We’ve been to Provo, Utah, and although it’s a nice, quiet, friendly town, some senior travelers may question whether it’s the very top. After all, there are no Las Vegas casinos, Hollywood walks of fame, Broadway theaters, sunny Hawaiian beaches nor all the rest of the commercial hustle and glitter we seasoned citizens too often crave.

Additionally, because Provo is the home of Brigham Young University, visitors in town during important sports events may not find it so quiet. If a BYU team loses, it also may not be so friendly. However, with the beautiful campus, pleasant citizens and surrounding mountains, Provo may deserve the Gallop Poll listing as best in the nation.

Sightseeing in and around Provo is enjoyable. Of course, there’s the beautiful BYU campus framed by the Wasatch Range. Also on your must-see list should be the Peaks Ice Skating Arena, Sunset View Park, Bridal Veil Falls, The Covey Center for the Performing Arts and much, much more. For info, go to www.provo.org

Don’t get us wrong. Most cruises we experience are much more economical than beach resort or city vacations. And when landlocked, there’s often no change of scenery, while ocean sailings offer beautiful new vistas day and night.

Cruises can be the ultimate bargains. They typically cost about 50% of luxury land vacations, where you often pay separately for all meals, transportation, recreation, entertainment and everything else.

However, when you sign up for an all-inclusive cruise, be sure your travel agent and cruise line reps clearly explain each pay-extra item and service not included in the quoted price. Some upscale cruises feature everything as totally included. In those sailings you should know all extras are already padded into the sky-high all-inclusive price.

Touring the Eternal City is always a great pleasure, but not when fellow visitors get sloppy with drink bottles, paper cups, sandwich wraps, cigarette butts and other debris. When in Rome, do as the Roman do to keep the city clean. Otherwise, it could cost you money. 

City officials enforce a municipal ordinance outlawing all eating and drinking in areas of "particular historic, artistic, architectonic and cultural value." They include such popular landmarks as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps and others. Unless you’re prepared to pay a $650 fine, obey both the law and what should be considerate behavior for other visitors and Romans.

Remember the song from “Peter Pan”:
Think of all the joy you'll find when you leave the world behind,
And bid your cares goodbye: You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!

For gutsy seniors visiting Sin City, this sinful thrill should be a priority on their bucket lists! Just as astronauts train for space walks, the vertical wind tunnel at Vegas Indoors Skydiving gives the feeling of floating in air. You actually can fly!

With padded suit, trampoline below and padded walls all around, this skydiving simulation is a very safe experience. Imagine sending photos and/or video to delighted family and friends of their favorite gravity-defying senior in free flight!