Get Your Adrenaline Pumping In Massachusetts

Online, August 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Massachusetts offers some of the best tourism spots and travel activities anywhere in the country and these ten activities offer travelers the chance to experience a unique side of Massachusetts that can't be found in a hotel or a museum.

For more information visit massvacation.com. To get a more in-depth look at individual areas and summer events, check out the "MassFinds" blog at massvacation.com/blog.

Greater Boston

Urban AdvenTours- Situated at Atlantic Avenue in the heart of Boston, Urban AdvenTours gives travelers the chance to experience the city in a unique way. Urban AdvenTours offers guided bike tours of Boston, leaving daily at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Three different tours, one of which departs at night, highlight some of the city's best-known landmarks, including Fenway Park, Boston Harbor and Beacon Hill. Urban AdvenTours' bike shop provides a variety of cycling options that can equip bikers of any level. For more information, see their website.

North of Boston and Greater Merrimack Valley

Skydive Pepperell-This excursion in the Greater Merrimack Valley is for true adventurers, not the faint of heart. Skydive Peperrell offers tandem skydiving, with 60 seconds of free-fall during a jump that lasts five to seven minutes. On average, skydivers plummet at 120 m.p.h. So, for anyone seeking a rush, Skydive Pepperell is the right choice. Transportation is available, as Skydive Pepperell provides free rides to and from Exit 8's Boston Express Bus terminal. To learn more about Skydive Pepperell, visit their website.

Amesbury Sports Park-The Amesbury Sports Park features a variety of pursuits to entertain any group. The Park's summer tubing tracks, combined with a steep hill, make for fast fun. The Zorb course is a must-see attraction, especially for those who have never enjoyed the thrills of zooming down a hill in a giant, inflatable ball. For ambitious types, the Amesbury Sports Park hosts a Spartan Race, one of the toughest obstacle course races in the world. This year's Spartan Race will take place on August 11 and 12. For more information on the Amesbury Sports Park and its Spartan Race, check out their website.

Cape Cod and the Islands

Cape Cod Canal- Constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Cape Cod Canal and its surrounding area present some of the best sites for outdoor activities in Massachusetts. Visitors to the Canal can pick from beach explorations, hiking up Sagamore Hill, and taking a walk along Bournedale. For travelers who go by their own schedule, the Cape Cod Canal is a great place for biking, in-line skating, hiking, swimming, and observing nature. For more information, go to their website.

Central Massachusetts

Active by Nature- Active by Nature specializes in providing unique, scenic trips to travelers who would like to become more familiar with central Massachusetts. Active by Nature has several different tours that vary in difficulty. Adventurers move by kayak, bicycle or on foot, as the tour guides supply background information and stories. These tours pass through a number of scenic locations, including Quabbin Reservoir and the Connecticut River. To learn more about Active by Nature tours, visit their website.

Purgatory Chasm- This gorge, which is not nearly as frightening as its name might suggest, runs a quarter of a mile, sandwiched between granite walls that rise as high as 70 feet. Purgatory Chasm is a popular destination for outdoors types of all stripes, serving as a home for activities that range from rock-climbing to picnics. The trails at Purgatory Chasm lead to a variety of rock formations with colorful names, such as The Corn Crib, The Coffin, The Pulpit, Lover's Leap and Fat Man's Misery. For more on Purgatory Chasm, see their website.

South of Boston

Wompatuck State Park- Wompatuck State Park, located only a 35-minute drive from Boston, offers visitors a variety of recreational activities in a pastoral setting. The camping ground features fishing and horseback riding spots, along with plenty of challenging trails for biking and hiking. More than half of the Park's campsites have electricity, so travelers will not be forced to rough it, unless they so desire. The Park also contains Mount Blue Spring, a popular and scenic source of fresh drinking water. For more information on Wompatuck State Park, visit their website.

Western Massachusetts

Rugged Maniac- On September 29 and 30, Southwick will play host to this year's Rugged Maniac, a grueling 5K (3.2 mile) obstacle course race. Rugged terrain combines with immovable objects, around which all contestants must navigate to finish the course. Licensed contractors devise the obstacles, which run the gamut from water slides to fire hazards. Upon completing the course, entrants will be treated to a memorable afterparty, one that will feature live music, good food and, of course, beer. For more information, see the Rugged Maniac website.

Pinetum Farm Llama Hikes- Many organizations claim to offer unique experiences, but in the case of Pinetum Farm, that claim is beyond doubt. Pinetum Farm gives its visitors the chance to set off on a guided hike with a furry friend that will shoulder the load. The llama hikes can accommodate a range of travelers, whether they are young and restive or old and weary. Hikes take place throughout the year but are weather-sensitive, as excessive heat and humidity bother the llamas. To learn more about Pinetum Farm, check out their website.

Ride Noho- Ride Noho presents the opportunity to leisurely view some of the Bay State's most verdant landscapes from a bicycle. Based out of scenic Northampton, Ride Noho's bike tours include lodging, breakfast, lunch, and guided riding through the heart of New England. Tour guides are familiar with their routes, ensuring that travelers need not suffer traffic or detours. Cyclists who tag along for one of Ride Noho's tours will enjoy the area's quaint country stores and idle back roads, which have provided a welcome getaway from city life for many years and continue to do so today. For more on Ride Noho, see their website.

About MOTT:
The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a leisure-travel destination. An integral part of the state's economy, tourism generates close to $1 billion in state and local taxes and $15.5 billion in travel related expenditures and supports 121,700 in-state jobs.

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism's "Ask a Local" iPhone application, now available on iTunes is an on-the-move guide provides travel information, "local" tips, and deals from Massachusetts' hotels, attractions, restaurants, and shopping destinations. www.massvacation.com

For more information, contact:
Lisa Simmons, Director of Communications
Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
(617) 973-8508
lisa.simmons@state.ma.us

or

Victoria Cimino, Public Relations Supervisor
Connelly Partners
Mobile # 617-470-8878; Office #617-521-5428
vcimino@connellypartners.com