Usually a most pleasant guy, in a USA Today Rick's critique listed places he calls tourist traps. He’s soon to hit age 60, so maybe it’s because Rick’s getting as grouchy as the rest of we wandering elders.

You may plan accordingly while pondering Rick’s opinions. Frankly, wherever we travel to any popular tourist site, it’s there to make bucks with entry fees, schlock for sale and snarky snacks. Here are several from Rick’s list, along with some travel4seniors.com input.

Torture Museums: They’re there for shock and awe, with a year-round Halloween creepiness. Hey, Rick, tourists want to be scared by skeletons, grungy tombs and royal head-chopping blocks.

Blarney Stone, Ireland: Not quite as creepy as the torture stuff, but it’s an old Irish tradition, and the upside down poses make great photos to send home to the folks.

Mamertine Prison, Italy: Old jails are popular in many countries, including some turned into hotels and cafés. Hey, Rick, in the U.S., who doesn’t want to see Al Capone’s old cell on Alcatraz?

Morocco: For a taste of Humphrey Bogart’s classic movie, it’s worth seeing the fake version of an earlier Rick’s gin joint. Who knows: maybe Ingrid will stop in and ask Sam to play As Time Goes By.

usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2014/12/06/europe-tourist-trap

More exciting than roller coaster rides at amusement parks, some unique destinations provide real adventure, but are safe enough for even the most nervous senior.

Grand Canyon Skywalk: One of the world's top natural wonders features the horseshoe-shaped Skywalk. It’s a clear glass-bottom platform that extends 70 feet out over the West Rim. You actually walk out over the Canyon on a glass sidewalk.

It offers unrestricted breathtaking scenes of the multicolored sheer cliffs and rock formations that stretch more than 20 miles in all directions, as well as thrilling views nearly a mile directly below to the Colorado River. The Hualapai Native-American tribe, which has lived in the Arizona area for centuries, opened the Skywalk in 2008. It’s described as "walk the path of the eagle".

Visitor numbers are limited on this busy tourist site, so it's best to arrive very early in the morning or at sunset. There are restaurants and other facilities adjacent to the Skywalk. Tickets are $29.95 adults and $22.46 for kids 3 to 11. grandcanyonskywalk.com

How many times have you heard it? You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great trip. Considering the ever-increasing costs of airfares, hotel rooms and dining out, it gets more difficult to do anything without emptying your savings.

Actually, if you do your planning right, it is possible to travel high class on a low class budget.  Here some ways our veteran travel experts apply to get the best for the least:

Last-minute cruise: With a favorite travel agent and/or by scanning cruise line websites daily, the bargains are there for the taking.

Q: We like to gamble in Las Vegas, and enjoy playing video poker. On our most recent visit, we actually went home winners. We plan a Bahamas cruise next month, and we’d like to play video poker in the ship’s casino. A friend told us all cruise ship slot machines are rigged, and we’d just be throwing our money away. Is that true?  BLD, Baltimore MD

A: On any casino slot machine, the odds strongly favor the house. Like any other business, it’s set to take in more money than it hands out. However, your friend may be right about cruise ship casino slots.