Thrill-seekers, unite: Here’s a look at extreme things to do outdoors

Try out the world’s longest zip line, go off-roading or take your pick from several skydiving options.

For those who find that Georgia’s serene parks and bucolic hiking trails lack a certain intensity, there are other outdoor activities a bit more challenging. From hang gliding to the world’s longest zip line, these are things to do that will get your blood pumping and fill your photo album will wonderful memories in the process.

Hang gliding

As the largest and most popular full-time gliding school and resort in the United States, Lookout Mountain Flight Park offers a can’t-miss opportunity to take to the skies. Hang gliders soar from the 1,340-foot McCarty’s Bluff to provide a view of Lookout Mountain’s 20 miles of ridgeline.

■ Lookout Mountain Flight Park, 7201 Scenic Highway, Rising Fawn. 706-383-1292, flylookout.com.

Skydiving

Georgia thrill seekers have various skydiving operations from which to choose. Skydive Georgia in Cedartown offers the safest, first jump tandem skydive in the U.S., says Explore Georgia.

For something closer to the city, there is Skydive Spaceland Atlanta. And those east of Atlanta, especially near the Athens area, can head to Skydive Monroe. Jump Georgia Skydiving is in Sylvania, and Skydive the Farm is another Cedartown-based organization.

■ Skydive Spaceland Atlanta, 1195 Grady Road, Rockmart. 770-748-2200, atlanta. skydivespaceland.com.

■ Skydive Georgia, 493 Airport Road, Cedartown. 770-6843483, skydivegeorgia.com.

■ Skydive Monroe, 535 Towler St., Monroe. 770-207-1122, skydivemonroe.com.

■ Jump Georgia Skydiving, 538 Beacon Road, Sylvania. 888313-5867, jumpgeorgia.com.

■ Skydive the Farm, 493 Airport Road, Cedartown. 770-6143483, skydivethefarm.com.

Powersports

If you have a need for speed, Georgia has you covered. Cedartown is home to the Highland Park Off-Road Riding Resort, which offers 40 one-way trails across 85 miles of the scenic North Georgia mountains.

Then there’s the Durhamtown Off Road Resort in Union Point. From fishing to paintball to sporting clay to ATVs, this resort has almost all of your extreme sport needs covered.

■ Highland Park Off-Road Resort, 1501 Culp Lake Road, Cedartown. 770-748-0771, highlandparkresort.com.

■ Off Road Adventures at Durhamtown, 2350 Randolph Church Road, Union Point. 706486-0091, offroadadventuresdt. com.

Zip lining

If you want to experience a certified Guinness world recordholder, the world’s longest zip line course is in the Peach State. Historic Banning Mills is in Whitesburg, roughly a 45-minute drive from Atlanta, and features a lot more than its record-holding zip line course. There also are aerial adventures, kayaking, eco-spider Swincar tours, hiking trails with suspension bridges, horseback riding, summer camps, team building, meeting spaces, nature shows and special events.

■ Historic Banning Mills, 205 Horseshoe Dam Road, Whitesburg. 770-834-9149, historicbanningmills.com.

COURTESY The world’s longest zip line is in Whitesburg, about a 45-minute drive from Atlanta.