Not counting the current political debates, where is the biggest hot air experience in the world? It’s a ride in Orlando, Florida by Aerostat Adventures. It’s a hundred feet high, 90 feet wide balloon and its passenger gondola below holds up to 24 people.

For a four-hour experience and great photo ops across the Central Florida landscape, including champagne brunch, the cost is from $145 per person. For more information, go to www.orlandohotairballoons.com

This scene of soaring cacti is at the lower tip of Arizona near the town of Why, on the border with Sonora, Mexico. This is the only place in the U.S. that the magnificent 30-foot-high cacti grows.

www.nps.gov/orpi/

Jet lag is one of the most bothersome problems for frequent flyers. Many regularly fly three hours coast to coast, six hours to Europe or 10 hours to Asia and Australia.

As soon as the flight lands, they may be required to show up fresh and rested at meetings and conference events. Recently we talked with several globe hoppers, and asked them to reveal their secrets of handling the tough schedules. These are some of their suggestions.

1. Try to keep your sleep-wake times as close to your at-home routine. Of course, if you can fly first class, schedule your flight as a red eye. If not, and you can get comfortable in your aircraft seat over a four- or eight-hour flight, make yourself at home.

Take along loose clothing, slippers and night shades. Get as much sleep as you can, and in the morning, dress up in the plane’s bathroom or airport restroom. Then, bright and fresh, go to that important assignment.  

2. The disruption of your regular schedule of sleep can affect your body. Eat spare meals, go very light on alcohol and drink plenty of water. If it’s a red eye flight, stay away from coffee and other stimulants. Aircraft cabin air conditioning is very dry, so in addition to drinking lots of water, at least once an hour, splash your face and hands with some of it and/or a light skin wash.

3. Don’t just sit there for four to eight hours, all stiff and cramped. Get up from your seat at least once an hour and do some stretching exercise. In some aircraft there’s an aft space near the exit door. Use it for some in-place jogging and other light workouts.

In the airport awaiting your flight, walk around briskly for about ten minutes per hour.  Exercise helps in digestion and blood flow, and makes your body ready for the challenges of the day.

4. If you can't get long hours of continuous sleep in flight, take as many quick cat naps as you can throughout your travels. Use terminal benches, taxi seats or anywhere else you can curl up safely for 10 to 15 minutes.

Whatever your flight schedule, treat your body with respect, and it will reward you with alertness and energy to face a new day thousands of miles away.

A week after the State Department issued a warning about potential dangers in many Mexican states, a Mexican official has angrily denied it.

Mexican Interior Department Alejandro Poire says millions of tourists from the U.S. and other countries visit Mexico every year, and enjoy safe and pleasant times.

However, whether you travel in Mexico, New York, Tokyo, Rio or Detroit, you can assure your safety by following simple rules:

1. Blend in with the locals, by not flashing touristy clothing and hats. They attract aggressive vendors, pickpockets and street thieves.

2. Don’t venture alone in a strange city, especially at night. Take at least one other person along and stay in brightly-lit, heavily-traveled streets.

3. When you venture out of your hotel, take only the amount of cash you expect to need that day. Use the hotel safe for most of your money and valuable jewelry.

4. Keep your wallet in a zipped or buttoned pocket. Purses should be on strong straps and held close, preferably tucked tightly between your arm and body.

5. Carry a fully-charged cell or smart phone with you at all times. Before you venture out, you should have set up instant, one-key access to local police, hospitals and the closest American embassy or consulate.