The 5 Reasons You Should Try River Travel
In the modern world, we travel every day. We hop in our cars and drive anywhere we want. We board airplanes and fly across the world. But very few of us travel by river on a regular basis. As such, it’s not something that many put thought into. After all, when there are planes, trains, and automobiles, why take a boat? More than just a novelty, river travel is a timeless experience and one that anyone can enjoy? Don’t believe us? You should. We float down a river nearly every day here in White Bird. Our river guides love to take our customers on jet boat and whitewater raft tours. Here are our five reasons we think you should try river travel.
#1: Because It’s an Adventure
Let’s face it, we’re all a little starved for adventure. We aren’t knocking the luxuries of 21st-century life, but we recognize that it’s pretty tame. Sure, rush hour traffic might be “exciting” in its own way, but it’s got nothing on taking a jet boat through a wave train of rapids. When life seems to get a little mundane, you can shake things up with this truly incredible way to travel. Hundreds of years ago, native peoples and early explorers would use the rivers as the fastest way to travel, allowing them to reach parts of the world that would be inaccessible otherwise. You can channel that same adventurous spirit on a white water rafting trip!
#2: It Makes for a Great Story
Of course, any great adventure makes for an equally great story. When you take a trip down a river, you’ll experience and see things that your friends and family simply cannot conceive of, even with the help of your great photos. You’ll find that after your trip down a river, you’ll be the most interesting person at your next party. Others will sit in rapt attention as you tell them about the massive sturgeon you saw, the might elk that patrolled the banks, and the huge sprays of water that soaked you and your friends. Share your river story with others, and sure, go ahead and brag a little bit. You’ve had a cool experience!
#3: It’s Surprisingly Relaxing
We get it. After billing river travel as this heart-pounding adventure, you might not think it would be all that relaxing, but you’d be wrong. The fact is, going on a trip like a jet boat tour of Hells Canyon is an excellent way to break free from the stresses of daily life. Rather than listening to the hum of cars on the road, listen to the hum of dragonflies as they drift overhead. Instead of getting blasted by the chirping of your phone, get lost in the chirping of birds. A trip down a river, any river really, disconnects you from the hustle and bustle of modern living.
And that’s a good thing. Science has shown that spending time outdoors helps us relieve stress, soothes our anxieties, and can even help alleviate some of our symptoms of depression. Humankind was meant to connect with the natural world, and river travel is a beautiful way to do that.
#4: You Can Bring Your Friends
They say the more the merrier, and that couldn’t be more true for river travel. Bring your friends and family along with you for the ride and together you’ll share some amazing experiences. If you’re rafting down the Snake River together, you’ll find that your experiences in whitewater rafting bring you closer together. While enjoying a jet boat tour, you’ll have the chance to connect in new ways. River travel was tailor-made for friends.
#5: It’s Time to Try Something New
It’s true. Deep down inside, you can feel it. You wouldn’t have clicked on this blog if you didn’t. As humans, we fundamentally crave new things. The new engages our minds and our senses in fabulous new ways and adds complexity and nuance. When you’ve had your fill of road trips, when horseback rides just don’t cut it anymore, and you’ve fallen off of too many rock climbing problems, it’s time to give in to the siren call of the river. Treat yourself to the novel experience of river travel.
Connect with Our Idaho River Outfitters Today
Ready to experience river travel for yourself? Then book your tour with Killgore Adventures! We offer adventure fishing trips, whitewater rafting trips, and jet boat tours throughout the immense Hells Canyon.