Some say ziplining is the next best thing to flying—a zipline tour gives you a perspective on your surroundings that you might only get if you were flying like a bird or holding a pair of flying squirrels. On a zipline, you can see eye-to-eye with animals that dwell in the forest canopy and get a great view of the surrounding greenery, all while safely strapped to a harness. For more about what to expect, read one of our editor's first-hand experiences. And if you're wondering, "Where can I go ziplining near me?" click here, or see below for some of our favorite ziplines around the country:

Midwest

Wolfe Mountain | Branson, MO

Eagles Wings Zipline | Leopold, IN

Choose from eight different zipline tours that will take you through the trees and past the nearby lake, cliffs, and waterfalls. Find current deals here.

Markin Farms Zipline Adventures | West Liberty, OH

This course's ziplines take riders over bubbling creeks and ponds; one course ends with a double-zip setup, where two riders race to the finish directly above or below one another, overlooking the sparkling water. Find current deals here.

Northwoods Zip Line Tour | Minocqua, WI

While traversing this course, riders will glide down nine ziplines, trekking across "adventure bridges" to get to each one. Families can also opt for a zipline course geared towards kids for a less-intimidating ride. Find current deals here.

Valley Zipline Tours | Lancaster, OH

On this course, riders can gain speeds up to 55 mph as they rip through the forest canopy. Riders can wrap up their experience on the "valley swing," which sends them soaring 50 feet above the scenic valley. Find current deals here.

Wolfe Mountain | Branson, MO

Guests can choose from several zipline courses, including the Ozarks Explorer Canopy Tour, which features seven ziplines, ten suspension bridges, and for the real thrillseekers, an optional 40' free fall. Find current deals here.

South

Empower Adventures | Oldsmar, FL

Daredevil Ziplines | Rome, GA

Originally built for the adrenaline junkies on the finale of the action series The Controller: Medal of Honor Warfighter, these zipline courses take riders to speeds up to 50 mph. Find current deals here.

Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tour | Westfield, NC

This zipline course takes visitors through the verdant treetops of the Carolina forests, culminating in a 1,000-foot-long uninterrupted soar. Find current deals here.

Blue Heron Zipline | Columbus, GA

One hundred feet above the whitewater rapids of the Chattahoochee River, riders soar on a dual zipline stretching 1,200 feet across the river a on a thrilling journey that accelerates to speeds of 40 mph. Find current deals here.

Empower Adventures | Oldsmar, FL

These zipline courses combine soaring rides with thrilling obstacles, such as wobbly rope bridges, free falls, and log swings, taking guests over water and through the trees. Find current deals here.

Don Strange of Texas | Boerne, TX

Once riders are finished with this zipline course, which will take them up a ropes tower, across bridges, and on high-speed ziplines, they can replenish themselves with the burgers and fries included in their package. Find current deals here.

Virginia Canopy Tours | Bentonville, VA

Two guides lead riders on a tour that encompasses eight different zip lines, a sky bridge, air stairs, and a rappel, sending them flying up to 90 feet above the forest floor. Find current deals here.

West

Aloha Zipline | Honolulu, HI

Route 66 Zipline | Williams, AZ

Not your typical zipline, these rides start on the ground, where riders are trapped into a seat in pairs. The ride takes them zooming up 110 feet, both forwards and backwards, on a 1,400-foot course. Find current deals here.

Aloha Zipline | Honolulu, HI

Riders not only soar through the Hawaiian jungle on three different ziplines, but they also get to snorkel along the reef and dig into a delicious seafood meal at the end of their tour. Find current deals here.

Pumpkin Ridge Zip Tour | North Plains, OR

The last leg of this tour takes riders over Brunswick Canyon, wrapping up a course that takes them along eight ziplines and across suspension bridges, up to 12 stories into the air. Find current deals here.

Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours | Cañon City, CO

During these tours—whether riders choose the tamer one-mile course, or the more-intense two-mile course—guides showcase views of the surrounding sights, such as the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, the Royal Gorge plateau, and the Arkansas River. Find current deals here.

East

Berkshire East Canopy Tours | Charlmont, MA

The Adventure Center at Skytop Lodge | Canadensis, PA

Amongst the outdoor excursions available here, visitors can take a 3,000-foot zipline tour, giving them an elevated view of the Poconos. Find current deals here.

Berkshire East Canopy Tours | Charlmont, MA

On all three of these zipline tours, riders admire spectacular views of the Deerfield River Valley and the Berkshire Mountains. Guests can complement their adventures with mountain biking or rafting excursions. Find current deals here.

Monkey Trunks Chocorua | Chocorua, NH

Riders of all fitness levels find thrills, choosing from multiple adventure courses, 11 ziplines, and six levels of challenges. Find current deals here.

Canada

Ziptrek Ecotours | Whistler, BC

Nestled between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, this zipline takes riders past the dwellings of wildlife such as bears, lynx, deer, owls, grouse and squirrels. The longer Eagle Tour ends with a 2,000-foot zipline that ends in Whistler Village. Find current deals here.

Anchors Above Zipline Adventures | Thorburn, NS

Riders soar above the tree canopy on a dual set of ziplines, the first taking them down six stories, and a second dropping another 10 stories, over a total of 2,000 feet. Find current deals here.

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