Forget the tan, the Mickey Mouse photos and the cliche souvenirs.
These days, travelers want to experience something more than the gated resort and the cruise ship buffet. They want to go on a walking tour, climb a mountain and kayak down a river -- adventures that can make a vacation more meaningful.
Girlfriend getaways -- in which women travel together and leave the menfolk home -- are booming. And the phenomenon is not just about bachelorette parties or 20-somethings on spring break.
In recent weeks, thousands of air passengers have been stranded by airline bankruptcies and flight cancellations. And there may be more disruptions ahead as older jets continue to be scrutinized for safety and the economy bubbles with trouble.
