Top 10 Adventure Destinations for 2012

The response has been terrific to Switchback Travel’s Top 10 Adventure Destinations for 2012. It was a fun article to put together and will definitely become an annual staple of the site.

People often inquire about what’s next for Switchback Travel so I wanted to touch on this quickly. This coming Sunday will be our six-month anniversary—the site was launched on October 29th, 2011. Since then I’ve been adding and fine-tuning content and experimenting with what works and what doesn’t.

Later this summer Switchback Travel will unveil version two. The design generally will stay the same but it’s an opportunity to incorporate some really cool features and customizations. Two features in particular will be added to the home page that I’m super excited about and will be a big hit. 

There will also be the addition of new full-feature destinations. The site launched primarily with three—New Zealand, Norway, and Nepal—but this is only the starting point. I currently have an extensive list of places that are candidates to be next. These additions take a significant chunk of time and resources, not to mention trips, but it’s a highlight of running the site. Without divulging the entire list, the United States and Canada are in need of serious representation, including a lot of places that are off the beaten path. And obviously everywhere in our Top 10 is prime.

Switchback is also doing a spring photo contest. I told you all that I would keep the awesome and free gear coming (what’s better than that?), and Gregory Packs, Vasque, and Ibex have been generous with their support. I’ll announce the details of the contest on Monday morning but get your outdoor photos ready to submit (hint: they must include a significant piece of outdoor gear such as a tent or a backpack).

Have a great weekend. 

David