Just read a great interview with one of my heroes, Blue Highways author William Least Heat Moon.  A man responsible for my long-held belief that it’s not the destination but the experience that really matters.  And the more extraordinary that experience the better.

While I’ve collected a fair number of extraordinary experiences both here and on the pages of XTRORD.com, I’m well aware there are lots more of these truly remarkable once-in-a-lifetime adventures out there waiting to be discovered.

Which is why I’ve been geeking out on a handful of new adventure travel books.  While all of them tend to focus on destinations rather than experiences to some degree, read between the lines and you’re bound to find a few gems that make you think “Gee, I’ve always wanted to do that!”:

Once In A Lifetime Trips: The World’s 50 Most Extraordinary and Memorable Travel Experiences

by Chris Santella $25, 224 pages, Clarkson Potter Publishers

From an elephant safari in Botswana to a cross country skiing expedition to the North Pole, the experiences in this handsome little book definitely live up to the “extraordinary and memorable” claim in its sub-title.  While a few of the featured adventures border on the ordinary, there are enough cool ideas here to spark a full year’s worth of daydreams.

Off The Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives

Foreword by Bill Bryson. $40, 336 pages, DK Eyewitness Travel

I can’t help but like any book that presents dozens of  alternative destinations, events, and activities designed to help you leave the touristy masses far behind.  The end-of-chapter lists of other little-known adventures and the gorgeous photography are just icing on the cake.

Make The Most Of Your Time Here On Earth: 1,000 Ultimate Travel Experiences

$30, 608 pages, Rough Guides

Look, when it comes right down to it, nothing succeeds like excess, and that’s just what this beautifully-done book packed with 1,000 great adventure ideas offers.  If you can’t find at least a dozen cool new experiences to add to your life-list in its 600-plus pages, well, I feel sorry for you.

Just heard an interview with a women who arrived at a southern California mall at 4:30 this morning because she thought joining the crowds lined up for the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving deals would be an interesting “experience.” I’m sure she’s right on some level, though honestly battling the Black Friday throngs for questionable deals on things I have no real use for is one adventure I have absolutely no interest in.

As a matter of fact, I’ve long been a proponent of the philosophy that we’re all burdened by way too much “stuff.”  All of which will wear out, go out of style, or just plain get ignored at the back of the hall closet much sooner than we’d care to imagine.  Which explains why one of XTRORD.com’s core principles is that “Possessions don’t last but memories do.”

With that in mind, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that I recommend giving the gift of an extraordinary experience this holiday.  Besides providing your giftee with a day they’ll never forget, you can also take satisfaction in knowing that you’ll be able to avoid the whole hassle of standing in line at the Returns counter when you discover that your friends and relatives already had one.

If you’re in need of some specific ideas for once-in-a-lifetime adventure gifts, here are a few I can highly recommend based on personal experience:

• Let your favorite guitar hero live out their rock star fantasies (minus the groupies) at Rock-n-Roll Fantasy Camp.
• Give her an experience that’s as unique as she is by creating her own one-of-a-kind custom fragrance.
• Honestly now, what guy (actually, I’m told girls like it too) wouldn’t dig spending the day operating a 10-ton bulldozer or excavator?
• Top Gun wannabes can take the controls of their own fighter plane at Air Combat USA and go head-to-head with an opponent in full-on dogfights.
• Make an animal lover’s year with these tours that allow them to swim with the gentle manatees of Florida’s Crystal River.
• If you know someone who has dreams where they find themselves flying like a bird, make those visions come true on a tandem paragliding flight.
• Find out what the whole surfing craze is about with these affordable surfing lessons.
• This drag racing school is one of the few places where putting the pedal to the metal is actually encouraged.
• History buffs and aviation geeks will both love these one-hour flights aboard an authentic World War II-era B-17 bomber.
• If you know someone who enjoys sailing, it’s a pretty safe bet they’ll get off on taking the wheel of a genuine America’s Cup yacht.

One of our XTRORD.com guiding principles is that “reality kicks virtual reality’s butt every time.”  Which is why I found this new TV commercial promoting travel to the Florida Keys and Key West to be a lot more profound than anybody at the ad agency or tourism bureau probably expected.

You see, as much as I like the Keys—and I like them a lot—what struck me as so right-on about this 30-second spot that spoofs the whole “There’s an app for that” iPhone ad campaign is the idea that all the cutting-edge technology in the world can’t beat getting out there and having a good old-fashioned extraordinary experience.  I mean, really, how can  performing in a virtual rock band in your living room possibly compare with actually getting up on stage and playing your heart out in front of a cheering crowd?

Now, if I sound like a bit of a Luddite on this, well, so be it.  But as someone who’s tried aerial combat in both a computer-generated fighter plane and the real deal, let me tell you there’s just no contest which one I’ll remember for the rest of my days.

One final thought on this subject.  Maybe you believe the virtual reality version of living your dream will have to suffice because your fantasy is just too far out there to expect that you could ever do it for real.  Well, here’s my challenge to you: Use the comment area below to let me know what it is you’ve always dreamed of doing and I’ll do my best to find you a way to make it happen.

While there are no guarantees with this offer, what I can promise you this:  Once you make your long-held dream a reality, the virtual world will never seem quite as exciting again.

I know lots of adults who’ve never outgrown their childhood fascination with trains. And while I don’t have the patience to sit beside railroad tracks for hours with my camera in hand like some of the hardcore rail buffs I’ve met, I’ll admit that I have been known to go out of my way to watch a passing train roll by.

If you’re equally smitten with railroading (or know someone who is), you’ll want to take note of these three new additions to my growing list of extraordinary experiences:

Northern Nevada Railway

There’s no shortage of scenic excursion trains in the world, but this Ely, Nevada museum is the only place I know of where you can actually take the controls of a vintage steam-powered locomotive (diesel-electric engines are also available) as you roll down the main-line tracks under the supervision of an experienced engineer. Some cool video here.

Station Inn Bed-and-Breakfast

While most folks would avoid a hotel where trains rumble by day and night, that’s precisely the attraction at this five-room trackside B&B.  Accommodations are simple (twin beds with no phones or televisions), but that doesn’t seem to deter rail fans who gather on the front porch to watch the 70-plus passenger and freight trains that roll by on any given day.  A host of other nearby railroading attractions make this Pennsylvania inn about as close to train-geek nirvana as you’re ever likely to find.

Northlandz

This 52,000 square-foot warehouse about an hour west of New York City is an example of what happens when one man’s toy train obsession gets a little out of hand.  But, as obsessions go, this is a pretty cool one, with more than 100 trains rolling along 50,000 feet (that’s roughly 9 miles) of track in a display that’s earned the distinction of being one of the world’s largest model railroads.

As someone who’s spent the night in thousands of hotel rooms over the years, I’m not easily impressed. So when I discover places that turn out to be more than just another generic place to lay my head at the end of a long day, I figure I ought to share the wealth.

Which brings me to these hot tips on three great lodging options I discovered on my recent visit to San Diego:

Marriott Courtyard/Liberty Station

Located on the grounds of the former Naval Training Center, this year-old waterfront hotel combines an ideal location with a super-friendly staff, surprisingly attractive and well-kept rooms and public spaces, and an on-site restaurant (serving up killer breakfasts) and deli into something that’s way more than just another chain-operated airport hotel.  In fact, I actually preferred it hands-down over the much pricier W Hotel downtown I stayed at earlier in the week.

Pacific Terrace Hotel

If you know anything about San Diego, you know sooner or later you’re going to end up at the beach.  So why not stay there?  Located a couple of blocks north of the Crystal Pier in my old Pacific Beach neighborhood, this relatively small property offers huge rooms with ocean views as good as any in town, plus a free continental breakfast every morning and fresh, hot cookies every afternoon.  Check out the view at their online web cam.

Roar & Snore/Wild Animal Park

Okay, so technically this isn’t a hotel.  But sleeping in one of the large canvas tents overlooking the San Diego Wild Animal Park’s wide-open East Africa exhibit offers amenities no hotel room can match, like the sounds of tigers roaring and elephants trumpeting as you drift off to sleep.  Add some tasty grub plus walking tours and family-friendly activities and you have a lodging alternative that you won’t soon forget.

In the previous installment, I pointed out that you don’t have to travel to remote corners of the globe to have an extraordinary experience.  Well, here’s another example of a genuine once-in-a-lifetime adventure hiding in plain sight at one of San Diego’s most-visited tourist attractions:

Ewwww! Rhino slobber!

Let’s try a little word association.  When I say “San Diego,” you say what?

Anyone who’s ever visited America’s Finest City knows there’s no shortage of ways to fill in that blank.  But I’m thinking of one word in particular: Zoo.  After all, there are good reasons they call it the “World Famous San Diego Zoo,” not the least of which are some of the classic episodes where the zoo’s animal ambassador Joan Embry and her furry friends visited Johnny Carson on NBC’s Tonight Show.

While meeting some of the zoo’s exotic animals didn’t always work out quite the way Johnny envisioned, it was always amusing.  And I can tell you from personal experience that the zoo’s new Backstage Pass program is every bit as much fun.  Maybe more, in fact, since you get to be a participant instead of just a spectator.

The two-hour family-friendly adventure starts with a tasty boxed lunch and private stage show starring a wide array of critters ranging from Sonic the hedgehog (gee, I wonder where they dream up these crazy names) to Amara the cheetah.  After lunch, my family and I got to do a meet-and-greet with more animals including a male emu named Daphne (apparently it’s not that easy to tell the boy emus from the girls).

While all that was fun, the best part of the experience as far as I’m concerned was getting to feed, pet, and scratch the heavily-armored backs of two endangered Indian rhinos.  To be this close to such rare (only 3,000 remain in the wild) and amazing creatures was a real treat.  And, let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve been slobbered on by a hungry rhino!

A lot of folks mistakenly assume that having a truly extraordinary experience means spending a ton of dough or traveling to exotic locales.  Today’s post, the first in a two-part series, proves that ain’t necessarily so.

Eat your heart out, Captain Ahab!

Considering I’m all about hunting down remarkable adventures, it’s probably not all that surprising that I generally tend to shy away from theme parks and similar attractions that cater to the masses. But my recent trip to San Diego reminded me that sometimes, with a little digging, it’s possible to turn up some downright extraordinary experiences even in the most touristy places you can imagine.

Case in point: SeaWorld’s Beluga Interaction Program.  While dolphin encounters have become fairly common, I can’t think of anywhere else you can get up-close-and-personal with one of these great white whales short of making the arduous and expensive trip to the Arctic Ocean (you can read about my friend Bob Howells’ beluga experience in the waters of Hudson Bay here).

While actually sliding into the 52-degree water with two of the park’s 14-foot long belugas was definitely the high point of our behind-the-scenes experience in the park’s Wild Arctic habitat, it was far from the only cool thing we did during the 70-minute program.  Seeing an 11-foot tall male polar bear rear up on his hind legs to reach a treat offered by his keeper—even if he was behind his protective steel enclosure—was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Obie: I am the walrus!

My favorite part of the experience, however, was the chance to feed a 2,500-pound male walrus named Obie. After his snack, the portly pinniped showed off a few of the hilarious sounds he could make, including a lion-esque roar that left me covered in fish scales and walrus snot  (Note to Self: Never stand in front of a vocalizing walrus).  Now there’s a story for my next cocktail party!

In short, the entire Beluga Interaction Program was an absolute hoot.  Not to mention a great reminder that sometimes you’ll find extraordinary experiences waiting for you in the least likely places.

NEXT TIME: We go on safari without leaving California.

Pink tourmaline

Just heard a report that the price of gold has reached an all-time high at over $1,000 per ounce.  Which got me thinking that maybe it was time to head back to Wood’s Creek in California’s Sierra Nevada gold country to see if I could dig up—literally—enough gold to give me a little extra walking-around money.

It also reminded me of another natural treasure I discovered nearly 20 years ago in the mountains northeast of San Diego.  Just past the sleepy little town of Pala (not quite as sleepy these days, now that the Pala tribe has opened a glittering new casino with a killer buffet) you’ll find the turn off for Gems Of Pala.

Here you can sift through buckets of gravel in search of the same hot-pink tourmalines that were coveted by the last Chinese empress.  The material is brought up from the area around the gem pockets in the depths of my friend Blue Sheppard’s Stewart Mine and is often filled with small tourmalines that range in color from pink to a gorgeous green/pink bi-color variety known as watermelon.

Treasure hunting with my friend Blue Sheppard

At $20 per bucket, it’s an inexpensive and fun way to spend the afternoon treasure hunting.  Best of all, it’s also an outing that—if you’re lucky—might very well pay off in a collection of gemstones that are actually many times more rare than diamonds!

Myrtles Plantation/St. Francisville, LA

Maybe you’ve heard about this new movie Paranormal Activity, which is supposed to be the scariest new movie to come along since The Blair Witch Project made us all think twice before heading into the woods with a video camera back in 1999.

Of course, watching a  movie like this is just one way to get that spooky feeling that makes a shiver run up your spine.  For a more authentic paranormal experience, I’d highly recommend you spend the night at St. Francisville, Louisiana’s Myrtles Plantation.

This grand 1796 antebellum home has seen so much tragedy over the past two centuries that it’s no wonder many paranormal experts believe it to be one of the most haunted homes in the U.S.  You’re bound to get goose bumps just listening to the guide’s tales of ghostly encounters that actually seem to get more frequent when guests are present.  If that’s not spooky enough for you, you can arrange to spend the night in one of the rooms of the main house where former guests have heard everything from the sounds of some long-ago social event to a mortally-wounded man staggering loudly up the steep wooden stairs.

And while there’s no guarantee you’ll see a ghost, it’s a safe bet that you’ll come away with some great stories to tell at your next Halloween party!

Just a quick note for all those folks headed to this weekend’s 38^th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 3-11).  As cool as you think it is to watch from the edges of the field as 700 hot air balloons from 17 countries lift off—and it is among the coolest spectacles you’ll ever witness—you simply must spring for one of the balloon rides that go up in the middle of each morning’s mass ascensions!

Now I know what you’re thinking: You’ve been up in a hot air balloon before and, while it was great fun, you’re not sure you really wanna lay out the dough for another balloon ride.  Well, trust me on this one, you most certainly do.  The rides provided by the festival’s official operator Rainbow Riders (no relation, unfortunately) take an already over-the-top adventure and turn it into one of my all-time favorite extraordinary experiences.

To get a better understanding of what I mean when I say these rides are like standing inside a giant three-dimensional kaleidoscope, check out the story and photos on XTRORD.com.