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Need Another Reason To Get Outdoors This Summer? We've Got It. By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large July 2007 Move over, gastro-tourism. Outdoor activities are on the rise and considered one of the newest trends in travel. Of course, if you're like me, you're probably thinking that you can combine your love of food with an activity to burn off those extra calories. I'm sure somewhere, somehow, there's a way. Larry Olmsted, Travelocity Contributing Editor and outdoor enthusiast, brought to our attention the absolute explosion in the number of marathoners, cyclists, swimmers, tri-athletes and other extreme sports buffs around the world who are willing to travel to get their game on. We did a little research and found out that millions of people each year are choosing to travel for the sole purpose of participating in their favorite sports activities. The Outdoor Industry Foundation conducted its first ever Active Outdoor Recreation Economy Survey, revealing that active outdoors travelers spent more than $240 million on trip-related expenses in 2006. Olmsted, an athlete who travels for races himself, notes that “Running and biking events are becoming a significant part of the plans for traveling consumers, as passionate participants stray far from home to revel in their accomplishments.” Furthermore, he ads that the opportunities for outdoor sports travel go far beyond just the classic ski or golf trips of yesterday. With outdoor activities ranging from multi-day tours to unscheduled group rides, active travelers have plenty of options when looking for a unique vacation that tests their mental and physical endurance. Olmsted says the rationale is really quite simple. For intensive events that require extended training, such as marathons, the promise of a European or Hawaiian vacation is the carrot that keeps active travelers running towards their goal. Here are some ideas on where to go… WHERE THE RUNNERS GO: Marathoners can travel to any of the top 10 U.S. cities and a wide variety of international cities to find their dream race and trip. According to non-profit organization Running USA, there were more marathons held in 2006 than ever before, including five races with more than 30,000 finishers. Racers looking for a European vacation can head to: London - which held the third largest marathon last year Paris - which held the fourth largest marathon Sweden or Germany - which held races all ranked in the top 12 international runs Runners hoping to find a race locally have to plan in advance, with the ING New York Marathon becoming increasingly competitive to enter, and the Windy City marathon filling up more than six months in advance. WHERE THE CYCLISTS GO: Behind runners, cyclists are the second largest growing segment of active travelers. New York, a hot spot for cyclists, holds its annual Commerce Bank 5-Boro Bike Tour in the city and had a 12,000 participant increase this year with more than 42,000 people from several countries. Cyclists seeking some extra competition may want to try out the Iron Horse Classic in Durango Colorado, where bikers race a steam locomotive. The group tries to beat the nation’s most famous antique train, the Silverton-Durango Narrow Gauge Railway, over a 50-mile route from train station to train station in the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains. WHERE THE SEA-GOERS AND BEACH LOVERS GO: Active travelers looking for a sunny beach vacation to recover from their active lifestyle may want to check out the Baja Peninsula for a weeklong sea-kayaking trip or a visit to one of Mexico’s many surf camps. Domestic travelers can participate in one of Hawaii’s many race and trail offerings from the Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Marathon to the always popular Susan G. Komen 5K Hawaii Race for the Cure. Active travel is not limited to single-day events. There are plenty of multi-day tours, from the annual Tour of Colorado (a seven-day bike ride) and the Pan-Mass Challenge (a two-day charity ride) across Massachusetts, to several annual charity group rides in Europe, such as London to Amsterdam and London to Paris (three to five days). Many of these events include festivals with concerts, BBQ, and shopping, offering the active traveler even more reasons to opt out of the scenic drive this year. So while it may be hard for some purist sun-worshippers to understand, outdoor travel activities truly are more popular than ever. As the “active travel” group continues to grow -- from extreme race goers to those who opt to walk for charitable causes it can't hurt to get started. In a weight obsessed world, maybe this is just the kick some of us need to take that first step! At the very least, the way I see it, the more you exercise, the more calories you can consume.		Ski, Sport & Adventure Tips & Advice Need Another Reason To Get Outdoors This Summer? We've Got It. By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Resorts Take Skiing to the Extremes By Larry Olmsted, Guest Columnist All About the Aloha State By Adam Davis, Editor Summer Sports Go Gangbusters by Adam Davis, Editor Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Surf Spots Around the World by Adam Davis, Editor Fresh Tracks - What's New at Top Ski Destinations in 2005-2006 Having Trouble Getting Hockey Tickets In Your Hometown? Try These Cities For Some Great Pro Hockey and Lots More A View From the Top By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Scuba Rules! By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Snowboarding and the Latest, Raging Terrain Parks By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large Where, Oh Where To Ski This Winter? 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