The Best Places in the US to Jump Out of a Plane

In the past year, there have been a lot of changes in my life, and I’ll be the first to admit that I have a difficult time facing change. However, as another new year begins, one of my goals this year is to do more things that scare me. Fear is the greatest inhibitor of freedom, and I have reached a point in my life where I am tired of putting my life on hold because of notions of fear and failure.

It is certainly easy to say that I will try new things, it is something completely different to carve out time to actually get it done or maybe it is easier to find excuses than do things that take us out of comfort zone. I have to remind myself that the sink full of dishes will still be there in the morning, that laundry heap at the bottom of the stairs will still be there tomorrow night, but opportunity does not wait around. I cannot let the everyday mundane be the excuse to discard difficult goals. If we don’t challenge ourselves, we don’t grow, we don’t learn, we don’t experience new things, and to me that is wasteful. 

As a new mother juggling work and life, I have started to realize what is really important in my life, and that is living my life. I have learned to be ok with the fact that on any given day, my house is pretty much a disaster. I have learned that I don’t need to compare myself or my life to anyone. I have learned to forget the people that pass judgement upon me or those that are only a nuisance in my life. My life is my own, and I make it what it is. That may sound cliche, but before I had my son, I wasted a lot of time on things that didn’t matter, and I allowed my precious personal time to be filled with work, fear, anxiety about what others thought of me, and an insatiable need to make my life “appear” perfect.

Then, after my son came, I realized none of that mattered. His presence has changed how I look at my life and the world, and I found out that I want a different life. I want to be a role model for my son, and show him that life is about living it.  

In the spirit of facing the things that scare me, I have taken a step towards a big goal of mine. I have always wanted to go sky diving, but I have never actually done anything to accomplish this goal. Maybe it is a subconscious avoidance or maybe my desire to go has weaned as I have gotten older. It doesn’t matter the reason that I haven’t gotten around to doing it, but I have decided to put it on my list of things to do this year.

It is the perfect goal to jump start my new life initiative, and I have compiled a list of the beautiful places to go sky diving right here in the U.S.

Mackinaw Island

Born and raised in Michigan, this was an obvious choice for me. I definitely think it would be incredible to look at the great lakes as I hurdle out of the sky, and Mackinaw would be the perfect place. There are actually over 46,000 lakes in Michigan and quite a lot of natural beauty. It is number one on my list. 

Bozeman

If I could live anywhere else in the United States, it would be the Big Sky Country. My husband and I stayed in Montana during a trip, and I fell in love with the mountains and rugged atmosphere. Bozeman has breathtaking views of six different mountain ranges that are nearby, and it would be incredible to be surrounded by that view as I gracefully soar through the sky. 

Miami

Growing up, we didn’t take very many big vacations. A camping trip was considered huge in our house. So when we took a family trip to Florida it was a HUGE deal to us, and ever since, I have always loved it there. The beautiful Atlantic coastline, and the beachy scene make it a great place to vacation. I wouldn’t mind looking at the Ocean as I took a nose dive out of the plane.

Colorado

In college, I stayed in an Ashram high up in the rocky mountains. For two weeks all I did was yoga, meditation, and eat a completely vegan diet. It was a huge change for me, but ever since that trip, I associate Colorado with a sense of peacefulness. I felt very connected with myself and in touch with the world around me. I think sky diving above the rocky mountains would reunite me with that moment in my early adulthood when I felt at peace with myself and as if the world was waiting for me.

California

I have only been to California once, and I only got to see a small part of the state. It’s long coastline, the forests and mountains, the cities, and unique culture make a state that I would like to return to see. If you choose to, you’ll get a great view of Mexico on your jump!

Las Vegas

Who doesn’t love Vegas? The lights, the all night fun, the shows, the people…It doesn’t get much better if you are looking for a wild time. I think Vegas captures the crazy essence of sky diving. You don’t go to Vegas unless you’re willing to gamble. 

Arizona

The Grand Canyon state is filled with beautiful desert landscapes and red rock views that seem to set the sunsets ablaze. I think it would a spectacular place to see from a bird’s eye view. 

Sky diving might not be something you’ve longed to do, but maybe there is another goal you have put on the back burner because it is too difficult or too scary. Think about those dreams that may  have been buried under the necessities of life or brushed aside for more immediate goals. Maybe this is your year. Start small, start now, and start living your life!   

What scares you? What adventures would you like to take this year?