HowStuffWorks Travel & Adventure Guide  Tags: united_states usa travel wilderness disaster scenic vacation landmark adventure biking hiking sports ski scuba-diving diving city park camping caves mountains trip  

Adventure travel is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. What might inspire an accountant to travel to the Amazon River for a journey into the heart of darkness? Why would a suburban housewife make her way to Brazil to bungee jump

When you think of taking a vacation, do you dream of relaxing on a beach? Or does your mind turn to something a little wilder -- kayaking through the Amazon, cave diving in Mexico, paragliding in the south of France? If you have a taste for the unusual, a

Niagara Falls is the first waterfall that comes to mind for many of us. But is it even one of the biggest? Some of the highest falls have rarely been seen by human eyes.

Over 50 million people travel to developing countries each year. Those trips can pose significant health hazards if you're unprepared. Learn about the precautions for travelers heading to developing or tropical countries or embarking on long vacations or

Agritourism helps small farmers keep business alive by supplementing traditional farm work with tourism. But would you pay to do chores on a farm?

Who needs land when you have ships that can feed, house and entertain thousands of people in style? But what keeps one of these oceangoing behemoths from sinking like a brick?

Feel like going skating or SCUBA diving? Or maybe you'd like to take in a broadway show after having a gourmet meal. You can do all this and more on a cruise.

It's easy being green and socially responsible when going eco-lodging. See how conservation meets tourism in this overview.

The classic scene: Khaki-clad hunters trekking through the wilds of Africa in search of lions elephants and other exotic creatures. Now welcome to the modern safari an adventure for tourists to view and photograph big game in Africa's rich national parks

If you had to pick one of the seven wonders of the world to visit, you might want to make it this one. The biodiversity swimming within its coral walls is awesome and accessible.

The Love Boat isn't so lovely when you get seasick, someone swipes your jeweled watch and all you've got to wear to the formal dinner is cut-offs and a pair of flip-flops. Plan ahead, my friend.

To cover the entire globe in one day would be a feat in itself. But to actually stop and visit each continent would be impossible. Or would it?

Tristan Bayer and Vanessa Garnick from Animal Planet's "Caught in the Moment" go diving outside Cocos Island.

Watch this video about surfing Alaska's glaciers on HowStuffWorks. When pieces of ice glaciers fall off and into the Copper River in South Central Alaska, they create enormous waves - and that's exactly what the awaiting surfers are looking for.

Watch scientists Steve Backshall and Justine Evans drop 500 feet through into a sinkhole in the heart of Borneo's dense jungle in this Discovery Channel video.

Watch this Reuters video to see how Steve Truglia, a daredevil skydiver, is training to break the world record high altitude parachute jump by leaping from the edge of space. He is planning the jump from 20 miles above the Earth. Vaya con dios.

Long before GPS satellites and other high-tech navigational aids, people used the Earth's natural magnetism to navigate the unknown. Learn how a compass works and how to create your own!

For less than $100, you can get a pocket-sized gadget that will tell you exactly where you are on Earth at any moment. As long as you have a GPS receiver and a clear view of the sky, you'll never be lost again. Learn more!

Lost greens fees, plane crashes and cancelled concerts all fall under the umbrella of travel insurance, but is it a scam? Or is it something you should consider while you browse flights and check hotel prices?

Have you ever wondered how a global positioning system receiver can pinpoint your location? See how GPS works in this HowStuffWorks video.

Watch this Reuters video to see how GPS is helping to bring visitors the history of the Berlin Wall and other iconic city landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate to life. Visitors can use special hand-held devices and get historical info step-by-step.