New Zipline Soars in Miami’s Biscayne Bay
Anyone around Miami hungry for a jungle adventure can now receive a jolt of adrenaline at South Florida’s new aerial zipline adventure park, Treetop Trekking Miami. Set among six beautiful acres on Watson Island in Biscayne Bay, adventurers can choose between three aerial courses—Explorer Trek and Thrill Seeker Trek for ages 9 and up, and Discovery Trek for ages 5 and up. The courses feature more than 55 elements, seven ziplines, and superb views of the Miami skyline and turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay.
Strapped into harnesses and donning helmets, guests climb into the treetops at their own pace, led by an expert guide. At the top, they can experience activities like Tarzan swings, balance bridges, cable crossings, swinging logs, and ziplines suspended off the ground from 3 to 55 feet, depending upon the course. Combinations of cables, ropes, and ziplines are all connected to platforms in the trees. In the tropical setting, zipliners see and hear a variety of animals, including gibbons, lemurs, capybaras, ibises, and iguanas.
Smoky Mountain Theme Park Launches Expansion
The Anakeesta theme park, located in the Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, recently announced its largest expansion since opening in 2017. The $34 million multiphase project will double the size of the guest experience within the park. Construction is estimated to take three years. New additions include a mesmerizing story-based night walk featuring immersive lighting; a second mountain coaster; a new birdhouse-themed play area with enormous adventure elements on the mountain; a European-themed village with shopping and dining, and a plaza offering an interactive waterfall.
The first new attraction opened in October 2022. Named The Lumina Night Walk, the adventure begins at dusk. The park worked with Canada-based multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory to create an imaginative experience using projections, lighting, and music. In spring of 2023, the first portion of the European-themed Stone Village will open and feature a new mountain coaster: Hellbender, named for a Smoky Mountain salamander species. The ride features tunnels, twists, and turns on a downhill adventure through a forest.
The expansion’s first phase also includes a new interactive mountain waterfall and cave system surrounded by walking trails and lush gardens. Visitors will be able to walk behind the waterfall and explore caves. After experiencing this adventure and the Hellbender, guests can relax at Mimi’s Bakery, a new French-inspired bakery. Future elements of the expansion will include a heavily themed restaurant and brewery, an event center, and an entertainment stage with indoor and outdoor seating.
