Several adventurous travelers clamber aboard an amphibious vehicle for a trip through shady swamplands seeking sightings of bison, panthers and other four-legged denizens. Not far away, people watch in awe as a daring wrestler pulls an alligator out of the water and grapples it to the ground. Later these sightseers are introduced to ages-old traditions of the local residents including dances, foods and rituals.

Photos courtesy of Visit Wilmington, except where noted. Might you need… A “traveling bag” that can convert to a stool, just in case you’re weary while you’re on a journey?  A hotel/hospital bed that has a built-in ladder in the bed frame, that can be used for a quick get-away in case of a fire emergency? A musical keyboard instrument …

The stretch was alive with the rumble of engines, the glow of neon signs, and the promise of a good time. Bob’s Big Boy, a now-iconic diner, was the go-to spot for cruisers to grab a burger, fries, and a milkshake while showing off their rides in the parking lot. The scene was electric, with cars idling, music blaring, and stories swapped under the glow of streetlights—a true embodiment of American youth culture.

On our Grand Ohio River Cruise with American Cruise Line, I saw one of the senior staff give a gentle embrace to a sweet, white-haired gentleman who rested his head against her shoulder. This scene reminded me of an old-time gospel hymn, "Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast." In this spirit and in accord with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) American Cruise Line makes ample provision to seniors who need wheel chairs, walkers and canes to get around. Port excursions and museum stops are for them too.

The family and I began a recent getaway to Great Wolf Lodge by checking into a comfortable suite on the 9th floor, overlooking Disneyland. The room came with two queen beds, a sleeper sofa, a full bath, mini-fridge, coffee maker, office desk and chair, and a large TV.

The Atlantic Ocean, rhythmic, fickle, and unpredictable, bares its teeth with white, foamy waves that embrace the soft, sandy shoreline. Agile Sandpipers, feathers dry, dart along the wet sand, deftly dancing to evade the surf as they search for snails and crustaceans, while small land crabs scan the surface for a quick meal, and scurry about as if cleverly electrified by the ceaseless formations. The North Carolina Outer Banks, OBX, are a breathtaking treasure: a 200-mile ribbon of barrier islands and spits stretching off the coasts of North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia. The islands line much of North Carolina's shoreline, revealing a vast, untouched beachfront, including the majestic Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

You want me to go where on what? That was my first reaction to seeing the mountain in Palm Springs, California and the tramway I was supposed to ride to its top. A somewhat precarious option for someone not all that happy about heights. But once safely enclosed in the tram which slowly ascended the apex, I was able to fully appreciate the surroundings, knowing there was even a more spectacular view awaiting me at the summit. Plus a number of other unusual attractions not usually associated with mountain tops.

On a farmstead in the tiny town of Eagle, Wisconsin - population about 2,000 - a blacksmith heats an iron rod in a fire and bangs it into a desired shape. Nearby, some women turn spindles to transform wool into yarn while others prepare food on a wood stove.

"Saratoga Springs was the Disneyland of nineteenth-century America," quips James D. Parillo, executive director of the Saratoga Springs History Museum, located not coincidentally in the city's both famous and infamous former Canfield Casino…more about that gaming venue in a minute.

Bahia Resort is a paradise on Mission Bay. To some, paradise is a memorable dinner overlooking a moonlit bay. To others it is lounging with your toes in the sand or listening to boats bob in the water from a luxurious suite. To me it’s all of the above, and more, which is why I love Bahia Resort Hotel (www.bahiahotel.com)on …