When I was in New Orleans, I passed a newsstand that had been defaced. It was a USA Today dispenser, and the word LIES had been written on the front glass.

I was not offended, which is interesting considering my educational and professional background in journalism. I suppose I have an easy time remembering the reasons why I stepped back from hard news reporting, so perhaps my indifference is not that surprising. I typically find breaking news journalism rushed, sensationalized, and lacking compassion for subjects of misfortune – neither of which contribute to the founding practices of the craft. That’s only my opinion, however it is rooted in some research – the result of dedicating two years of study to the manner in which journalists cover tragedy.

People may disagree with my views, but I rest peacefully knowing that I’m not the first person to become annoyed by irresponsible reporting: Skagway has dedicated an entire town to the deed, mocking the journalists who covered the Alaskan Gold Rush of the late 19th/early 20th century. They are pretty blunt about it – they refer to the town asLiarsville.

I mentioned that the Skagway railroad was used to transport men to the mines, but that was not until later. The initial Gold Rush required men to hike long distances carrying all their gear, the journey so difficult that journalists would not make it themselves. Instead, they set up a camp just north of Skagway and relied on the stories of the men returning from the mountains.

Who the hell knows who they talked to, but they began reporting how easy it was to reach the gold mines, how wealth was a sure thing to find. Remember that this was happening in a time with limited communication - people had no choice but to rely on these reports - and many men left their families to come join in the rush, thinking the decision was a no-brainer. They cashed in their life savings to make the trip to Alaska, arriving only to find going from rags to riches wouldn't be as easy as the journalists made it out to be.

I don't know about you, but I'd be ticked.

There is an excursion to a recreation of Liarsville that you can arrange through your cruise line – ours was combined with the Skagway train ride (White Pass Yukon Railroad).  You can also look into booking it directly through the private company. The experience includes a salmon bake, a short theatrical show, and a demonstration on how to pan for gold.

Buyer beware: The history was the highlight for me as a writer, however the recreation is unfortunately nothing more than a few tents. What I learned that day added to the mystique of Skagway, but in all honesty it didn’t offer much more. I cut short my gold-panning-in-a-trough time and took a walk through the nearby woods, which sort of tells you the extent of the excitement. If the experience ends up being included in another excursion package, so be it – feast on some salmon. But, having read this post, you’ve already heard everything worth going for. Allow the knowledge to enhance your visit, but spend your time elsewhere.

My favorite days are the ones when I partake in something I never anticipated.

That's the great thing about life and travel - the ability to be surprised by yourself. Things have happened to me on the road that I never would have predicted, the most recent being the experience of drinking hot sake from a plastic cup at an amusement park.

Beauty and the Beast were over by the railing signing autographs for a line of kids, and meanwhile my friends and I were trying to decide betweenKronenbourg and a Grey Goose/Grand Marnier daiquiri in France, one of 11 countries represented at Epcot's World Showcase. I often wondered why a family destination like Disney would sell beer at a frozen lemonade stand, but it doesn't seem to bother a soul.

The average family saves for three to five years to take a trip to Disney (three to five years!), and I suppose that would drive me to drink, no judgement (admission tickets are approaching $80 these days). I'd be making the very best of every minute, for sure. I'm pretty sure Disney is the only place you can get away with having a beer occupy the cup holder of a stroller.

Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Walt apparently had a vision for a self-sustaining city, however it did not turn out exactly as he envisioned: In EPCOT, Walt set out to create a new kind of city, an ideal community where residents would apply the best thinking and technology to the challenges of transportation, communication, and sanitation. Unfortunately, Walt simply did not live long enough to see this particular dream to reality.

Instead, we have groups of friends attempting to have at least one drink at every country.

Funny how things work out (sorry Walt), but we did have a good time that day walking through the park, sampling the food and drink options in all the countries. I didn't go too crazy: I had a pineapple margarita in Mexico, hot sake in Japan, Kronenbourg in France, andBoddingtons in the United Kingdom. Aren't you proud?

People I've told have taken their jabs - they think I should have gone 11 for 11 - yet I think that's a little aggressive for a number of reasons (cost, longevity, practicality, children).

And no offense America, but I wasn't exactly itching for a six-dollar Bud Light.

Attractions:

Mission Space: Two people have died riding this space shuttle launch simulator(apparently from pre-existing conditions), and they have since taken the intensity down a notch. I could feel it in my chest and senses - the g-forces are strong with this one.

Spaceship Earth: Inside the icon of Epcot, riders witness the development and advancement of communication from the caveman to present day - as well as an interactive look at the future (see photos below).

IllumiNations Reflections: I was worn out by the time this show rolled around at night, but I was happy to have stayed once the fireworks started exploding in the sky. Check out some photos and video of the display.

Soarin': This ride simulates a peaceful hang-gliding flight over the state of California. From the Golden Gate Bridge to San Diego, you'll swoop down from the mountains over the ocean and amongst the redwoods.

Fast passes are free at Disney (it comes as part of your ticket), which means you can reserve a time to come back and "skip the line." It significantly reduces wait time and is easy to use - check out all the details here.

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