ROCK ON AT VIA FERRATA  I was so focused on the task that I almost missed the view. As I looked to my right I was awestruck by the incredible scenery. Across a chasm lie another wafer-thin rock wall erupting from and towering above the earth. Lush rolling green hills and forests stretched out to the horizon. Hawks soared along the top of the opposite rock wall. I yelled back to my friend Ellis, who was climbing behind me, “You’re going to love this!” 

SPIRITED BY SAVANNAH  A cold chill, a feeling you are not alone, a creaky door. So do you believe in ghosts? Savannah is commonly associated with ghosts, spirits and the paranormal. That is what is part of the intrigue and the je ne sait quoi about Savannah, especially its historic district. If you take a trip down south to Savannah, you are bound to find an infinite amount of ghost related tours, because it’s one of Savannah’s big attractions.

GET ON YOUR FEET IN COPENHAGEN Unlike many capitals in the world Copenhagen is a walker’s city. Most of the things worth seeing are located in the old town. The heart of the city is relatively small and dominated by pedestrian-only streets. So, if you’ve got two or three days in the historic capital of Denmark put on your walking shoes and open your eyes.

FAR TREK “Are you sure we’re up for this?” my wife, Karen, asked as we lifted the heavy packs onto our shoulders. Having never done any backpacking before, we were about to embark on a baptism by fire - a 24-mile trek along the North Fork Mountain Trail in West Virginia

UP IN ARMS AT FORT BENNING Generally, getting up early, especially on a Sunday, is not a practice I endorse. But my wife, Karen, had bought me a balloon ride as a birthday present so we could enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia from high above the peaks.

HIGH ON HOT AIR The cannons stand guard outside the National Infantry Museum, strong and silent, gleaming in the bright sunshine. Behind the walls of the 30,000-square-foot museum are galleries filled with thousands of exhibits that were of significant value to the Infantrymen who have defended the nation.

IT’S WET AND WILD AT MONT SAINT-SAUVEUR What could be more refreshing or scenic then a family water park located on a mountain? For me nothing else is comparable especially when the weatherman promises a scorcher.

RAGGED OUT Nestled in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is the most spectacular day-hike in the mid-Atlantic and, perhaps, the entire East Coast: Old Rag Mountain. Unlike the other peaks that dot the Blue Ridge Mountains, it stands alone.

AMAZING ISRAEL The city had plenty of shopping, eating and sightseeing but my pilgrimage was to Jerusalem and I was anxious to visit this holy city, the site of three major religions - Islam, Judaism and Christianity. After a quick bus ride, we entered the cobblestone streets where we were greeted by street vendors selling everything from rosaries and religious memorabilia to clothes.

SAFARI SO GOOD Karen and I stood in the back of the open-air jeep leaning on padded roll-bars that extended across the top of the cabin. Riding up the mountain roads, I was struck by the realization that these rural streets were in far better condition than the main highway on the island. I was also struck by the congeniality of the people we passed.

FALLING FOR OCHO RIOS In less than a minute we were seated at a table on the balcony with a spectacular view of the city. We all felt a bit underdressed for such a posh venue: white table clothes, full compliment of silverware, candles and centerpieces. The plates were all stamped Evita's and even the salt and pepper shakers carried the eatery's logo.

THAILAND, MY FANTASIA I was to live in Thailand for six months and I had an agenda: go with the flow. I arrived in Bangkok after leaving San Francisco 22 hours earlier on Thai Air. It seemed forever until my landing but every minute was worth it.

SKI SCENES FROM SWITZERLAND Standing at the bottom of the Gornegrat railway station, waiting to be whisked to the top of the peaks of Zermatt, I pause for a moment to reflect on where I have been and what I have experienced. My travels have taken me to the most challenging and most beautiful ski resorts of western Switzerland over the last 12 weeks.

PARADISE LOST AND FOUND En route from Panama to Peru in 1835, Tomas de Berlanga, a Spanish Bishop, discovered the islands 600 miles off the Ecuadorian Pacific coast when ocean currents becalmed his ship.

STRAIGHT UP AND ON ICE I hung fast to the handles of the ice axes. "Ice!" I yelled to the climbers below. Shards hailed down on them as a chunk of frozen waterfall fractured around my crampons.

TICKET TO THE SKY My wife, Karen, and I first witnessed paragliding while skiing in the French Alps four years ago. The paragliding pilots would ride a gondola to the top of the mountain, launch and drift for several hours above the slopes before landing near town.

OUTDOOR HAVEN - HILTON HEAD ISLAND Get up early in the morning and witness serenity as the birds are feeding and the other animals are rising for the day. If you're not a morning person, then try evening sunsets. Watch the sun go down, bathing the Low Country in red and orange hues as they glisten on the calm waters.

UNSINKABLE BLUE CANOE A quick call to tour guide Bruno Saucier sees us on our way to find No. 3134 on the main road from Mont-Sainte-Anne, that turns out to be a brown, sheet metal building on the right hand side. Its walls are lined with two-piece wet suits, lifejackets, neat rows of booties and helmets in different sizes.

SAY YES TO CANYONING Marc Tremblay is our guide, six-foot plus, a man who obviously thrives on outdoor adventure. Marc has been descending Jean-Larose Falls in Beaupre, Quebec, for 20 years as a 'caver' and now as a 'canyonist' - a convert of the popular activity he enjoyed on his many visits to France.

MESA VERDE COUNTRY - JUST FOR FUN! Everywhere you go in this region it seems like fun on land or in the water. There are activities galore just waiting for you, but we know it's impossible to do it all, so here are just a few of our selections.

VILLAGE VACANCES VALCARTIER - WINTER FUN EXTRAORDINAIRE Who says winter can be fun? The folks at Village Vacances Valcartier and thousands of fans who adore the self proclaimed "Fun Capital" where they also promise you'll discover the wild side of winter!

BETWEEN ALICE SPRINGS AND THE ROCK IT'S OUTBACK TIME Word to the wise: keep your dress clothes at home. Keep your expensive jewelry and perfumes at home. Pack the bug spray, cargo pants and let's take off for the red center of Australia!

FUN AND FROLIC AT SIX FLAGS DARIEN LAKE You either love theme parks, or you don't. Well, I do. And my favorite is Six Flags Darien Lake, New York, midway between Buffalo and Rochester, and under an hour from Niagara Falls.