Instead of riding the touristy tram to the famous mountain-top statue of Christ the Reedemer, you can take a walk to the base through the jungle, past refreshing small waterfalls on the way.

BBC: Trekking in Rio de Janeiro

Racers follow the stream -- jumping off small cliffs and through waterfalls -- and a final rock face at the base creates one of the last challenges, requiring concentration and crab-walking to climb down.

BBC: An Alaskan-style Fourth of July

After his father's battle with cancer, Nick and his dad had stayed at Penny's sprawling house, with its 12-foot-tall entryway, its waterfalls by the swimming pool and movie room with leather recliners and a screen the size of a small-town cinema.

CNN: Ex-NBA star coaches middle school, transforms his 'hood