My son sat next to the world's worst tourist on a flight from Sydney to Denpasar, Indonesia. His seatmate nursed a bottle of sizzurp -- a potent mix of codeine and Sprite -- and the man twitched uncontrollably for the seven-hour flight to Bali. When the intoxicated tourist disembarked on the conservative Hindu island, he collapsed on the terminal floor. The last time I saw him, customs officials were trying in vain to revive him from an opiate-induced stupor.

Annette Johnson thinks the travel industry is taking self-service too far. She's watched airlines drop their phone support and add fees for airport check-ins that use a human agent. Some air carriers are even tearing out their kiosks and prodding passengers into using a phone app at the airport. "It feels like you're being punished if you need a little help," says Johnson, a travel advisor.

You can also tour Kings Park with and hear ancient stories about what Australia was like before colonization. The park, which overlooks Perth, was once a sacred site where women came to give birth. European settlement changed Western Australia permanently, but the memory of a quieter place that was in harmony with nature lives on in the stories told by the aboriginal guides.

Although Hilton Head’s famous lighthouse rises in the distance across the water, Daufuskie is a step back in time. Arrowheads dating back over 9,000 years point to ancient Native American hunting parties, though one of its most intriguing eras takes place after the Emancipation Proclamation, when recently freed enslaved individuals purchased small plots of land and worked for the island’s large landowners.

In spaces where the traffic eased on I-95, we followed the speed limit of 70 mph. But it seemed we were crawling along, compared with other drivers who apparently thought this was the Indianapolis 500-mile race as they roared past us going at least 80 -90 mph. Many cars had darkened windows, as if they were exhibiting the stereotypical Miami Vice drug dealer or convicted felons escaping from the law.  Conversely, Florida – as a well-known retirement haven --  also has its share of slower drivers, going 30 to 35 mph, well under the minimum speed limit.

Dennis Shirshikov recalls a recent American Airlines flight from Mexico City to New York with his wife and three young children. As they boarded, a crew member ordered him to gate-check their stroller. Shirshikov, who runs a real estate investment firm in New York, says he balked because the stroller was regulation-size and he needed it to transport his kids. "They were very confrontational," he says. When he arrived at JFK, the stroller was gone. He finally found it in the lost and found.

The Eiffel Tower made its debut at the 1889 World's Fair, demonstrating France's industrial prowess. Destined to be torn down after 20 years, the radio tower at its top made it too useful to be destroyed. The tower's designer, Gustave Eiffel, also built the framework for the Statue of Liberty, among other engineering marvels.Climb to the tower's second floor—674 steps! From there you're obliged to take the elevator to the top.

One of the most attractive aspects of Rapid City is that it’s centrally located near some of the country’s national treasures. Just 12 minutes away, you can visit the Black Hills National Forest and explore canyons, grasslands, streams and deep blue lakes. Or take a quick 30-minute drive and take in the astonishing beauty of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. There’s no end to the educational and inspiring places you can visit in this area.

Airlines that offer transparent carbon offset programs are making a legitimate effort to be sustainable. It’s also a positive sign when airlines are experimenting with sustainable fuels. Don’t trust the stickers on the door that say the hotel or tour operator is environmentally certified. “Look at their corporate disclosure documents on their websites,” says Nneoma Njoku, general manager of Labrador U.S., a global corporate disclosure communications firm.

There are plenty of activities just for adults in Gold Country. Hurst Ranch offers a unique wine tasting experience in the railroad station featured in the film Unforgiven. You can stop and take a drink at The Iron Door Saloon, California’s oldest continuously operating saloon. If you want to mix your alcohol with nature, visit Indigeny Reserve and taste local cider and spirits at its 160-acre nature retreat with hiking trails, picnic areas and park-like settings.