Eight Cool New Travel Experiences You’ve Got to Try

Sky Bike, Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

Deep in the heart of an Andean cloud forest but just a few hours' drive from Ecuador's historic capital Quito, Mashpi Lodge bills itself as a "luxury cocoon in the clouds." It's an apt description. Mashpi is the living heart of a 3,212-acre biodiversity hotspot, itself nestled inside a 42,000-acre protected area. Everything at this luxe eco-lodge is about experiencing nature up close without disturbing it.

That's where Mashpi's exhilarating new Sky Bike comes in. Inspired by a stray sketch in a 1970s' issue of Popular Mechanics, the lodge's "wow" attraction (aside from its natural denizens, which include pumas, kinkajous, tropical butterflies, and hundreds of rare birds) is literally a tandem bike ride through the clouds. Suspended from a cable the length of two football fields, you'll pedal your way across a yawning gorge while the cloud forest goes about its business above, below, and all around you. Think of it as the ultimate low-impact workout with a cool factor that's off the charts.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Mashpi Lodge plans to add several more Sky Bikes, as well as a nearly complete treetop gondola that promises to make even more of the protected biosphere accessible to nature lovers.

Curasub, Substation Curacao, Caribbean

It's not quite Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, but even Captain Nemo would be jealous of anyone lucky enough to hitch a ride on the Curasub at Substation Curacao. This unique five-person mini submarine, which debuted in 2010, will take you 1,000 feet below the Caribbean Sea for the kind of underwater thrill you'll never forget.

During your 90-minute descent and tour, you'll see unique fish, dolphins, coral reefs, and shipwrecks in crystal-clear water with visibility of up to 60 feet. Double your pleasure by coming back at night for a nocturnal dive that reveals a whole new world of undersea life.

Museo Subacuatico de Arte, Mexico

The world's biggest underwater museum made its debut in the fall of 2010, and this new experience continues to dazzle visitors to Mexico's Caribbean coast. Just three miles from Cancun in the National Marine Park, the Museo Subacuatico de Arte (MUSA) is home to 400 life-sized human figures constructed from pH-neutral concrete (which is favorable to corals).

MUSA is accessible to divers and snorkelers or by hired boat from a local marina. While you're there, take in artist Jason deCaires Taylor's vision for the "Silent Evolution" of the Maya with installations ranging from nine to 20 feet deep.

Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

We've got to hand it to Royal Caribbean. When the cruise giant promised its new Quantum-class ships would be "a leap forward in terms of vessel design and guest experiences," we had to wonder if that was mostly spin. Instead, it's the newly revealed Quantum of the Seas that has our heads spinning.

Here are a few of the features set to appear on Quantum of the Seas: bumper cars, a roller-skating rink, a regulation-sized basketball court, a skydiving wind tunnel with ocean views, and a jewel-shaped glass observation capsule to lift you 300 feet over the side of the ship—for fun! Did we mention the two-story music hall? Or the circus school with a flying trapeze? Yeah, we're impressed, too.

Quantum of the Seas will make its debut in fall of 2014, while its sister ship Anthem of the Seas will set sail in spring of 2015.

La Bestia, ToroVerde Adventure Park, Puerto Rico

If you've ever wondered how it feels to fly like a bird (or a plane … or Superman), the new ToroVerde Adventure Park in Puerto Rico has just the thing. Strapped into a special lie-flat harness, you'll soar facedown like the Man of Steel at 60 miles per hour on La Bestia, one of the world's longest single-run zip-lines. It takes about two minutes to complete, which should give you plenty of time to see your life flash before your eyes.

Some of ToroVerde's other highlights include eight connected zip-lines, five suspension bridges, and a waterfall for rappelling. ToroVerde opened in 2010.

EdgeWalk, CN Tower, Canada

Toronto's impressive CN Tower is giving the term "living on the edge" a whole new meaning with its "newest, tallest extreme urban adventure." The EdgeWalk, which debuted in 2011, invites you to stare death in the face at a comfortable 1,168 feet above the city—outside, on a five-foot ledge, sans hand railings.

Admission to the 90-minute experience also includes reentry to the CN Tower and access to its LookOut, Glass Floor, SkyPod, and Motion Theatre Ride.

Photographic Expeditions, Explora, Patagonia and Atacama

Nothing is more disappointing than coming home from a gorgeous destination without any memorable photos to show for it. You'll never have the problem again if you take advantage of Explora's new photographic expeditions in Patagonia and Atacama.

New for 2013 and running monthly through the end of the year, South America's top luxury eco-lodge outfitter is offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to capture some of the continent's remotest destinations on film—and learn the skills to do the same on every future trip.

These Patagonia- and Atacama-centered experiences are led by Explora's bilingual guides, and you'll be tutored in the fine art of photography by renowned Japanese-American photographer Katsuyoshi Tanaka. Every day starts and ends at one of Explora's award-winning lodges, either Hotel Salto Chico in Patagonia's Torres del Paine National Park or Hotel de Larache in the Atacama Desert. Combine the two and save five percent on a 10-day trip.

The Conservatory, Butterfly Wonderland, Arizona

If the sight of thousands of butterflies flittering makes your heart flutter with excitement, you've got to experience Butterfly Wonderland firsthand. It's the largest butterfly atrium in the United States, and it just opened its doors to the public over Memorial Day weekend.

The new 10,000-square-foot glass-enclosed pavilion is home to butterflies from as far and wide as Costa Rica, Malaysia, Ecuador, Thailand, and the Philippines. Step inside for an interactive rainforest experience complete with tropical flora, waterfalls, and a koi pond. The five-acre pavilion also features freshwater aquariums, a live ant colony, and a honeybee exhibit. And don't miss the state-of-the-art 3-D theater showing a special version of Flight of the Butterflies, either.

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