In the air

At Kitty Hawk Kites, instructors have been teaching folks to fly like birds for 40 years. The company offers three-hour beginner lessons on the dunes from $99 that are popular with families and first-timers.

The more adventurous can make the 10-minute trip north to Currituck, where the company has tandem gliders steered by certified instructors. Those trips, often reaching heights of 2,000 feet, last about 15 minutes and start at $149. Another option is the 30-minute, mile-high tandem flight ($349), which provides spectacular vistas of the islands and ocean. All safety equipment is provided, no experience is necessary, and most of the rides are handicapped-accessible.

Along with traditional gliders, the company has just added rides on a 1902-styled Wright Glider, a replica of the plane the brothers used to train for their first powered flight. The experience is similar: Riders strap onto the biplane wings and go only a short distance — about 50 yards — at modest heights of 5 to 15 feet. The flights are tethered to keep the plane from taking off in a wind gust. A four-hour glider adventure is $349, and group rates are available.

Kitty Hawk Kites, 3933 N. S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head, N.C. 877- 359-8447, www.kittyhawk.com.

Sandusky, Ohio: Roller coasters

The wind won’t just whip through your hair; it will try to rip the shoes off your feet as you hurdle through space on roller coasters at Cedar Point, a 360-acre Ohio amusement park on the edge of Lake Erie that has been drawing thrill-seekers for more than 140 years.

With hair-raising names such as Mean Streak and Wicked Twister, these coasters aren’t for the faint-of-heart. Loaded with corkscrews, breath-taking drops and upside-down curls, these rides promise serious excitement.

Four rides climb higher than 200 feet; the park’s Magnum XL-200 was the world’s first, going so high it’s possible to glimpse Canada in the distance — if you can focus in between three tunnels, steep hills and speeds of 72 mph.

Speed freaks will find equally riveting rides on the Millennium Force, which clocks in at 93 mph, or the Top Thrill Dragster, a 17-second ride that climbs 420 feet in the air and descends at 120 mph.

The park also boasts a rare wooden coaster, the Mean Streak, and one designed just for the kiddies, the Gemini Junior, a 50-second ride that tops out at 6 mph.

All rides have height restrictions. The amusement park has a variety of other rides and a water park as well. Daily adult admission is $49.99; children and seniors are $34.99. Two-day passes also are sold.

Cedar Point, 1 Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky, Ohio. 419- 627-2350, www.cedarpoint.com.

Albuquerque, N.M.: Hot air ballooning

Get up, up and away in this southwestern city, where ballooning is more than an annual fall fiesta; it’s also a local pastime, since more than 300 balloonists call Albuquerque home.

The town’s moderate climate makes ballooning possible year-round. There are several companies in town that organize excursions to take riders into the quiet skies 2,000 feet or higher above the Rio Grande River, along the Sandia Mountains, and over the area’s volcanoes.

The full experience can last more than three hours, and involves inflating the balloon, getting airborne, landing, packing up the balloon and returning to the starting point. The largest baskets can hold up to a dozen riders; most companies require a minimum of two.

The World Balloon company provides excursions led by pilots with commercial licenses who end each flight with a champagne toast. Reservations start at $250 for two or $149 for larger parties. No special equipment is needed, and the temperature in the balloon is close to what it is on the ground. But climbing in and out of the basket is best done without skirts, sandals and open-toed shoes.

World Balloon, 6390 Coors Blvd., Albuquerque, N.M. 505-293-6800, www.worldballoon.com.

North Georgia: Ziplining

Swinging between the treetops with a forest below is part of the thrill of ziplining. A drive up I-985 to Lula will bring lovers of adventure and nature to North Georgia Canopy Tours, a 135-acre property where two- and three-hour tours combine both those passions.

The Sky Bridge trek features nine lines, two bridges between trees and short hikes up to different elevations. The Adventure experience has 12 lines, two bridges, three short hikes and a 40-foot rappel from a platform in a tree at the end. The longest lines are 850 feet; the shortest, 200.

No experience is required; each session begins with 20 minutes of instruction on how to sit and brake, and each tour is led by trained guides at both ends of the ziplines. Gloves, harnesses, helmets and water bottles are provided. Prices range from $69 to $89 per person. Each tour is limited to a maximum of nine riders, and weight restrictions apply.

North Georgia Canopy Tours, 5290 Harris Road, Lula.770-869-7272, www.northgeorgiacanopytours.com.

Cocoa Beach, Fla.: Parasailing

Soar out over the Atlantic Ocean for stunning views of the sea, Cocoa Beach pier and Cape Canaveral on a parasail flight that glides as high as 800 feet above the coastline.

As heady as that sounds, getting there is as easy as hopping on a swing set; take-offs and landings are gentle enough that folks of all ages can manage them. The experts at Cocoa Beach Parasail have been guiding flights for 10 years and do all the work, including providing life vests and harnesses.

Though the actual time in the air lasts only about 10 minutes, the entire excursion can take as long as 90 minutes, including the trip out to sea and back. Those who have any qualms about soloing can go up in the company of friends; parasails can accommodate double and triple fliers as well as singles.

Prices range from $70 to $75 per person. Those who just want to enjoy the boat ride are welcome, room permitting, for $15. Though parasailing can be done year-round, it’s best between February and October, when weather is less of a factor, and during the earlier part of the day, when winds are calm.

Cocoa Beach Parasail, 628 Glen Cheek Drive, Cape Canaveral, Fla. 321- 212-8277, www.cocoabeachparasail.com.

Park City, Utah: Skiing

Climbing to breathtaking elevations while still keeping your feet on the ground is part of the thrill in Park City.

This small town of about 17 square miles started as a silver mining mecca in 1869; its current claims to fame are hosting the Sundance Film Festival every January and having welcomed several events during the 2002 Winter Olympics. (The Olympic ski jump is still a leading tourist attraction.)

It’s also well-known for having more than 9,000 acres covered in snow. Elevation on the main streets is 7,000 feet, and skiers can go even higher on mountains at the city’s three resorts.

The Deer Valley, Canyons and Park City Mountain resorts are among the most highly-rated ski facilities in the country, offering a total of 426 runs and 58 lifts. At the Canyons, the Ninety-Nine 90 boasts an elevation of 9,990 feet and 13 runs designed for experts. The Empire run at Deer Valley takes skiers up 9,570 feet. The tallest is at Park City Mountain resort, where the Jupiter Peak is an ear-popping 10,000 feet high.

Canyons Resort, 4000 Canyons Resort Drive, Park City, Utah. 435-649-5400, www.canyonsresort.com.

Deer Valley Resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive, Park City, Utah. 435-649-1000, www.deervalley.com.

Park City Mountain Resort, 1345 Lowell Ave., Park City, Utah. 435-649-8111, www.parkcitymountain.com.

Dominican Republic: Helicopter rides

You can see the sparkling turquoise waters, the creamy-white beaches and the densely wooded inlands of the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana village with the view of the seabirds by taking a helicopter ride.

These 10- to 40-minute flights offer a unique perspective on the island’s east side, dubbed the “coconut coast,” where the waters are so clear it’s possible to see the seabed below.

Trips arranged through Amstar include pick-up and drop-off at your hotel and travel to the helipad. Flights start at $74 per person and can be booked online.

Amstar helicopter rides. 877-329-4461, www.amstardmc.com.