enough to try it?

Afraid of heights? They say that in order to get rid of a fear; you have to face it. Mountain climbing is too cliché for an adventure, but sleeping on hanging sleeping bags sounds pretty much like a frightful thing to do. Climbers secure their sleeping bags and they lay in it, using it like a hammock, except you can’t hang your foot out because your whole body might follow suit.

Finally let’s take ‘cool’ to another level. Say, South Pole? Well, if you like barren wastelands and lip-chapping temperatures, South Pole (Antarctic) tours are for you. See the aurora australis and spend the night with the penguins. But you can do more than this because there are also activities like hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and wildlife trips. It’s best to bring someone with you because cold, cold nights call for cozy ups with a partner.

Yes, life is a constant adventure. But adventures differ, and yours just might be better.