Contributing editor JLMcC, Vancouver BC, Canada: The current news isn’t good. A favorite family destination has been labeled Mexico’s murder capital. Despite the recent news of gang violence, never on our frequent visits have we ever seen any crimes. We always felt safe to walk the streets, markets and beaches day and night.

Since I retired, we spend a week almost every late autumn in Acapulco. As Canadian tourists we’ve always been treated with kindness and cooperation, including the cabbies. We book one favorite, José, for an entire day or two at a very reasonable rate, and he takes us everywhere.

We enjoy La Quebrada, the high cliff divers, Majahua Beach, the Botanical Gardens, La Roqueta Island snorkeling, fishing boats and much more.The shopping is fun, beaches outstanding and the cafés delicious. In our opinion,

You can have overpriced Malibu, Miami Beach and San Francisco. Acapulco gets our vote as a friendly place for average, middle class North Americans to afford a tropical vacation at any time of year for reasonable prices.

If your wanderings take you to that popular tourist destination of Hollywood Boulevard, there are sights to see. Famous theaters, pavement plaques honoring entertainment’s greatest, costumed sidewalk characters and much, much more.

As a senior with a long and varied life, including some loving and unloving moments, spend some time in one of the street’s most unusual attractions. You may also wonder why such an odd place exists, even in flighty Tinsel Town. (6751 Hollywood Boulevard, brokenships.com).

See the weepy stories and items from people around the world who've loved and lost. Peruse through weapons, booze bottles, sad letters, photos, clothing, diaries and much more. Entry fee is about $20.

When arriving in the small Central Arizona town, you’ll be surrounded by sky-high towers of red rock. Sedona offers breathtaking scenes not viewed anywhere else in the world.

The brilliant red sandstone formations have been shaped by Mother Nature over hundreds of millions of years. When you’re there at sunrise and sunset, your camera can capture some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. If you have a selfie stick, join together to create classic family photos and video.

If you’re an auto nut and travels take you to the posh Wilshire Boulevard neighborhood near Beverly Hills, don’t miss spending several enjoyable hours at the Peterson. Among classic cars, trucks and motorcycles of the past century, each exhibit and event is well worth the price of admission.

Current offerings include big-eyed, talking racing cars from Disney films, the art of Bugatti, low-rider art show and auto-themed movie nights. There’s also a regular schedule of live entertainment events at the museum.

Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, ticket prices are $15 adults, $7 child and $12 seniors and students. The in-house restaurant is Drago, with delicious Italian and Sicilian fare that matches the quality of the classic auto exhibits.