Want to get your blood racing and your adrenaline skyrocketing? Hiking and biking the lakefront certainly has its share of dangerous moments, but maybe it’s just not doing it for you anymore. If so, you may want to try something a little more adventurous. Here are some ideas on how to get your kicks:
1. Skydiving: What’s more thrilling than throwing yourself out of a plane? If it’s up your alley, you might try Chicagoland Skydiving Center (12637 Highway 30 West, Hinckley; 815-286-9200, skydivecsc.com). They will set you up with lessons, gear, a friendly push — even a post-jump cocktail at the facility’s Flight Deck Cafe. (A good time to take a leap might be June 8, when the center hosts its 10th annual “skydiving for Multiple Sclerosis” benefit.) Costs for lessons and jumps vary.
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2. Paintball: Wait, isn’t this for nerds? Not necessarily. Imagine strapping on your gear, picking up your gun and hunting your buddies. It’s you against them in a tricky game of survival of the sneakiest. Try Chicagoland Paintball (537 W. 195th St., Glenwood; 708-756-1166, chicagoland-paintball.com). The 24,000-square-foot indoor facility features brand-new turf; paintballers can come solo or bring a group (minimum 10 players). Fees run around $30, plus equipment rental.
3. Rock climbing: Not a lot of rocks around here, we know — but you can approximate the experience at local gyms with climbing walls, like the one available at Life Time Fitness (451 Rolls Drive, Algonquin; 847-458-6200, lifetimefitness.com). Non-members can use the wall for $30, plus $10 climbing fee. For the technical-minded, the climbing wall features 23 belays (places where climbers can anchor themselves to the wall) and 5 auto-belays. It is 37 feet high, looks like real rock, and has about 50 kid-friendly climbing routes (other routes vary from easy to extremely difficult); routes are changed 4-5 times per year. Camps, clinics and bouldering (working the wall horizontally rather than vertically) classes are offered. Climbing shoes/gear included in cost.
4. Scuba diving: Explore the depths with Underwater Safaris (2950 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-348-3999, www.uwsafaris.com). Lake Michigan recreational dives — even shipwreck dives — are available this summer; if you need classes before you start exploring Davy Jones’ Locker, fees for lessons in Underwater Safaris’ own pool run about $200 for weeknight lessons and $250 for weekends, and to complete certification, a weekend, open-water training course follows for $190. Most equipment is included, but you’ll need your own mask, snorkel and fins.