Traveling is exciting. There is a world of places at your fingertips to experience. Experiencing other cultures is fun, but vacationing can also happen nearby. There are remarkable treasures to be discovered in one’s own backyard, if you know where to look.

If you are traveling into a malaria-prone area, in addition to anti-malaria pills, bring a mosquito net or find a room with a large ventilation fan. The net is best as it can almost completely stop mosquitoes from getting to you at night. The fan works because mosquitoes cannot fly as well into the wind, but it is not fool-proof.

When traveling in a strange city by taxi, ask an independent third party such as a front desk clerk or baggage porter what the right rate is for a trip to your destination. Also set up the rate with the driver before you get into the cab. This …