If you’re among the population that dreads bouncers asking for your ID (rather than feeling flattered) and consider beer pong tournaments legit weekend entertainment, chances are, you’re already clued into the allure of Cancun as a holiday destination.

The rest of us, however, may need a little convincing.

Amanda Pressner investigates the grownup side of this Mexican destination.

My philosophy on travel is that the best way to experience a new city is to get off the tour bus and onto the streets. So why not do it with a different set of wheels … bicycle wheels, that is.

On March 6, 2010, Peter broadcast from the Hostal Nicholas de Ovando in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. Featured guests from the show include:

Anthony Brandt, author of The Man Who Ate His Boots, discussing his book and the tragic history of the search for the fabled Northwest Passage;

Gilles Gagnon, Dominican Republic golf expert, talking about what factors led to the Dominican being named the #1 destination for golf in the Caribbean and Latin America;

Bernard Salome, managing director of the Millennium Foundation, talking about his quest to treat and fight diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and provide better access to healthcare for the poor.

 

 The Northwest Passage, Dominican Republic Golf, Millennium Foundation - Hour 3 - PGW Radio: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ever since airline companies started charging extra for checked baggage, it’s become increasingly expensive to travel with ski and snowboard equipment. But there are some ways around it…

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, Peter was live from the Ritz-Carlton Cancun in Cancun, Mexico. Featured guests from the show include:

Scott McCartney, travel editor for The Wall Street Journal, discussing new fees for standby fliers and which airline is the most efficient;

Alberto Firscione Carrascosa, diver from Xalapa, Veracruz & Founder of Solo Buceo and Submarine Photographer, talking about what makes the waters of Cancun different from anywhere else and sharing tips on the best places to dive;

Julia Dimon, co-host of National Geographic’s Word Travels and self-diagnosed travel junkie, exploring a bewitching place where travelers can go to fulfill their ritualistic needs, from taxidermy rabbits to love potions;

Costas Christ, editor at large for National Geographic Traveler magazine, discussing new problems facing the Riviera Maya and the world’s second largest barrier reef.

 

 Standby Fees, Diving Cancun and the World's Second-Largest Barrier Reef - Hour 1 - PGW Radio: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s our final two days in Vancouver, which didn’t seem possible. We just got here! But that’s always the way it is.

You arrive and relish the fact there are six days stretching out ahead of you, and then poof! It’s over.

Trying to hold onto time never works.

Peter’s radio show is coming to us live from The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Situated on 250 acres at the base of Camelback Mountain, this luxury hotel is a destination in its own right.

But there’s also plenty happening in downtown Scottsdale and the surrounding desert, so check out what the locals recommend when you visit Scottsdale.

While traveling through South Africa, veteran traveler Lynn Langway had no desire to bounce up and down Victoria Falls at the end of a bungee cord, or dangle like a snack for sharks inside an Indian Ocean cage.

Nor is she a “coach potato,” content to see the wonders of the world through a tour bus window.

Fortunately, soft adventures abound in South Africa, which travelers can happily experience between the two extremes.