Emboldened by the likes of ESPN's X-Games, NBC's World of Adventure Sports series or the nonstop menu of adrenaline-inspired feats seen on the Extreme Sports Channel, a growing number of Americans are forsaking traditional beach and theme park outings for hardcore action and adventure getaways.

"In the mood for a real adrenaline rush?," asks CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg. "Why not fly to space?"

Greenberg points out that more than 550 future astronauts have already paid $200,000 apiece for a seat on Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, which is slated to soon begin suborbital space flights from the New Mexico Spaceport.

But if that price is too high, Greenberg notes that you could pay just $95,000 for a seat in the cockpit of XCOR Aerospace's Lynx Mark II spaceship, with launches set to begin in late 2014 from the Mohave Desert and from the island of Curacao.

There are, of course, more down to earth and affordable options for those inclined to airborne adventure. Skydiving, for example, is a widely practiced adventure pursuit, and Sarasota, Florida, is an ideal location for a tandem jump, complete with an ocean view.

For less than $300, you can make a jump with Skydive Sarasota, and that includes the services of a master instructor and use of a highly advanced, safety redundant parachute system.

Bungee jumping is a popular passion among those who like to play to the edge, and the best way to take the "big plunge" is with Boise, Idaho-based Bungee Expeditions, which specializes in "bridge jumps" in seven western states. The company has developed its own multiple shock-cord system that it proudly points out has never failed in 20 years of jumping. Good to know, right?

Rock climbing is another popular pastime for those desiring an adventurous outing. Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, near the northern Arkansas community of Jasper, affords the opportunity for beginners and experts alike to climb with certified instructors on some of the finest and most challenging sandstone sport-climbing routes anywhere.

Make it a vacation by renting a comfy cabin at this family-owned guest ranch and enjoy climbing and other activities such as horseback riding and canoeing, plus all meals, at daily rates ranging from $197 to $224 per person.

Ziplining is big too and widely available across the country in the event you're seeking a safe and economical way to feel some wind in your face. A new course near Fayettville, North Carolina, developed by Zipquest, offers a perfect mix of thrill ride and eco-adventure as you zip over a course spanning 55 acres of pine and mountain laurel forest. A stunning overhead view of 150-foot-wide Carver's Falls is a highlight during the 2.5-hour experience, favorably priced at $85.

For the boldest of adrenaline junkies, cliff diving can provide a hair-raising albeit harrowing experience. There are a number of locations around the country where this no-cost but sometimes perilous practice can be undertaken. In Red Rocks Park near South Burlington, Vermont, you can leap from rock ledges some 80 feet into the freezing waters of Lake Champlain.

Another gripping dive begins with a hike up the 70-foot-tall rock face of Tar Creek Falls in California's Los Padres National Forest. The descent, adjacent a roaring waterfall, takes only seconds, offering you just enough time perhaps to spot an endangered California condor on the way down. The area encompasses Sespe Condor Sanctuary, established to protect North America's largest bird.

Rather than jumping into the water, you could whet those adrenaline urges with some whitewater rafting. The Colorado River offers one of the nation's premier river-running experiences as it threads and thunders its way through Arizona's Grand Canyon.

Climb on board one of the unique J-Rig motorized rafts of Western River Expeditions for a 187-mile, 6/7-day expedition venturing deep into geologic time through the grandest canyon of them all to provide you both excitement — navigating nearly 60 rapids — and serenity as inspired by the canyon's unsurpassed beauty.

Western River's trips are priced from $2,635 to $2,925 and include the services of expert river guides, first-class tent camping, prepared meals and an eye-popping helicopter flight out of the canyon.

NASCAR stock car racing provides its millions of fans plenty of thrilling action — but have you ever entertained the thought of strapping yourself into one of those fire-breathing 600-horsepower machines for some personal track time?

If you think you're up to it, you can do just that at one of 20 ovals around the country by signing on with the Richard Petty Driving Experience for a ride or an actual driving experience — at speeds up to 160 mph.

This innovative enterprise of the legendary seven-time NASCAR champ features a variety of options available at tracks such as Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and even Indy.

You can experience the thrill of riding shotgun in a fully-prepared race car driven by one of Petty's professional driving instructors — three laps for as little as $99 — or get behind the wheel for an eight-lap "rookie experience" starting at $449.

For the ultimate "experience of a lifetime," starting at $1,299, your hands are on the wheel of a NASCAR mount for up to 30 adrenaline-pumping laps.