Our family has five travel goals. This post is part of a five-part series of posts that explain more about why our family selected each of our travel bucket list goals. In this post you’ll read more about why we chose to make riding zip lines a family travel goal.
To see our progress on our travel goals and read about many of our travel destinations, you can look here. To get more bucket list ideas for your family, you can read our list of family travel bucket list ideas.
Links to the rest of this series can be found below:
Explore More of Our Own “Backyard”
Experience As Many Sweeping Vistas, Mountains and National Parks as Possible Along the Way
If you want to learn more about how your family can create and reach their travel goals, you can subscribe here for my free quick and easy guide, How to Create Your Family’s Travel Bucket List:
Yosemite Zipline and Adventure Ranch in Mariposa, California
Why did we select this bucket list goal?
We haven’t set a specific goal around zip lining, like riding every zip line ever invented, or every zip line in a specific country. We are simply saying that we want to ride as many zip lines as we can while meeting other travel goals such as exploring our own backyard, touring the US, and visiting all seven continents.
Many of the zip line courses are combined with or also offer ropes courses, so I comment on both below. Our zip line and ropes course reviews are found in this post.
There are many reasons why our family has a goal of riding as many zip lines as we can in our travels.
- They are fun: Obviously we must enjoy them to put them on our travel goal list, right? Zip lines are a really cool way to experience a place that is not a tour or a hike. The ones we have experienced have had very safety-conscious but fun staff that make your experience a great one.
- They are family-friendly activities for older kids: Many zip lines and ropes courses have either size or age restrictions. For those with older kids (or a party of adults only), zip lines provide a safe but adventurous experience. They also build a sense of shared accomplishment among your family.
- There are more and more of them available: Zip lines and ropes courses are becoming more popular, and the industry is expanding all the time. Two of the zip lines we’ve experienced recently were relatively new (open within the last couple years). More and more entrepreneurs are seeing the potential of zip lines for capturing tourists, especially in already popular tourism areas.
- They are a fun diversion from our usual vacation activities: Our family is not big on museums, and I personally get bored the second I sit down on a beach. Zip lines can be a fun, active experience that doesn’t require a lot of skill or athletic ability.
Raven’s Rim Zip Line Adventure in Moab, Utah
What we love about this bucket list goal?
There’s a lot to love about zip lines.
- Family bonding: As I mentioned above, completing a zip line and/or ropes course leaves our family with a sense of joint accomplishment, like we’ve survived something thrilling together.
- A thrill factor: Our teen and tween like a bit of an adrenaline rush. This is a safe way to give them that without worrying (much) about their survival.
- An opportunity to see beautiful views: Most zip lines we’ve done are in settings that showcase beautiful natural surroundings, whether that be on the top of bluffs, in a mountain valley, or in a forest. It’s a fun way to experience that beauty.

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Canyon Forest Parcours Aventures in Villeneuve-Loubet France
What is challenging about this bucket list goal?
There are actually several challenges we have come across when working toward this travel goal.
- Cost: Zip lines and ropes courses are not cheap. We have paid anywhere from about $30 USD to well over $100 USD per person for a 2-3 hour zip line experience. As with any travel experience, it’s all about prioritizing where you spend your travel dollars. We tend not to spend a lot on luxury accommodations and prioritize our spending throughout the year so that we feel like we can afford an occasional splurge like a zip line experience.
- Age and/or size requirements: As mentioned above, this is probably not something you can do until your kids are about eight to 10 years old, depending on the rules of the course and, in some cases, your kids’ size. If you have little ones, be patient. They will be big before you know it, and the zip line courses will be waiting for you.
- Weather-dependent: Almost all zip lines are obviously outside (with some rare exceptions). We did end up rescheduling one zip line appointment because of the weather forecast. Luckily the course’s staff was very flexible. I watched as people eagerly signed up to zip line across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis during the Super Bowl VII activities. Even as a native Minnesotan, that sounded a little too cold for me.
Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure, Cleveland Ohio
What is our status on reaching our goal?
This is a fairly new goal for us. We didn’t try zip lining until our kids were older because so many of the zip lines have age and/or size requirements for kids. Since 2015 we have been on four zip lines:
Raven’s Rim Zip Line Adventure in Moab, Utah
Louisville Mega Cavern Mega Zips, Louisville Kentucky
Yosemite Zipline and Adventure Ranch in Mariposa, California
Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventure, Cleveland Ohio
Canyon Forest Parcours Aventures in Villeneuve-Loubet France
Where do we want to go next for this goal?
Good question. Whenever we decide on a travel destination we research nearby zip line opportunities. Since we don’t have a lot of far-flung destinations pinned down at the moment, the most likely destinations for which we will do zip lining next are…
Minnesota: We live in this amazing state, and we have not yet tried out the zip lines in our own back yard. There is even the longest indoor zip line at the Mall of America we could try.
Indiana: Every year we visit my husband’s family in Indiana. There are definitely zip line opportunities to try out nearby.
56 Comments
alison netzer
May 3, 2018 at 8:24 amWe did an amazing one in Boone NC last summer called Hawks Nest. Really is so fun for the kids. Mine have ziplined over a gorge in Canada, through a rainforest in Costa Rica and they are excited to take on more.
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 8:50 amOh wow! I’ll add them all to my list! I’ve heard the ones in Costa Rica are amazing.
Angela
May 3, 2018 at 9:25 amYou need to check out Wisconsin! There’s a place in Lake Geneva that offers canopy tours (a walk through the trees, from the top!). They have zip lines as well. It is a little more on the pricey side but if you go on a weekday they often have 2 for 1 specials.
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 9:30 amNice! Yes, Wisconsin is easy since we live in the metro area in MN. Good to know!
Tiffany
May 3, 2018 at 9:42 amI love zip lining! What a great bucket list idea with the family!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 12:49 pmThanks! We really love it. 🙂
Rae
May 3, 2018 at 9:51 amThis is awesome, ziplines are so fun.
It’s awesome that you made it a family goal
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 12:49 pmThanks! We enjoy them a lot. 🙂
Karie
May 3, 2018 at 9:59 amMe and my hubby did one and it was amazing! I guess as a mother I am still fearful of my teen boys doing it but they are teens now and I should let go of that fear because I like the idea of the bonding with it. I think that’s an excellent idea. I am going to be looking for one for us to go on.
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 12:48 pmIt’s super safe. At a few of the zip lines they had staff that clipped you on and off…very, very thorough and professional. Enjoy!
Jocelyn
May 3, 2018 at 11:26 amSo much fun! I love your goal ideas, especially wanting to create family bonding. I love ziplines, and I can’t wait to do more stuff like this with my kids as they get older.
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 12:47 pmThanks! We’ve only picked this up in the last few years, waiting for our kids to get older. It’s a blast!
Jamie
May 3, 2018 at 12:15 pmIts not on my list because of the cost! I hope youget to do it more! ITs fun!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 12:46 pmYeah, we end up saving $ on other things on our trip (and our daily life) so that we can splurge on a zip line occasionally. Not cheap!
Tif
May 3, 2018 at 2:01 pmZip lining is a great activity!! A lot of cities have one that they offer! Have to try them all!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 2:21 pmSo many zip lines, so little time. 🙂
Cailtyn
May 3, 2018 at 3:58 pmI love that you have a family bucket list! What a great idea! I’ve always wanted to zip line at the Mall of America!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 8:06 pmWe live about a 30 minute drive away from Mall of America…I guess we just avoid the place like the plague because it’s so busy. 🙂 Maybe this winter we’ll give it a go.
Candi Randolph
May 3, 2018 at 4:55 pmThis is such an awesome family activity. I didn’t realize there were so many zip line locations!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 8:06 pmThanks! There are getting to be more and more all the time.
Stacey
May 3, 2018 at 6:00 pmI should really try zip lining. We have some near us, but I’ve never given one a go. We have some beautiful scenery here in the Ozarks, so I bet it would be awesome. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 8:07 pmYou’re welcome. I bet zip lining in the Ozarks would be amazing! My dad always wanted to retire there, but Parkinsons Disease had other plans. 🙁 Such is life.
Verla
May 3, 2018 at 6:43 pmNice way to visit the tree tops!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 8:08 pmAbsolutely! Look at the reviews from Canyon Forest in France…that was so amazing!
gail
May 3, 2018 at 9:06 pmZiplines are popping up everywhere! I can’t believe I haven’t done it yet, but I really want to!
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 9:51 pmIt’s so fun…you definitely should!
Louise
May 3, 2018 at 9:11 pmI’m terrified of zip lining for some reason! I know in my logical head that it’s a great experience and I know I HAVE to do it on our next trip! Any tips for chickens like me?
Kristie
May 3, 2018 at 9:52 pmWe found that the ropes courses were self-guided, so you have to hook yourself up on the lines. I’d try one that’s just a zip line course first, because they ease you into it with shorter, lower lines, and chances are there will be staff to hook you on and to take you off. They are so safety conscious. Honestly, my husband is afraid of heights, but he has had no problems on zip lines. Good luck!
Katie
May 3, 2018 at 10:22 pmI really want to get my kids to try this. It is on my bucket list but not theirs. Someday, maybe!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 5:18 amI hope you all do try it and see how it goes for you. 🙂 Good luck!
Trudy
May 4, 2018 at 1:41 amI just took two of my daughters for the first time on zip lines. I almost backed out lol glad I didn’t!! It was sooo fun. Your travel goals sound great!! What an awesome idea and plan you have for your bucket list ideas.
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 5:19 amThank you! I’m glad you ended up having a great time. 🙂
Carol
May 4, 2018 at 8:12 amThis sounds like so much fun! The only zip line on my bucket list right now is the one in Vegas, but I may have to add some more off of your list.
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 9:52 amOooh, one in Vegas would be a blast, I bet! 🙂 Our list is short so far, but we are hoping to add a few this summer.
Kristi Ann
May 4, 2018 at 9:57 amWe have zip lining on our summer bucket list this year! I have never been so I am really excited!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 10:40 amFun! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Monica
May 4, 2018 at 10:03 amWe had the opportunity to go zip lining in PR but I chickened out. I’m terrified of heights, but now I wish I did it. Another time I WILL do it!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 10:42 amI totally understand having a fear of heights. There may be tamer opportunities that aren’t so scary. My husband is not a fan of heights, and he’s been fine on these excursions. The staff have been super thorough, professional, and safety-minded. But I know that fear of heights isn’t based on logic. I hope you’re able to try it if you want sometime!
Nicole
May 4, 2018 at 4:01 pmHow fun! What a great family adventure!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 4:11 pmThanks!
Melina
May 4, 2018 at 4:50 pmLove this! I definitely want to add zip lines to our traveling bucket list! My kiddos are still a little young!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 6:32 pmThey will be big enough before you know it. 🙂
Heidi
May 4, 2018 at 5:48 pmZip lining always looks like a lot of fun!
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 6:30 pmIt is! You should try it. 🙂
Carmen
May 4, 2018 at 10:02 pmZip-lining sort of freaks me out a little. But what a fun family activity with some thrill and great way to see the world! So many places have it these days.
Kristie
May 4, 2018 at 10:15 pmIt’s so safe, luckily. Staff are super safety-conscious at these places. If that helps ease your concerns any. 🙂
Bola
May 5, 2018 at 6:00 pmOh my! I can’t do this to save my life. Hubby however would love it. Love the family bucket list
Kristie
May 5, 2018 at 6:27 pmIt’s not for everyone, but it’s really not scary, just fun. 🙂
Laura
May 7, 2018 at 11:19 amI have been tempted by zip lining– but a fear of heights is putting the brakes on that!
Kristie
May 7, 2018 at 12:35 pmOh no! I do understand a fear of heights is not rational, so I get it. I can tell you how safe they are, but that probably won’t help much. 🙁 I will say that my daughter used to be really fearful of heights, so she started working on it by going to rock climbing walls, and she’s overcome a lot of that now. Same with my husband, not a fan of heights, but he’s working on it.
Shanna
May 8, 2018 at 8:27 pmThis looks like so much fun! My kids are too small, but eventually we’ll get there!
Kristie
May 8, 2018 at 10:00 pmThey’ll be big enough before you know it. Keep it on your radar for when they’re older. 🙂
Alina Jack
June 19, 2018 at 5:36 amZip lines are fun activity i like the most. I first time tried it on Rajasthan, India and it was not less than any adventure. I loved it.
Kristie
June 19, 2018 at 5:39 amI agree. Zip lines are a blast! 🙂
Alexander Popkov
July 20, 2018 at 3:29 pmI love zip lines, although, haven’t really taken long ones. I wish I could get to know more nearby. US and France need going to.
Kristie
July 20, 2018 at 4:00 pmThey are really fun. I’ve heard about some amazing ones in Costa Rica…and one that goes from Spain to Portugal (or maybe the other way….).