I feel compelled to write this review mostly so other people understand what they are signing up for.
My wife and I went to Adventure Collective at Salishan with my daughter and her boyfriend. I had been zip lining once before, so when I read that the experience included "two zip lines," I somehow interpreted this to mean there were two zip-line courses to choose from.
There are not.
There are literally two zip lines. One takes you up into the treetops, and the other eventually brings you back.
What happens BETWEEN those two zip lines is where things took an unexpected turn.
What I thought was going to be a lovely afternoon soaring peacefully through the coastal forest turned out to be what my wife described as "paramilitary training for the end of the world." My daughter called it American Ninja Warrior training. I personally chose to imagine that the zombies had arrived and my survival depended entirely on making it across a swinging broken bridge 40 feet in the air.
Because that is basically what you're doing.
There are swinging bridges, barrels you have to somehow get across, rope swings, obstacles dangling in midair, and all sorts of other situations where you find yourself thinking, "Interesting. I did not realize this was how I was going to die today."
It also requires WAY more upper-body strength than I was expecting. At several points I was fighting for my life while my daughter and her boyfriend were apparently having a wonderful time.
Was it physically challenging? YES.
Was it terrifying? Also yes.
Did I spend a significant portion of the experience pretending I was escaping zombies in order to motivate myself to continue? Absolutely.
Would someone who loves heights, obstacle courses, adrenaline, American Ninja Warrior, or preparing for the collapse of civilization have an amazing time here? 100%.
Just know: this is much more of a treetop adventure/obstacle course than what I would personally call a "zip-line tour." Had I understood that going in, I probably would have been slightly more psychologically prepared for the battle ahead.
And I do want to give a huge shout-out to the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly, patient, encouraging, and helpful. At one point my helmet was hurting my head, and someone actually went all the way back to get me a different one, which I really appreciated.
So five stars for the staff, the experience, and the fact that I survived.
If you're looking for an adrenaline-filled treetop adventure, GO. You will probably love it.
If you're looking for a relaxing afternoon of zip lining through the forest like I was... congratulations. You too may discover what you're made of. read more