Where’s Your Sense of Adventure?
Or, Skydiving In a Blizzard
I’m going to tell you a story, Traveler, as I am wont to do. But you and I must return to February and a little town called Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
Lincoln University is an actual college and also the name of the town. It’s on the border of Pennsylvania and Delaware and is a stop before Downingtown on the way towards Lancaster. This particular day at Lincoln University, it snowed — a lot, in fact. And this snow was a problem because this just happened to be my day off, and I had plans.
I take my days off very seriously because I take travel very seriously, and this day was no different. In the afternoon, I was due in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. I booked an indoor skydiving experience for myself, and this snowstorm complicated things for everyone involved.
I will give you one of the core tenets of being a traveler rather than a tourist now.
A Tourist Complains About A Travel Problem. A Traveler Knows That A Problem Just Makes For A Better Story.
Think about it, Traveler. If you’re watching a movie, do you want the hero to have a flawless journey towards their destination? Chances are that you don’t. Conflict is a part of life and always makes things more interesting. Too often, we forget that, and I’m guilty of ignoring it myself.
But here’s the thing. iFly was open whether I ended up there or not. I’m a tour guide and have given tours on a Segway in Philadelphia during a monsoon. It just comes with the territory.
So, I made my way east on Route 30 towards the King of Prussia Mall. I had a date with an indoor wind tunnel.
I arrived early at the King of Prussia Mall at around noon. The road was treacherous, but I arrived early to treat myself to a decent food court lunch.
Now, when I say the roads were treacherous, they were so bad that SEPTA buses couldn’t even navigate around the area. I’ve been to the KOP mall dozens of times over the course of my life, and this was the most lifeless I’d ever seen it. I counted maybe ten stores that were actually open, and the food court was nearly closed!
I found an open yogurt stand, however. Boy, was I in luck! Here, I provide the second tenet of the Traveler’s Code.
A Traveler Always Leaves Gratuity.
It doesn’t matter if you have faith in the next Traveler to leave a nice tip. It doesn’t matter if you work in service and don’t do as well in gratuity. It doesn’t matter how bad a day you had before your arrival. Unless you are aggrieved, leave that tip. You don’t know when you might make someone’s day.
After my yogurt, I made my way behind the mall to the iFly building. I checked in and was given a jumpsuit and a helmet. Thankfully, one other family was there with me, and we embarked on a skydiving journey together.
The team at iFly KOP couldn’t have been more awesome if they tried. Everyone was really friendly (even helping me recover my evil eye necklace after I left it in a locker by mistake. By the way, don’t wear jewelry to this event.), and I had a blast. This was a thrill, and because I listened to my instructor (note, always listen to the instructor or guide of an experience), I’m nearly level-two certified after my first time!
I grabbed a slice of pizza around the corner and said goodbye to King of Prussia for the day. By the time I arrived home, the weather patterns in the Greater Philadelphia region were absolute lunacy.
But was indoor skydiving fun? Well, have a look Traveler, and you tell me.
I could’ve had a bad day, Traveler. The roads were so bad that I had to move a giant tree branch out of the way of my Subaru. Nothing was open, and it was deathly cold outside.
Instead, I had an adventure so incredible that most people haven’t considered doing it during good weather, let alone when there are blizzard conditions outside. A tourist wants their “adventure” to be perfect for them. A Traveler makes their own adventure.
So let me close by asking you one more time:
Where’s your sense of adventure, Traveler?
Until again,
Safe Travels.
Affiliate Advertisement Incoming!
And Traveler, are you bored with the humdrum experiences that planet earth has to offer? Are you looking for a shakeup in the monotony of existence?
Well, jumping out of a plane is expensive and carries its own risks, not to mention there are hours of instruction to go through before you can even step on the plane!
And if there’s inclement weather on the day of your jump? Forget about going up! You have to reschedule now and move your schedule around again!
What if I told you there’s a better way to get the same weightless feeling of skydiving, but without the hassle of checking the weather channel every day and paying hundreds of dollars in licensing and training fees? What if I told you that you can go up within about 15 minutes, without ever leaving the earth?
Then you are a candidate for the Ifly experience, Traveler!
Dedicated and friendly instructors will teach you everything you need to know in no-time flat. When I went up, I nearly qualified for level two after a single flight! And that’s right! This doesn’t have to be a one-time experience, either. Indoor skydiving is a competitive sport with a governing federation that Ifly works with regularly!
And you don’t have to worry about inclement weather, either! My jump took place the day of a blizzard! My only regret was having to navigate the treacherous Pennsylvania backroads to hit my destination on time.
And Ifly operates outside of PA, too! Here’s a list of some cities that also links with booking information.
So why wait? Set up your jump today! If I can do it, so can you!
(Note, weight and physical restrictions do apply. Please check website for additional details/medical limitations)
Reverend Vic
