Do your friends know you as a thrill seeker? Dare devil? Do you laugh in the face of danger? What about free falling from rock formations at precarious heights landing in questionable waters? Did I mention no cords or tandem experts? Cliff diving is a wild experience and has even been nicknamed 'tombstoning' so proceed with caution. Read on to learn more about fabulous places around the world to drop it like it's hot for professionals and amateurs.

France

La Rochelle, a historical and picturesque French town literally meaning 'little cliff', has been hosting the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series for the past couple years.  The world's best divers jump from the 138 foot high jail, St. Nicolas since 1345. Villers-le-Lac, another French town, is home to the highest cliff jump of 177 feet done by Oliver Favre-Bulle. He took the famous leap adding a double back somersault which left him severely injured.  Favre luckily recovered and today organizes a diving stunt show.

Mexico

Acapulco, Mexico has made the extreme sport of cliff diving world famous. Attention was brought to Acapulco in the 1950's when Raul Gomez leapt 87 feet into the ocean wearing a Timex watch to demonstrate its durability.  The location is for experienced divers only because of the dangerous rocks and waters below. However, Acapulco is a beautiful place to capture a view and watch the professionals make their deadly plunges. 

Hawaii

Hawaii is known for its tropical atmosphere, gorgeous beaches and great weather year round. The birthplace for cliff diving, records go as far back as King Kahekili's jump of 63 feet in 1770 in Kaunolu. Not up to that height? There are plenty of other spots across Hawaii, most on the Big Island.  Southpoint Cliffs (30 to 50 ft high) with the volcanic rock and endless Pacific is a favorite for locals and if you're visiting, simply watching the divers is quite a treat.

Switzerland

Switzerland is known for magnificent places to jump. The country has hosted the World High Diving Federation (WHDF) Championship several times. Popular areas are located in Brontallo with cliffs up to 78 feet high.  Despite the activity being seasonal, professional divers will brave the cold temperatures of Switzerland to test their will.

Australia

Being home to beaches, sunshine and ocean all over the country, Australia is a great destination for those trying to escape the cold. Australia has many locations to jump off cliffs for the adventurous spirit. Interestingly enough, most of these areas are not located on the coast but further inland on rivers and lakes. Kimberly, in Western Australia for example, is full of waterfalls, gorges and cliffs inland to take a glorious leap of faith.

by Molly Nelson, Contributing Author

Those few weeks of vacation every year just doesn't seem to cut it in terms of quenching your thirst for adventure. There is another option that's becoming more and more popular with the 20 something set- to leave America completely and become an expatriate.  An expat is one who adopts residence in a new country. Sounds crazy right? It is certainly not for everyone, but think of the people you will meet, new territories you may discover and living a more meaningful life. They say knowledge is power and there is no better way to attain it then immersing yourself in different cultures and surroundings. An expat lifestyle creates a whole new definition of coming back different. 

Be Prepared

Whether you want to teach English abroad, start a virtual business or your company is deciding to send you overseas, you will need to prepare both mentally and physically.  However, do not get bogged down by the details. Half of the adventure is learning and adapting on the fly. Most importantly, understand some background information about the country such as cultural norms. Also, keep an open mind and a sense of humor. There will be many times when things become confusing or frustrating but when you figure it out on your own, it is that much more rewarding! 

Save Money and Eliminate Debt

Most people are afraid of long-term travel for financial reasons.  However, in some ways it can save you money and with the proper research, your travel experience does not have to break the bank. Thanks to the World Wide Web, there are several resources and tools to help you save money on the road.  Couchsurfing.org was created for travelers looking to crash for free. Basically, the site is a social networking tool for travelers and people willing to host them. Couch surfing goes beyond a place to stay however. It gives you a chance to learn from locals and visit the 'off the beaten path' places you never would have discovered on your own. I recommend visiting ManVsDebt.com where Adam Baker describes his travels with his wife and 3-year-old child.  He blogs about eliminating $18,000 of debt, selling everything unnecessary, traveling the world and passionately pursuing entrepreneurship. Not to mention he does it all while raising a family. Getting rid of debt before you hit the road decreases your chances of accumulating more debt once you move.

Make Money

While saving money is important before you take off, what if you could make money once you were there? Your dream of traveling the world can be fulfilled. One option is to acquire a TEFL certificate which would allow you to teach English in any country. GoAbroad.com provides information on TEFL certification programs as well as job opportunities in your field.  If you are interested, there are volunteer and student options, as well. If you are a budding entrepreneur or aspiring to make your business remote, check out Chris Guillebeau's 279 Days to Overnight Success which explains how to create your own success with your own project. Chris has plenty of fantastic advice on traveling cheaply by building frequent flyer miles without ever getting on a plane.

Packing Light

When traveling, less is always more. Most people make the mistake of taking way too many things and end up lugging massive bags through airport after airport.  It is possible to take one bag when planning for long-term travel. Karol Gajda, an entrepreneur who helps people from all over the world achieve 'ridiculously extraordinary' freedom, gives a break down on how to travel with his Ultimate Light Packing List. This can be especially helpful for solo female travelers.

Stay Connected

Wherever you go and whatever you do, document it all with pictures and videos to share with family and friends. The benefit of living in the age of social networking is that even when you're across the globe you still can stay connected.

by Molly Nelson, Contributing Author

Altitude Sickness may sound foreign or mythical to the unfamiliar, but the mountain climbers, hikers, skiers and travelers at high altitude who have fallen short of oxygen know it's no joke.

So, what is Altitude Sickness? Altitude Sickness occurs as a result of your body not getting enough oxygen at high altitudes. The higher up you go, the "thinner" the air becomes, which makes it difficult to receive oxygen from the air, resulting in headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Altitude Sickness may cause symptoms similar to that hangover from college you used to hate so much, but the good news is you can take some precautionary measures to avoid it! Here are some things to consider before you embark on your next mile-high excursion.

How High Is Too High?

For some extreme athletes, climbing a 14,000-foot mountain is a casual weekend activity, but the average person can acquire a mild form of Altitude Sickness at altitudes of only 10,000-feet. It's important to monitor your breathing as you're ascending, because Altitude Sickness can occur as low as 6,500-feet. While some are more susceptible to Altitude Sickness than others, there is only one sure-fire way to avoid it all together: Descend towards sea level!

Hydration Is Key

Keeping hydrated is the single most beneficial thing you can do for your body when traveling at high altitudes. If you think you've had enough water, think again. Water is your friend. Gatorade is your enemy. At 12,000-feet, it is recommended you drink 3 liters of water a day. Cheers!

Ascend Slowly

Remember, it's not a race; it's a marathon. When traveling to high altitudes, it's important to gradually ascend in order to allow your body to acclimate to the changes in air pressure.

Avoid Alcohol & Tobacco

It may be vacation, but when traveling to high altitudes it's recommended to avoid these guilty pleasures and any other depressant drugs for the first few days while your body is adjusting. These depressants can result in a worsening of symptoms. 

So, now that you're well informed on the basics of Altitude Sickness and how to avoid it, go out there and tackle new heights! But remember, slowly and with water.

By Julie Bass, Contributing Author

With it being too chilly to get out of bed and getting dark at 4 pm, there's little motivation in winter to do anything but hibernate. Never fear adventure enthusiasts, there are some winter adventure activities that will keep your pulse racing and get you excited about the possibility of wind whipping your hair. Or at least give you something to daydream about in the office.

Heli-skiing

Like the exhilaration of backcountry skiing and the remoteness of no lift lines? Get dropped off at the top of the mountain by helicopter. Gaining popularity with adrenaline junkies around the world, BC Canada is the most popular location to partake in this death defying act with 90% of the heli-skiing marketshare. Make sure you do your research before you go though as etiquette is different around the world. The U.S. and Canada treat heli-skiing like a ski lift, picking you up and dropping you off repeatedly on the best snow for 5-12 runs, but in Europe it's more like a taxi, once you're out you're on your own for the day so bundle up and grab a map in order to make it back to civilization.

 Ice diving

Ever heard of the polar bear club? Now's your change to live it by plunging into the icy waters of Antarctica. Don a wet suit or dry suit and take a shallow dive down (just 30 feet)  under the ice floes to experience interesting marine life such as kelp walls, sea snails, crabs, sea butterflies, ice fish, shrubby horsetails, jelly fish, sea hedgehogs, starfish, and even seals and penguins.

Kite skiing

A newer winter adventure sport to come about is kite skiing, which can be done on water, land or ice, but is easier to learn on snow than water. Foil kites are the most common to use, as they won't get crushed upon impact. Popular on the many frozen lakes and fields in the US Midwest and East Coast, the sport first gained popularity in Erie, PA in the '80s.

Igloo adventures

Get a taste of Eskimo living by building your own igloo. Both an art and a science, construct your home for the night with blocks of snow in jenga style succession. Lapland Igloo Village in Sweden boasts snow igloos, 20 glass igloos, an ice bar, an ice gallery, ice chapel and the world's largest snow restaurant to get your freeze on. 

Snowshoeing

Strap on the bindings and float across the snowy landscapes by snowshoeing some of the most beautiful trails and mountains in the world. Gorgeous Patagonia offers the ability to traverse it's terrain via snowshoe. Other popular areas are around ski and backcountry areas. Hokkaido, Japan offers snowshoeing out to frozen waterfalls to enjoy legendary hot springs.

Glacier Climbing

An exhilarating scaling of ice walls, grab your crampons, don an ice pick and get your adrenaline pumping. Iceland is a great landscape for winter adventure as the white snow capped mountains mix with the black ash of the volcanoes. Alaska is also a popular place for glacier tours.