New Orleans Boulder Lounge, New Orleans

Louisiana isn't exactly known for towering cliffs and soaring mountains. Much of New Orleans is below sea level, making climbing outdoors virtually impossible. Thankfully, New Orleans Boulder Lounge gives hobbyists and beginners alike a place to climb to their heart's content. See why the city's first climbing gym in over a decade is here to stay:

Bouldering is for everyone.

NOBL was designed as a bouldering gym to be accessible to all ages and abilities. Without ropes and harnesses, climbers find routes on 12- to 14.5-foot-tall walls. The highest they'll get is about 20 feet in the air, and any potential falls are cushioned by over a foot of foam flooring. Visitors just need comfortable clothing, a water bottle, and rock-climbing shoes, which can be purchased on site or rented by the day.

There are plenty of ways to learn.

All first-time visitors go through a handy orientation. Beyond that, there are classes and camps for children, as well as a weekly Climbing School for adults. Hardcore boulderers can tweak their technique during private training sessions and compete against friends and others in the Boulder League.

The entire community is welcome.

NOBL is committed to opening up the sport to the wider New Orleans community. The gym offers a variety of ways to overcome cost barriers, such as special nights featuring discounts, and inclusive community events held periodically to raise funds for causes while allowing climbers to pay what they can for a day pass.