Washington, D.C. intrigues visitors with several new experiences. Foil an espionage plot at the International Spy Museum, figure out our Neanderthal connections at the National Museum of Natural History and find out what ordinary foot soldiers felt while fighting the Civil War. Come visit again.

Alaska offers America's last great wilderness. The state’s natural wonders delight even the most jaded of travelers. Combining a cruise with a scenic drive enables you to see icy blue glaciers, pristine lakes and panoramas of snow-capped mountains as well as whales and Steller sea lions.

Most large cruise ships plying the Inside Passage depart from Seward, which is about 127 miles south of Anchorage. We took advantage of the time before our 10 day cruise to explore another part of Alaska’s temperate rain forest: the Kenai Fjords National Park.

Carnival’s newest and largest ship, the 3,646 passenger Dream, launched September 2009, may be the “Fun line’s” best vessel yet, despite some crowding at maximum capacity. Several new features create smooth sailing aboard the Dream.

From our helicopter at 10,000-feet, Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park spread out below us as a massive river of blue ice. The glacier, slit with crevasses and dotted with turquoise pools, seemed to run on forever. Craggy cliffs and rugged brown slopes towered on either side.

Camping without work is my kind of outdoor overnight. Here are three great places to enjoy nature’s beauty without the bother. Two are in the Caribbean, where most islands discourage camping,and one site offers Alaska’s rugged coastal scenery and abundant wildlife as well as home cooking.

Nevis, an off-the-beaten-path Caribbean getaway,is often dubbed the “nature island.” Nevis’s charm stems from its blend of rain forest and beach on an island with a population of around 11,000, big enough to support nice hotels but small enough to escape traffic jams and major malls

For a great bargain vacation, visit a state or national park. These gems come with budget priced accommodations, but first-class scenery. Savor wildlife, walking trails and wonderful views, but you should book lodging now for next summer.

Our week-long walking trip through Hungary, Poland and the Slovak Republic with Butterfield & Robinson turned into a pilgrimage to significant sites in our Jewish history. In Hungary we discovered Jewish sites in Tarcal and Budapest.

For decades, pods of Pacific gray whales have made the 5000-mile journey from Alaska to Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico, where the protected lagoons provide safe havens for birthing and nursing. February to mid-March, prime whale season, offer the best chance for up-close encounters.