See it by car, by plane (or not) and by scooter
— -- Best experience
Driving from New York to New Orleans across the Deep South in late July wasn't the rewarding excursion I'd hoped it would be — until I passed through Chilton County, Ala. Peach season was at its peak, and the orchards were wrapping up what must have been a Hall of Fame season. Perfectly ripe peaches are among God's greatest creations, and Durbin Farms Market near Clanton was stacked to the heavens with them. Though I was traveling alone, I stocked up on several dozen, both white and red varieties, and they were the best I've ever had. I gnawed on that stash all the rest of the trip, gave some to my mother-in-law, who served them for dinner and breakfast, and even took some back to New York. My mustache never tasted so good.
Worst experience
My wife and I must have ticked off the travel gods in January, because no matter how mightily we tried over the course of two days, we simply could not get from New York to Buenos Aires. Charm, tears, tantrums, dutiful following of instructions, two trips from home to JFK — nothing worked on the good folks at Aerolíneas Argentinas and their comedy of errors.
Turns out, though, the gods actually were smiling on us: Had we been able to fly as planned, we would have wound up in the midst of a glass-smashing riot at the Buenos Aires airport by passengers angry at a baggage handlers' strike.
Most unexpected experience
The best way to see Hanoi in all its chaotic and sultry glory is from the back end of a motorbike. I'm scared to drive scooters in general, and especially in congested urban settings, but two different residents insisted that I climb aboard theirs for tours of this fabulous old city, and the experience was exhilarating. Vietnam's capital is famous for its free-form and unceasing vehicular parade — there seems to be roughly one stoplight for every 1,000 streets — but once you enter the flow, the streetscape reveals itself in new ways, and it feels as though you've tapped directly into the city's pulse.
