One of my best friends just returned from a whitewater rafting trip on the American River.

Well, she called it "rafting."
Her version of this adventure sport involved a case of cheap beer and a lazy float down the Lower American River—a stretch of water that's occasionally mild enough to snooze on. When I heard that she'd spent more time cracking cans of PBR than actually paddling, I couldn't help but laugh a little. My own experience on that same river had left me with some of the largest bruises of my life. And I loved every second of it.

Traditionally, I haven’t been the most mainstream traveler. I hang back from the crowds, hunt out hole-in-the-wall diversions, and generally do what I can to skip the tourist hot-spots. Which means that after three years of living in San Francisco, the closest I've gotten to a tour group is shouldering through one on my way to work. So I’ve come up with a new travel mission: to tour San Francisco so thoroughly that I can point to Coit Tower in my sleep. And the natural starting point of such an expedition is Alcatraz Island, America's sixth most popular tourist attraction.

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"I never realized it before," says Matt, watching the Statue of Liberty drift out of sight, "but I've always wanted to go on a cruise."

And really, that's the meat of it. You've got a rum punch sweating on the balcony, a blissfully open itinerary, and zero pressure to do anything except enjoy yourself--an easy task when you're on a ship as well-equipped as the Norwegian Epic.

Just look at this thing!

People are always asking me if there's anything to do in Orlando outside the theme parks. Is there ever! Watch and learn about all the great things Orlando has to offer visitors -- in addition to the legendary theme parks.

While L.A. residents fight the smog and sit in traffic, many do not seem to know that just 24 easy miles away lies the island resort of Catalina. In contrast to the giant city that lies across the Pacific to the east, Catalina Island has always been something of an anachronism, where golf carts outnumber cars, the clocks move on “island time,” and a herd of buffalo still roams.

Dear Editors,

What is the minimum age to fly as an adult? Can a 17-year-old do it?

Mel in Ohio

Hi Mel,

This week's question comes from Mel in Ohio, home to America's oldest traffic light:

If you've never been to a car race, it can be hard to imagine the appeal of something like the Indianapolis 500. But it's the little things that lock it in--the visceral details that you can't pick up from the TV screen. Being up close to the track, you can feel the snare of the wind as cars snap around corners and the rumble of shifting gears shaking through your bones. It's a feeling that's overwhelmingly immediate. You're there. You're part of the race. And even if you don't know antifreeze from anti-lock, it's exciting as hell.

Like you, I'm sure, I have a HUGE list of places to see and things to do before I die. And every trip, I try to cross one off my list. So when I found out that I'd be going to Maui with my husband's family, I immediately began to research surfing lessons. For years and years I have wanted to give this sport a whirl and finally I would have my chance.