American historian, Daniel Boorstin, once wrote,
"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes ‘sight-seeing.’"
I thoroughly agree with the author. Travelers should be actively involved in their travels, seeking interactions and making connections. This is why I prefer to design and conduct my own trips, and why I walk rather than take buses when I get to a destination. Unfortunately, my days of extreme adventure are over, because of my age, but active does not necessarily mean strenuous, despite what this writer indicates, and I can still handle moderately strenuous activities (you’re as old as you feel).