A favorite summer destination is an educationally themed week in a university setting. Elderhostel has the most comprehensive schedule of these, but it isn't the only source. Several years ago we attended the Shakespearean Festival at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and every hour was filled with educational and entertaining activities.

It’s absolutely true. Las Vegas is the easiest vacation spot anywhere to plan a budget visit. The reason, of course, is that the business of Sin City is gambling. Vegas expects people to come and lose. To entice gamblers, Vegas hotels offer great bargains of rooms, food, entertainment and in many other ways.

Budget-minded visitors, especially modest gamblers or non-gamblers can take advantage of those benefits. For instance, while an upscale resort hotel in New York, Paris, London, San Francisco or Singapore charges $500 a night and up for a basic room, the most luxurious Vegas resorts offer a suite for $150, and throw in free buffets, show tickets and much more.

Sure, Aspen is one of the greatest winter resort areas in the world. But you should also know there’s more to that great Colorado mountain area than those ski slopes and Hollywood celebrities.

Aspen's spring and summer mountainside forests burst out in profusion of green leaves, and the fields yield flowers of all colors. Later, the tall oaks, pines and aspen trees greet the autumn with spectacular golds and reds.

During the so-called off season, senior visitors have the luxury of enjoying the area without needing to fight the large seasonal crowds of ski and party animals. Visitors will find lower prices for hotels, motels, campgrounds, restaurants, art galleries, souvenirs, and everything else wiill be full of bargains.

We asked some of our readers the question: If you had one person from throughout English history to go with you on a visit to London, who would you choose? Here are some of the answers:

Jack B, retired police officer: King Henry VIII, because he’d know where all the best food and drink is in old London town. And Big Hank’s the primo bosso of the land, so it would all be free. Also, knowing his reputation with the ladies, not one of them would dare turn us down when we ask to spend an intimate evening together.